Last days with my car @ Corinth, Greece, March 2, 2020

Last days with my car Due to the global spread of the virus, it is not the best time for overseas travels these days. Nonetheless, I’m largely sticking to my original itineraries. I am moving eastward, ultimately arriving in Vladivostok in the Russian Far East. And unfortunately, I had decided that I would leave my …

Monasteries of Meteora @ Meteora, Greece, February 23, 2020

Monasteries of Meteora Meteora refers to the rock formation in Central Greece and the area hosts six active monasteries of Eastern Orthodox Church. In the 14th century, monks from Mount Athos ( a peninsula in northeastern Greece and the center of Eastern Orthodox monasticism) moved to this area, fleeting the raids by the Ottoman empire. …

Mercimek koftesi @ Lüleburgaz, Turkey, February 15, 2020

Mercimek koftesi Turkish cuisine is rich and diverse. The Ottoman Empire had allowed the introduction of multiple cultures, and different cuisines co-evolved over time. And I am glad that I had tried at least some of the most iconic dishes during my stay. In Lüleburgaz, a city in western Turkey, I had the pleasure to …

with Sibel and Ozlem @ Istanbul, Turkey, February 8th, 2020

with Sibel and Ozlem Last time it was summer and they were travelers, and now it is winter and they are locals. By coincidence, we reunited on a very cold day in Istanbul, and for some time we had to cover our faces as we walked because pieces of snow were getting into our eyes. …

with Özgür and friends @ Çıtır Balık, Antalya, Turkey, January 26, 2020

Some Turkish friends strongly recommended a fish sandwich place in town. I was happy to learn that the place was only two minutes from where I stay, but from the outside, the popularity seemed overwhelming – the queue for placing orders was long, and there was another queue for the people who wanted to get …

Arrival @ Antalya, Turkey, January 22, 2020

Arrived in Antalya. From the North East of Turkey, I’ve visited places along a diagonal route to get to Antalya, a city known for its mild climate and beaches. During the past months, I’ve come up with some creative ways to stay relaxed and comfortable in a cold climate, just so that I am still …

Bike riders @ Hopa and Trabzon, Turkey, January 14 and 15, 2020

Bike riders On the first two days in Turkey, I met bike travelers each day. Some of it must have been by coincidence and other could have been due to my desperate energy to meet other people, after a long break in Georgia. The two groups of riders had things in common. They both started …

Balcony in Batumi @ Batumi, Georgia, January 11, 2020

For the past 5 weeks, I lived in a rented flat in Batumi, Georgia. The goal was to prepare written proposals and applications for some programs that I consider as my potential next step after travels. The lifestyle was almost completely sedentary and non-social, which made a clear contrast with the one I was having …