- 02 Jan 2024
Protected: 2023: Island Hikes, Small Town Life & Visa Blues.
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"Short stories and travel reports from my life adventures around the globe".
Category: history
- 10 Dec 2023
Jia Jia and the Warriors, a short story from China.
Jia Jia and the Warriors, a short story from China. After a prolonged period of stability, I finally bid farewell to Belgium in the summer of 2009. Uninspired by life in grey, uneventful Brussels, I headed off to China for an unforgettable year of teaching and traveling. —- The slow train from Beijing to Pingyao […]
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Cool Spots Around Istanbul (Part II).
Cool Spots Around Istanbul (Part II). September-October 2020. Following my recent article, Cool spots Around Istanbul, it’s time to wrap up my last batch of sights from across the city. So let’s get going with… Cool Spots Around Istanbul Part II. Sometimes the most memorable travel moments can just be soaking up the atmosphere of […]
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Cool Spots Around Istanbul (Part I).
Cool Spots Around Istanbul. September-October 2020. At long last I am edging towards the end of my Istanbul series. What an incredible city it is, something I have hopefully succeeded in showing over the last seventeen articles. Now, as per Leighton Travels tradition, it’s time to round up the best of the rest. And boy […]
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- 01 Oct 2023
The Magnificent Mosques of Istanbul.
The Magnificent Mosques of Istanbul. September-October 2020. The mosques, the mosques, the mosques of Istanbul. Much like the city’s ubiquitous cats they are an ever-present feature wherever you go and whatever you do. Punctuating the skyline on both sides of The Bosphorus, these often stunning structures stand as vessels of community, faith, Turkish history and Islamic […]
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- 27 Sep 2023
The Adorable Cats of Istanbul.
The Adorable Cats of Istanbul. September-October 2020 & August 2022. I’ve been looking forward to putting this piece out for months. Sladja and I are both passionate and unapologetic cat lovers. Everywhere we travel, without fail, we end up befriending the local kitties. We nearly always stop to stroke friendly felines. Moreover, we have often fed […]
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- 20 Sep 2023
Remarkable Relics at Istanbul Archaeological Museums.
Remarkable Relics at Istanbul Archaeological Museums. October 2020. How much incredibly beautiful ancient art is it possible to absorb in one city? In the case of Istanbul the answer is, a lot. Just when we thought we’d surely seen the very best of the city’s historic artwork and boom, she struck again. What else could […]
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- 17 Sep 2023
Istanbul’s Unique Cast Iron Bulgarian Church.
Istanbul’s Unusual Cast Iron Bulgarian Church. October 2020. Having crossed off a large chunk of Istanbul’s grand highlights, Sladja and I were now firmly focusing on one of our favourite travel territories. Yes, those underrated and often unique and unusual spots that tickle the curiosity. Well, our curiosity at least. We certainly hadn’t been seeking […]
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Astonishing Art at The Great Palace Mosaic Museum.
Astonishing Art at The Great Palace Mosaic Museum. October 2020. Earlier in this series I suggested that the city of Istanbul can be viewed as a tale of two palaces. If you haven’t already checked out my pieces on Topkapi Palace and Dolmabahçe Palace, please do, these sights are absolute gems! While I stand by what […]
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Stillness and Silence at Theodosius Cistern.
Stillness and Silence at Theodosius Cistern. September 2020. Posted just over a month ago, readers may recall my article about the marvellous Basilica Cistern. One of Istanbul’s most absorbing historic sights, the cistern is just one of 70 giant underground reservoirs built by the city’s ancient Byzantine rulers in order to supply water to the […]
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Opulence Abounds at Dolmabahce Palace.
Opulence Abounds at Dolmabahce Palace. October 2020. In many ways the history of Istanbul can be viewed as a tale of two palaces. As regular readers may remember, the first complex sprang up in 1459 following Sultan Mehmed II’s victory with the Fall of Constantinople. Sladja and I had a fantastic time exploring Topkapi Palace, […]
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- 30 Jul 2023
Istanbul’s Sublime Hagia Sophia.
Istanbul’s Sublime Hagia Sophia. September 2020. I think it’s testament to Istanbul’s vast scope of fascinating sights that I’m only now getting around to writing about what is arguably the city’s most spectacular mosque. Sladja and I loved exploring Istanbul’s many mosques. Indeed I have already shared our experience at the stunning Suleymaniye Mosque. Moreover, […]
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