The Danish city of Helsingor is mostly famous for one thing: Hamlet. The modern-day version of Hamlet’s Elsinor, Kronborg Slot is supposedly the castle where Shakespeare set his famous play. You know what the least awesome part of Helsingor is, though? Kronborg Slot. Under construction, surrounded by construction, and with […]
Recent Posts
Ruins of Konye-Urgench
En route from Ashgabat and the Darvaza Gas Crater to the Uzbek border and Khiva is one of Central Asia’s saddest historical sites and most poignant memories: the ruins of Konye-Urgench. With the dubious honor of being one of the bloodiest massacres in human history, Genghis Khan’s destruction of Konye-Urgench […]
Sultanahmet
Istanbul: Sultanahmet Sultanahmet is the tourist heart of Istanbul, home to the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque and Basilica Cistern and more hotels and guesthouses than I care to remember. For good reason, too. The whole neighborhood is resplendent with beautiful old architecture and street food and Istanbul highlights, and […]
Portraits of Afghanistan
Much more than landscapes or bazaars or food, Afghanistan was about the people we met along the way. People who generally expressed a genuine interest in us, were very willing to engage, and just seemed so… normal I guess? So, here, I want you to meet some of them. These […]
Lahic Azerbaijan Travel Guide
Lahic is famous in Azerbaijan for its blacksmiths, whose workshops line the main streets of the Old Town. These were, I thought, a bit oversold and not that exciting. Much more interesting to me was simply walking the streets and alleys that branch off of the main road and cut […]
Basilica Cistern: Don’t Drink the Water
Basilica Cistern: Don’t Drink the Water For a “hidden gem” of Istanbul, the Basilica Cistern is decidedly crowded. No matter how long the line or how rainy the day, though, make time to visit. I think I lingered here longer than any other single tourist site in Istanbul. So much […]
Hey there! I'm Stephen, this is my travel blog, and that's me in the poofy hat.
I'm a photographer / writer traveling since 2008, and I've been doing my best to visit amazing places.
My current focus is Central Asia, because for a hiking and camping enthusiast it's as good as it gets.