From the moment I saw pictures of Pamukkale, I was excited to visit. The World Heritage site in southwestern Turkey means "cotton castle" for the terraces made from carbonate minerals. You can see the white pop out against the otherwise brown and green landscape from miles away. It's also home to … [Read more...] about Disappointment at Pamukkale
Turkey
An American in Gallipoli
Gallipoli. To some of the world's populations, the name of this town is associated with bloodshed, war, and loss. To others, like most Americans, it means nothing. It's a name not immediately recognized if at all. But to Australians, New Zealanders and Turks, it's like Normandy or Pearl … [Read more...] about An American in Gallipoli
The Tombs of Myra
After many days on the water, I was ready for land. A big night of drinking at Smugglers Cove had made our crew worse for the wear, in search of hangover remedies, doctors and pharmacies. We were taken to shore and shuttled into the modern town of Demre to repair ourselves and spend the … [Read more...] about The Tombs of Myra
Hot Air Ballooning with Royal Balloon
My wake up call comes at 5:30 am. I was so excited that I barely slept and I laid out my clothes and camera in advance. I was picked up by the folks of Royal Balloon, where I was served a full breakfast before we headed out to the launch point. There are few experiences I've had that I truly … [Read more...] about Hot Air Ballooning with Royal Balloon
Walking Among Giants in Cappadocia
The Mars-esque landscape of Cappadocia was settled by Hittites and early Christians in the 1800s BC. The unique, and somewhat phallic, rock formations made Cappadocia one of Turkey's top tourist sites, which is actually made up of a handful of towns surrounding the national park. Göreme is … [Read more...] about Walking Among Giants in Cappadocia