An Albanian Whirlwind

The country that originally drew me to the Balkans, Albania sure gave me the adventure I wanted! Had a night out in Tirana with a local and was lucky enough to end up in a hostel dorm with a former Albania Peace Corps gal, Casey. Tagged along on a Lake Koman ferry boat trip with her and her fiancé, Travis. (The way I attract these Peace Corps folk is just beyond me.) Photo from the canyons. Uh-mazing. You want crazy mountain drives, sketchy transportation modes called "furgons," and dirt cheap opps for seeing the most stunning mountain places? Albania's your country!! Want mafia rumors, outrageous nightlife, communist bunkers, and travel warnings, and to accidentally end up in Kosovo? Yep, Albania's got that too.

Picking Mulberries in Peristera

Despite a hazardous trip up (ankle and knee busting while getting off a bus, walking and hitch hiking for 10KM, and a bee sting in the garden upon arrival) I enjoyed a restful night and two days in the lovely village of Peristera, Greece. My Couchsurfing host Kay let me rest in her breathtaking self-designed home in the hills. She cooked me wonderful meals and we chatted about so many things among her gorgeous antique-decorated rooms. What a special spot.

Celebrating American Independence in Halkidiki!

Happy birthday, America! A swim in the sea and lounging at Freedom beach bar (for real!) in your honor!

Thessaloniki, Greece

First real Couchsurfing stint (a raging success), seaside coffees, Byzantine churches, The House of Father Turk, and food food food!!! Shout out to Despina and Andreas, my super hosts and new Greek friends. I'm taking upon myself to be the official American promoter of Northern Greece tourism!!

Edirne and Onwards West!

Bused across the Thracian region of Turkey to pay a farewell visit to the country's best mosques in Edirne. Spent the day oggling with my Antep buddies Wally and Kathleen and their famdamly. (Eski Camii is officially one of the most spectacular man-made spaces I've ever entered. W-O-W, wow. Tough not to be awe-struck.) Unfortch kept our trip to camii touring since the town's other big deal--shirtless, leather pants-wearing, olive oil slicked men wrestling each other--started the next day. Ah, our luck.

Welp, from Edirne I said goodbye to the last of my Antep FBright crew and literally walked across the border into Greece. After short delay at the border during which I kept uncharacteristically cool and convincingly helpless I cruised through without so much as a fine for exiting with an expired residency permit! Personal victory. Happy dance the whole 500 meters of no-man's-land between countries. Just me, a peacock (for real), and sunflower fields at sunset. Ro.man.tic.

Happy July! The adventure begins...

Buh-Bye June!!

Last days in the big Isty were spent seeing...
Chora Church mosaics & marble
Sultanahmet Camii (AKA the Blue Mosque. Why? IDK.)
And the ever awe-inspiring Aya Sofya (church->mosque->museum)
Getting my must-see fix! I've been living here for a year, but hey, better late than not at all, eh?

In Istanbul...

Busing into town across the famous continental divide bridge--Asia to Europe by suspension.

Takin the long-time-coming opps to be a tourist. Seeing iconic spots by day and falling asleep to the Aya Sofya from my spot in a rooftop hostel.

And the biggest Istanbul 'thing'? Saying goodbye, one by one, to the peeps who quickly became my whole world for a year. Antep BFFs 4 Eva!!!