Back in 2006 I visited Oludeniz for the first time, this picturesque beach town on the south coast of Turkey was somewhere Shorty (Paul) had visited many times growing up and we were keen to check it out! Of course, being over 10 years ago and a family holiday it was VERY different to our
Turkey
Alternatives to the crowded Blue Mosque: The incredible Suleymaniye Mosque and it’s authentic neighbourhood!
Strolling around Istanbul, the intoxicating air of history, the well worn streets and the breathlessness of the electrifying hum draws you into its endless energy. A city split between two continents, a city of sharp contrasts and diversity, a beacon of symbolism for Turkey, its modern incarnation and long historic enduring historic past. It’s a
A practical guide to visiting Turkey: Safety, visas and travel in this incredible country.
Turkey is a mystical land, both swathed in ancient myth and modern misconceptions. From the crumbling ruins of Constantinople to the lingering charms of the Persian empire and the blossoming republic that arose with Ataturk from the Ottoman era. Turkey is vast, diverse, charming and also quite different to what people first imagine. With the
A guide to Cappadocia: The magical, dream like, out of this world landscape that we flew above!
When we decided to head over to Turkey again there was one place so high on our bucket list we knew we couldn’t miss it out this time: Cappadocia! The surreal lunarscape of this fairytale destination really captured our imagination, waking up from our night bus in the middle of this strange land it felt
A guide to the Fethiye region of Turkey: Oludeniz, Hisaronu & Kaya. A beautiful, historic paradise!
We decided to head down to Fethiye from Istanbul as a slight (12hour night bus!) detour off our route though Eastern Europe. This is an area we are very much familiar with having spent many happy holidays as kids on the stunning beaches of Turkey’s south coast. Returning here we came for a holiday after 2.5
Bucket list: Hot Air Ballooning over the surreal and stunning landscape of Cappadocia
When we decided to take a detour and head down to Turkey, a country we are more than familiar with after visiting year upon year whilst growing up, we made a pact to tick off our bucket list dreams this time. Instead of just heading back down to the stunning beaches of the south coast
A day sailing in the Mediterranean, snorkeling with Turtles & Exploring the hidden beaches of Fethiye, Turkey
After 2.5 months backpacking around Eastern Europe one of the reasons we took the detour to come down to Fethiye was to have a break! Now, we love backpacking, actually more than we ever imagined! But it can be tiring, so two weeks spent on the beaches on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, relaxing around
World house hostel, Istanbul: A boutique experience in the heart of this wonderful city!
Whilst we spent an amazing 5 days in the bustling and energetic city of Istanbul we needed a place to kick back and relax at the end of a tiring day exploring this huge city. But at the same time we wanted to be at the heart of the action, in a place where we
The Princes Islands of Istanbul. Getting off the beaten track on these beach lined, historic and unique islands in the Bosphorus
Istanbul is an amazing city, the energy that rises from this huge metropolis is contagious and the chaotic nature of it is a charm. Yet with such a massive and city it can get overwhelming, with traffic, people, shouting and the smog that often lingers above the historic minarets of the Blue Mosque and down
A guide to Istanbul: The energetic & historic city that sits on two continents!
Istanbul had been a bucket list destination for a long time for us, having an intimate relationship with Turkey over the years there always felt like there was something missing having never been to the cultural capital of a country we love. Despite the political climate in Turkey Istanbul is still a safe, fascinating and impressive
Discovering the magic of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. The bucket list items that tell the tale of historic Istanbul!
We have always wanted to visit Istanbul, when we dreamt of this bustling city we couldn’t look much further than the twin icons of the city: The Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. At first glance we expected just to find two wonderful mosque to visit and tick off the bucket list. But little did
Crossing the Bosphorus in Istanbul…From Europe to Asia!
The romance of travel might just be personified by this one ferry crossing in particular, setting sail from one continent to another just has the allure of adventure and the unknown. But what makes it even more fun is that despite transiting across the narrow crossing you are still in the same city!! Taking the
A street art tour of Eastern Europe: The modern artistic heart of this historic region
We love street art, in fact, I (Nic) used to do a lot myself back in my uni days and as an artist I just can’t get enough of it! (check out my art blog here if you fancy www.nichilditch-short.co.uk) I love all types of art of course, but what stands out about street art to
Portraits of Eastern Europe: Travelling around this fascinating region and taking in local life.
Whilst backpacking around Eastern Europe we well and truly fell in love with the region. We already had quite a high opinion of this often misunderstood area but travelling long term allowed us to get so much more under the surface of it and interact on a much more intense level. Of course, we were
Is it safe to visit Turkey? We headed to amazing Istanbul, Fethiye & Cappadocia and this is what we found.
When we decided to make a detour to Turkey on our travels around Eastern Europe this year it brought about universal signs of upset and disbelief. Whilst down in Plovdiv, Bulgaria we decided to take the night bus over the border and down to one of the world’s oldest and most impressive cities: Istanbul. But