At the Bosporus, where Europe and Asia shake hands, muezzin’s prayer call sounds five times a day. What would Istanbul be without all its mosques. Religiosity aside, they are cultural and architectural masterpieces. Here you can see my photo series of all historically important mosques of Istanbul, taken over years of Istanbul visits…
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Iranian Dasht-e Lut is the world’s hottest desert. In 2016 satellites measured unbelievable 78.2°C, what is the highest ever calculated surface temperature on Earth. Our planet’s heat pole is a UNESCO World Heritage and impresses with sand dunes being up to 450 metres high as well as the rugged surreal rock landscape of the Kalouts…
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Once the Persian Empire was one of the largest of the ancient global empires and existed long before our time reckoning has started. The ruins of its former capital Persepolis as well as the tombs of Naqsh-e Rustam tell of that period. For about 200 years it united areas reaching from North Africa to Indus River and involved Caucasus as well as the Kazakhstan steppe.…
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Far in the west of old Constantinople and originally being located outside the city walls a jewel and testimony of early Christianity can be seen, that is the Chora Church. Like Hagia Sophia it was once being transformed into a mosque. Today it is called Kariye Museum and holds the worldwide most historically significant as well as elaborated mosaics and frescos of Palaiologan Renaissance…
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For more than 1.000 years Hagia Sophia sits where Europe and Asia shake hands. Even today this last of late antiquity’s main churches can still boast with having the largest dome of the world. It served as main and coronation church of old Byzantium and its capital Constantinople, present Istanbul, as well as Ottoman main mosque.…
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That I ate a fool at the worldwide only city situated on two continents is an open secret. In Istanbul much has changed since my first visit in 2007. For example, after many years of restoration both the Hagia Sophia and the Süleymaniye Mosque shine in a new light. The biggest highlight is still the Bosporus, whose water masses appear every day anew in a different color.…
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Beside spring also late summer is one of the most attractive travel seasons to have a closer look at the Bosporus pearl, as the climatic mix of sun, clouds and fresh breezes coming from the Mediterranian sea is a perfect background to soak up Istanbul’s attitude towards life at daytime as well as at night like a sponge…
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The quiet place where the storks are spending their winter vacation is so much more busy and hectic for us humans. Framed by the snow covered peaks of High Atlas while being riddled with exotic palm trees; that is the way how Morocco’s most known city is presenting itself. Marrakech, a place where you can bring your senses into closest contact with the Orient and its clichés…
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If you can see your hand in front of your face and it isn’t vanishing into yellow air; if the inside of your lungs doesn’t become dust crumbed and the sun doesn’t burn the last drop of water out of your body; if a camel’s back is not the reason of bruises and that you’re close to being emasculated, yes, then the desert can mean lots of fun… ;-)…
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The old hub of the Kingdom of Fès accommodates the biggest historical medina of Northern Africa, while also being home of at least a million people and spiritual centre of the country…
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