Europe

Visit fascinating ghost towns of Ibrahimpasa and Cemil; and abandoned cave dwellings surrounding booming Mustafapasa. These untouristy towns are must-see to round out an exploration/ understanding/ deep dive of Cappadocia. Each uniquely…

This history-rich, 14 km gorge is a testimony to incredible human resilience, tenacity and courage powered by faith. And a haunting account of Christian survival in the face of Roman persecution. Sixty…

Spend a half day hiking and exploring the willow forest, churches, cave dwellings of this pretty valley. Sadly bypassed for the larger Ilhara by most tourists but its a more narrower valley…

Derinkuyu is one of many underground cities in Cappadocia, but is the deepest excavated at 250 feet. Incredibly it can contain 20,000 people. This multi-level warren of labyrinths and living spaces carved…

To balloon or not to balloon in Cappadocia? You really have to weight cost and questions of safety against the combo of surreal panorama and being suspended in dawn’s hush with dozens…

Txacoli , Txaco-la, Txaco-ha-ha-ha-ha – pronounced char-koh-lee, it’s the most fun you’ll ever have with wine even before even getting high. The straw colored young wine wafts miniature pinprick bubbles that pries open…

San Sebastian, a small city with a collective 16 Michelin stars, is much much more than its pinxtos. Chuleton de Buey steak at Bar Nestor, homestyle meals at men-only private cooking clubs,…

This lovely, compact city is made to order for grazing on great food and drinks as you stroll. Graceful belle epoque buildings line cobbled streets, off the perfectly crescent-shaped Playa de Concha…

You’ll thank me for this crazy roundabout pinxto bar crawl which begins with gorgeously savory steak and foie gras bites, because it ends with a heavenly cheesecake, and the walk is easy…