In keeping with the theme...

Bitching "beach" near Herceg Novi, Montenegro

Fourth of July Beach Time on Halkidiki Peninsula

I had an absolutely fabulous Couchsurfing host in northern Greece.
Feets and are our initials in Greek.

Like I Said, Galata is my Homegirl.

January

and June 

in

İstanbul.

Footwear at the foot of an Edirne mosque

My friend Wally likes to camii hunt. So together we went to the far Thracian reaches of the country to find the most famously beautiful mosques in Turkey. I took this outside Eski Camii in Edirne the day I jumped (read: officially crossed) the border to Greece.

Galata Tower

Atop my top İstanbul spot in June.
cool huh?

Series Featuring a Barla Butterfly

Since we're already in Barla...

Sugar & Sweet with a Cherry on Top

Taken in the teeny-tiny isolated lake village of Barla in Turkey. We hiked around the region during cherry season. (best.unintentional.decision.ever.)

The Türks are famous for hospitality, but this village overflowed with kindness. These two little lovely ladies were visiting their grandparents who invited us weary trekkers up to their veranda to munch cherries and take in the best view in town.

Throwback to Turkey

Lake Eğirdir vista from one of my favorite parts of my summer odyssey--
backpacking the Saint Paul Trail! In the company of two stellar Fbright 
buddies, Ali and Russell, we packed four days of the mega-tough "trail"
 (weren't always sure it could be called that) through the lake region of
Turkey north of Antalaya, near İsparta. 
Munching cherries, crashing through spider webs, camping in burrow fields, 
walking ridge lines, drinking spring water, keeping isolated shepherds' dogs 
at bay, and being one with goats.

[heart] Symmetry

Another gem from Montenegro. Snapped this sweet one in the lovely medieval hamlet Perast on the Bay of Kotor.
(The shirtlessness is not so much sketchy or even sexy. It was just dang hot out.)

Because I've been a BIT of a blogging BUM...

(some might say a "bit'o'bum")

Here are some pics

from my Balkans trip

taken of myself, by myself in Starii Bar, Montenegro

Aaaaand here's a very special face for the couple 'a folks givin' me sass 'bout ma'bloooggging habits. Hope yer happy. (Nosy bums, but I love ya.)