Mosaic from Hagia Sophia

Good evening from Istanbul.

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December 10th 2006
A quick summary of how we got here: We left Athens on the 5th for Thessaloniki. We went by train through central Greece, weaving through the countryside past all sorts of beautiful scenery. Julıe wasn't feeling very well though, and the train ride only made it worse. As for Thessaloniki, it's actually a very nice place. I do regret we didn't see as much of it as either one of us would have like ... read more

Middle East » Turkey » Marmara » Istanbul

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Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 from the Anatolian remnants of the defeated Ottoman Empire by national hero Mustafa KEMAL, who was later honored with the title Ataturk, or "Father of the Turks." Under his authoritarian leadership, the country adopt... ... read more