The highlight of my visit to Kyiv is Kievo-Pecherskaya Lavra. After leaving the Park of Eternal Glory on the hillside bank of the Dnieper River, the shining golden domed monastery site, Kievo-Pecherskaya Lavra. beckoned to us. Upon stepping through the gate, one could almost feel the quiet presence of all the saints that walked…
Words cannot express the intensity of my feelings as I climbed into the van transporting us to Sabiha Gökçen (SAW)–an airport further south than the one we arrived in. The silent two hour drive through traffic to cross the Bosphorus bridge and head towards the Syrian border gave plenty of time to reflect upon the…
The second full day we chose to see Istanbul via passenger ferry with other tourists on the Bosphorous. Though I dislike tour groups, seeing the shores of this city—both sides, east and west—could be safely done from a luxury bus and open air ferry. With only two days to see this city, and needing to…
In the early 1900s my ancestors journeyed from the Ukraine, across the tumultuous Black Sea on a ship through the middle of Istanbul to reach the safety of America. With a little prodding, my grandmother revealed bits and pieces of her family’s escape from the tyrannical clutches of Russia. The stories ignited a desire in…
The start of our day in Sultanahmet began with a good meal and Turkish coffee. Fortunately our Hotel provided a great start to the day. Whether an American breakfast or a more continental styled one, there was much to taste and discover here! Stepping outside the hotel onto the street, a change occurs. The muezzin’s…
