"Short stories and travel reports from my life adventures around the globe".
Bites & Gulps: Mouthwatering Moments in Istanbul. September-October 2020. Well, dear readers, we have at long last arrived at my final Istanbul article. It is my 20th piece, and with today’s focus firmly on the city’s excellent food and drink scene, I hope very much to go out with a bang. So let’s get going, […]
Read MoreCool 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 […]
Read MoreCool 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 […]
Read MoreThe 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 […]
Read MoreThe 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 […]
Read MoreMemories and Meanings at the Museum of Innocence. August 2022. Two years after our unforgettable visit to Istanbul in the autumn of 2020, Sladja and I were in Serbia getting ready for an exciting new adventure. We were about to set off on another extended period of travel and online work. It proved to be a memorable […]
Read MoreIstanbul’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 […]
Read MoreStillness 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 […]
Read MoreOpulence 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, […]
Read MoreIstanbul’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, […]
Read MoreA Rummage Around Ferikoy Flea Market. September 2020. It was a warm late afternoon as Sladja and I wandered through Istanbul’s Ferikoy district. We were on our way to the nearby neighbourhood of Bomonti, a fashionable culinary hotspot where we hoped to grab dinner and drinks. I can’t say we stumbled upon Ferikoy Flea Market, […]
Read MoreThe Treasures & Controversies of Chora Church, Istanbul. October 2020. Forgive me if I am repeating myself, but Istanbul truly is a powerhouse of architecture and art. Just days into our stay, we had already seen some of the city’s artistic highlights through our visits to Süleymaniye Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern and the Grand Bazaar. […]
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