Istanbul spans two continents. The division is the Bosphorus Strait a body of water that connects the Black Sea with the Marmara Sea. Like many visitors, we took a Bosphorus Cruise on this division. Three bridges span the strait connecting … Continued
To Ottoman sultans and their courts Topkapi Palace was home in Istanbul. This large palace complex includes royal living quarters, meeting and consultation rooms, libraries, a harem, and much more. In the Ottoman tradition, the rooms are all spectacularly decorated. … Continued
Blue Mosque Facing Hagia Sophia and built in part of the hippodrome is Istanbul’s most spectacular mosque. The Blue Mosque isn’t the largest, but perhaps the most significant in Istanbul. Built in the first two decades of the 17th century, … Continued
Many years ago, in my historic furnishings and architecture class I was introduced to Hagia Sophia. This Byzantine architecture of a massive building that still survived and was used 1,500 years later intrigued me more than any of the Gothic … Continued
I am in love with Istanbul, Turkey! The city is awash with history, culture, architecture, faith, beauty, good eats, and more. I only spent two days there, but I fell in love. The people are super friendly. The blend of … Continued
I honestly didn’t know what to expect of my day layover in Kiev, Ukraine other than cold. I thought I would see some cool churches, the site of protests from a few years ago, and the LDS temple in the … Continued
Precariously hanging on the side of Hengshan, one of China’s five sacred mountains, a 1,500-year-old monastery seems to cling to the rock as effortlessly as a gecko on a wall. The Hengshan hanging temple is as natural on the rock … Continued
Carved in stone outside Datong to the west sit hundreds of Buddhas at Yungang Grottoes. This UNESCO World Heritage site is the fourth of China’s Buddhist grottoes and the last one for me to visit. Bucket list item complete! Granted … Continued
A short drive away from Beijing, you can reach the city of Datong, Shanxi. Our drive took us through the mountains northwest of the city past amazing scenes of Great Wall climbing them into coal country. A small city by … Continued
Beijing gets a bad rap for bad air. It is true that the air is bad many days and unbearable on some, but it is not solely the city’s fault. Part of the blame should go to those who first … Continued