Going Places

Hey there!  I didn't like Barcelona the first time I visited. I thought it was an overrated city. I found myself in La Rambla , a centrally located, tourist road with below-average restaurants and shops. You can walk this road but I do not see a reason to stop by. The issue is not as simple as calling this road a tourist spot. I am a tourist. There is no point in pretending like Christopher Columbus of the 21st century. It's about what a spot offers and why it's touristy. For example, I do not despise the Berlin Wall just because tourists visit this place, nor do I avoid La Sagrada Familia , Gaudi's glorious unfinished Catholic church in Barcelona. Knowing it is a subjective test, two things might help: 1) Just because I am a tourist doesn't mean I need to go after touristy spots with a to-do list on my hand; and 2) You need to know the reason behind the popularity of a spot - not everything popular deserves your attention and time.     Having revisited Barcelona ...

Hey there,  Until recently, I spent summers in Sarköy, a town in Tekirdag, Turkey, located along the Marmara Sea. This town holds a special place in our family. My parents met here when they were young and have most of their friend groups from those days. My grandfather used to be a town doctor here when public service was respected and doctors and teachers felt like they were contributing meaningfully to society. Those days might be over. In any case, Sarköy has changed significantly since the days of my grandparents and even my own childhood. Unfortunately, not for the better.  My grandmother told me that she picked Sarköy for mandatory public service thanks to its proximity to Istanbul. At the time it took 7-8 hours to drive! Now with modern roads and cars, it takes about 3 hours from Istanbul.    I recently passed through Sarköy and also visited some nearby villages and towns on the way. There is a road to turn on the highway from Istanbul to Tekirdag which will ...

Hey everyone,  I am finally back in Turkey after six months! I took a quick stroll in Acibadem, a neighborhood in the Anatolian side where I grew up, on Friday evening. Things change so quickly here. Knowing I am only in a place for a short period makes me cherish the moment more. Living abroad has given me this perspective during my visits to Turkey.        My mom is celebrating her birthday this week and she loves her birthdays. To celebrate, we took a short trip to Ecaabat, a small town on the eastern shore of the Gelibolu Peninsula. The journey from Istanbul takes about 5 hours, including breaks. The roads are well-maintained, offering beautiful field views on both sides. We left early in the morning to beat the traffic and the heat. Summer in Turkey is boiling hot. A change for me compared to gloomy Berlin! I generally love this region. It is rich in history and nature. Canakkale and Gallipoli wars are won on this land, crucial in Turkiye's fight for indepe...

Hello World,  Wherever we visit a new city or town, I cannot help but imagine what it would be like to live there. I start planning my imaginary life in this new place: where I would stay, which cafe would be my regular spot... you get the gist. Despite my usual daydreaming, there was something special in Cape Town. Something more. I genuinely felt that I could stay and live here. Perhaps it was the excellent weather or the relaxed vibes, or maybe the escape from the Berlin winter in January. Whatever the reason, our trip to Cape Town was an unforgettable one.    We arrived in Cape Town late in the evening and directly went to our hotel. Our hotel was decent and very central, but nothing fancy. We stayed in the Sea Point neighborhood. Neighborhoods are quite different from one another - more about that soon.  The next day started with a great brunch at Jarryds. We then took a long stroll along the Sea Point Promenade to V&A Waterfront, a harbor area filled with m...

Hey Everyone,  Welcome to my personal travel blog!  My name is Deniz. I'm from Istanbul and live in Berlin, where I work at a company. In 2020, just before Covid outbreak, I married my partner, and we moved to Berlin the same year. We live with our dog.    Living together in Berlin and overcoming challenges together has been great for us, allowing us to understand each other better.  I believe traveling has the same effect. The more we travel together, the more our travel styles and life align. We try to take at least one long-distance trip each year. We have many places on our bucket list. Last year, I wanted to go to Japan, but my partner insisted on Costa Rica, and I am glad he did. It inspired me to write.  Pura Vida: A phrase you will often hear in Costa Rica, which means "pure life". It captures a broader philosophy of appreciating simple things in life. We connected with this spirit as we took in all the beauty Costa Rica has to offer.  ...