A journey to Istanbul (or beyond in Turkey) is most known for its history, culture, or natural beauty. After all, this is where so many empires have held their seats. But the food here in Istanbul is also worth an exploration. Turkish cuisine may not be the broadest in the world, but over five days…
In 1453, Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II and his army conquered Constantinople, putting an end to the Byzantine Empire. (Read more about Constantinople and Byzantine Istanbul here.) The victorious Turks renamed the city Istanbul, moving their capital here, where it remained until the fall of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War One. While…
Istanbul was ConstantinopleNow it's Istanbul, not ConstantinopleBeen a long time gone, ConstantinopleNow it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night Istanbul (Not Constantinople) sung by The Four Lads Yes, the song gets it right. Istanbul was Constantinople. (Before that, it was Byzantium, but that doesn’t make it into the song.) The town of Byzantium was elevated…
Let me start by saying that intra-European flights are among my least favorite ways to travel. I much prefer trains, and tend to plan my trips to have reasonably short distances between stops, ones easily traversed via rail or bus. It’s cheaper and more convenient, liquids are acceptable to bring (as is whatever weight my…
Before Covid, I was fortunate enough to get my German citizenship. While at this point I have no intention of moving to Europe, the immediate benefit is not being subject to normal visa rules for Americans visiting Europe. So this will end up being my longest Europe trip, at three and a half months. (That…
Editor’s note: I spent a couple days in Istanbul a decade or so ago, and will be returning this coming year with TRT writer Dan Warren. This itinerary by our traveling rabbi Sam Spector is a perfect starting point for my trip, and will be for yours as well. For more of Sam’s amazing adventures,…
As the old song says, Istanbul was Constantinople. (It was also Byzantium, but our story begins a couple centuries after this first - and less famous - name change.) Few remnants remain in Turkey's largest city from this earlier period. There are ancient cisterns that helped sustain the city through numerous sieges, and some wall…
Editor's note: Timing is everything. Tomorrow is Turkish date night for A and me, and today we get treated to this incredible look into a cool country by Sam! Check out all his articles by visiting his index. And please, if you like what we do, consider becoming a sponsor through our Patreon page. Over…