Mount Nemrut, Turkey
The tomb was built over two thousand years ago. Our guide said the site was chosen by King Antiochus so that his grave could be the first thing in the kingdom that caught the rays of sunlight in the morning, and the last thing to catch them at sunset...
On the Road to Nemrut, Turkey
The Bridge of Severus, or Cendere Köprüsü, was built by the Roman army nearly 20 centuries ago. The Tomb of the Black Bird, or Karakuş Tümülüsü, was built even earlier, by the Commagene rulers; yet its eponymous bird still rests atop one of the ancient columns...
Wandering in Adıyaman, Turkey
Not far from the timeless glory of Mount Nemrut in southern Turkey is the modern city of Adıyaman. We got to wander for a few hours there through their markets and parks, including stumbling upon a card game. Then it was off to Nemrut....
Hasankeyf, Turkey (Before It's Flooded)
One of my favorite stops during my Come See Turkey adventures was Hasankeyf. History hangs in the air (the town is about 12,000 years old), and everywhere you turn you find gorgeous ruins. The town sits beside a breathtaking cliff formation along the Tigris River, topped by a Roman watchtower. The Roman name for the town, by the way, was Cephe, meaning stone...
Card Players in Adıyaman, Turkey
In the heart of Adıyaman, Turkey, we came across a lovely old courtyard full of men playing cards. I don't know what they were all playing, but they were very serious about it... yet tolerated having their photos taken...
Batman, Turkey
Outside of Batman, Turkey, we stayed at Bato Termal Otel. Everyone was exhausted from our previous day's adventures (in places like the Ishak Pasha Palace), but I woke up early before everyone else and wandered the area outside the hotel alone. The air smelled of sulfur (from the natural hot springs), the hills and trees were a lush green...
Harran, Turkey
Near the city of Şanlıurfa, Turkey, is the fascinating ancient town of Harran. You cannot visit without being awed by the cone-shaped roofs made of mud. They have a wonderful beehive quality and, I'm told, no wood is involved...
St. George Armenian Church, Mardin, Turkey
Just a short drive outside of wondrous Mardin, Turkey, you can find the St. George Armenian Church. The original church was built around 450 CE, though it was rebuilt a number of times.
Mardin, Turkey
At the northern edge of Turkish Mesopotamia sits the ancient hilltop trading town of Mardin. (In the valley below you can find the modern city.) Something about Mardin speaks to you; it was very hard to leave its beautiful twisting streets, its hardworking vendors, its serene views. I only spent a night there, but I would go back in a heartbeat...
Aghtamar Island, Lake Van, Turkey
In eastern Turkey there is a great variety of areas, with deserts and mountains and forests and lakes. Take for instance Lake Van, gorgeous and ringed by mountain peaks. I visited there on my 2014 Come See Turkey trip. We took a ferry boat out on the lake to Aghtamar Island, where once lived kings of Armenia and Vaspurakan. Now there's not much remaining beyond the lovely Cathedral of the Holy Cross...