Byzantium – VirtualWayfarer

AsiaJune 18, 2013June 25, 2013

8 Ways Turkey Is Nothing Like You Expect

With the recent protests in Turkey the country has been launched into the news for the second time this year. As many of you may recall Turkey was previously in the spotlight when a female American backpacker was murdered. These events have built upon existing misconceptions and stereotypes abou…

AsiaApril 16, 2012April 16, 2012

Yerebatan Sarayi – The Basilica Cistern in Istanbul

The echoing drip-drip-drip-drop of water falling into a shallow pool. Voices, footsteps, and the kur-plunk of a fish randomly disturbing the water's still surface. This is the bombardment of sounds that greeted my ea…

AsiaApril 9, 2012April 9, 2012

A Video Tour of Sultanahmet and Istanbul’s Old Town

Join me as I brave a light blizzard to take you through several of Istanbul's key sights offering up small pieces of historical trivia along the way. This cozy video tour of the city takes you to the Sultan Ahmed Mosqu…

BackpackingMarch 22, 2012March 25, 2012

Hagia Sophia and The Sultan Ahmed “Blue” Mosque

Hagia Sophia Every art and architecture student has studied the beauty and wonder of Hagia Sophia. It is a premier example of Byzantine art and construction. This fortress-esque structure has stood as a testament t…

BackpackingMarch 19, 2012

Istanbul: The City That Took Me By Complete Surprise

When I chose Turkey as the destination for my holiday trip, one key factor was weather. While I still didn't expect it to be terribly warm, I was hopeful that the weather would be notably warmer than what I had grown …

BackpackingMarch 11, 2012

Tallying Up The Cost: 17 Days in Turkey

Turkey: A country that spans two continents, has seen the rise and fall of numerous empires, and offers an amazing melting pot of contrasting cultures and geographic terrain. When the time came to choose the destination for my winter break the choice was clear. After years of dreaming about a v…