Blogs from Middle East - page 15

Shalom Israel and Palestine - Piprey on wheels Israel/Palestine is one of the most politically unstable regions of the world where the Jews and Muslims are still annoying each other despite standing together in the 21st century. The rife started centuries earlier with the tribes of Cannan, Philistines, Samarians etc living in the Judah and Israel region. David unified the northern kingdom of Israel and southern kingdom of Judah after capturing it from the Jebusites, local inhabitants to establish his capital. Actually, most of the buildings in the old city of Jerusalem were built by Herod, who was a prolific builder. There were the Ottomans (Walls of the old city) and Habsburg empire (Churches) among others. Jerusalem is an old vibrant city where religious identity is expressed strongly by most individuals. The values of peace, harmony ... read more

7 May 2023 We walked out the door of the house and locked up at 6 in the morning. It was six degrees on our walk to the airport. Tomas' backpack weighed 3.5 kilos and mine an extravagant 4.3. We call ourselves the 'Extreme Packers' but we did wear all our warm clothes on the way to the airport which greatly reduced the weight. It was easy walking with hardly any luggage. We didn't need to join the long queue to check in. just printed our boarding pass and then straight to the gate: luxury travel! No needs to have 'priority' anything when travelling lightweight. We signed up for Singapore Airlines auto check in which meant 48 hours before the flight our seats were automatically allocated and we ended up getting premium seats for both ... read more

G01 1 MAYIS 2023 PAZARTESİ Yine yeni yeniden yollardayız…özlemişim bu tür uzun boylu seyahatleri…Sabah 7:00’ye kurduk saati… Bir kahve molası ve valizler dün geceden beri hazır olduğundan, saat 07:30 da taksimiz bizi ,evden 4 dakika mesafede olan Yeni Bodrum limanına bıraktı… Çıkarken yine sıkıntılar yaşadık … Söylemesi ayıp bendenizin “Yunanistan oturma” iznim var .. Fakat sevgili Yunanlı kardeşlerim bu oturma iznini geçen yıl Ekimde yenilemeleri gerekirken, nedense bir türlü yenileme başarısını gösteremiyorlar … Bu yüzden ,tüm vergileri ve harçları yatırılmış ve avukatım sevgili Voulgaris tarafından yakından izlenen “proses” nasılsa yerine getirilemiyor … Bu nedenle, Türk yetkililer, Yunanca yazılmış ve iznimi yenisini verene kadar yenilediklerini belirten belgeye egzotik bir meyve diye bakıyorlar eviriyorlar çe... read more

When I strolled through the vibrant streets of Istanbul, I was instantly captivated by the city's unique blend of history, culture, and breathtaking architecture. Turkey has been an unforgettable chapter in my travel journey, and Istanbul, in particular, has stolen a piece of my heart. This city, where East meets West, offers a mesmerizing fusion of the ancient and the modern, making it a true paradise for history enthusiasts and architecture lovers like myself. One of the most awe-inspiring aspects of Istanbul's skyline is its magnificent mosques, each with its own story and architectural flair. After spending countless hours exploring these sacred sanctuaries, I've narrowed down my three favorites, which I believe are an absolute must-visit for anyone traveling to Istanbul. The Süleymaniye Mosque: A Majestic Masterpiece Perched atop one of Istanbul's seven hills, the Sü ... read more

Gestern war erst einmal mein letzter Tag auf Zypern. Ich frühstückte mit Waffeln und danach Käse. Dann checkte ich bald aus und startete zu meinem Spaziergang durch Larnaca. Ich lief die Uferpromenade entlang zur byzantinischen Lazaruskirche. Zum Glück war dort an diesem Sonntag gerade kein Gottesdienst. Das Gebäude ist sehr alt und sehenswert. Von dort ging ich weiter zum Fort und zur Moschee. Auch diese beiden Gebäude sehen sehr ansprechend aus. Anschließend verbrachte ich noch etwas Zeit auf einer Bank und beobachtete die Geschehnisse am Strand und ließ die vergangenen Tage Revue passieren. Ich hatte ich den neun Tagen eigentlich einen guten Eindruck von der Insel bekommen mit Nord- und Südteil. Dabei habe ich die Spuren vieler Epochen von der Antike bis zu den Osmanen kennen gelernt. Ich schloss den Nachmittag mit einem Kalamari aus dem ... read more