Exploring Elbasan and Tirana: Heartbeats of Albania and the Legacy of Skanderbeg When you wander through central Albania, two cities capture the soul of the nation: Elbasan and Tirana. Each offers a distinct glimpse into the country’s past and present—Elbasan with its Ottoman echoes and quiet charm, Tirana with its colorful, buzzing energy. And standing […]
Skanderbeg’s Albania: Heroes, History and Hidden Gems Read More »
Bulgaria offered many surprises. History and charm of course, but Roman theaters still in use, the golden orbs of Orthodox cathedrals in the night sky, Ottoman courtyards, a modern café scene that felt effortlessly cool and a chance to see Les Mis performed in Bulgarian. More on that later… Plovdiv – A City Woven Through
Two Cities, One Amazing Journey to Plovdiv and Sofia Read More »
Nestled in the mountains above the winding Yantra River, Veliko Tarnovo keeps the secrets of its thousand year history. Once the proud capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, the city still carries itself like royalty, reaching its golden age under Tsars Kaloyan and Ivan Asen II before being slowly conquered by the Ottomans in the
Beautiful Veliko Tarnovo & Arbanassi: Bulgaria’s Tsarist Capitals Read More »
Day One – First Taste of the City Bucharest greeted me with the hum of a summer afternoon as I walked the few blocks to the city’s charming Old Town — …with café terraces spilling onto cobblestoned streets closed to traffic, Gelato stands on every corner and shops brimming with souvenirs. I found the famed
Three Days in Bucharest: My Glimpse of Life After Ceaușescu Read More »
The walls of the Khiva’s Ichan Kala or “Old Town” are a living museum and one of the most intimate ways to connect with the city’s soul is through its woodworking tradition, an ancient art form that continues to flourish today. A Legacy Carved in Wood Wood has long held a sacred and functional role
Khiva’s Ancient Art of Woodworking Read More »
There are places in the world that exceed your dreams. Registan Square, the architectural heart of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, is one of those rare places. It is the real world setting of the enchantment of One Thousand and One Nights and storyteller Scheherzade, one of the greatest Arabic, Middle Eastern, and Islamic contributions to world literature,
Registan Square: The Beating Heart of Samarkand Read More »
—solemn, symmetrical, and magnificent in its melancholy.” Lord Curzon, British statesman 19th c. The colors had begun to deepen in late afternoon shadows when we arrived in Samarkand, tired after a long bus ride through the desert but the mood changed instantly. We were in a sacred place, the burial monument to the legendary Tamerlane,
My Visit to “One of the Noblest Monuments of Asia” Read More »
Bukhara, one of the country’s oldest and continuously inhabited cities, a major center of trade, scholarship, and religion on the Silk Road for over two millennia. Today, it’s known for its remarkably preserved Islamic architecture, old city atmosphere, and its role as a spiritual and intellectual heart of Central Asia. Over 2,000 years old: Bukhara’s
Fairy Tales, Poets and Silks: My Love Affair with Bukhara Read More »
Khiva’s roots stretch back over 2,500 years, but its golden age began in the 16th century when it became the capital of the Khanate of Khiva. As a major oasis along the Silk Road, it prospered from trade — and infamously, from a large slave market that once operated within its walls. The real magic
Captivating Khiva: An Astonishing Life Inside the City Walls Read More »
Nestled in Uzbekistan’s remote northwest, Urgench might not be the first name that jumps out on a Silk Road itinerary — but you don’t want to miss this gateway to one of Central Asia’s most fascinating cultural crossroads. From the grand courtyard houses of Ulli Khovli to the enduring traditions of the Turkmen people, this
The Quiet Magic of The Turkmen: Nomads of the Steppe Read More »