Istanbul, Turkey
Hagia Sophia Wishing Column
Legend says if you stick your thumb in the hole and it gets wet, your wish will be granted.
Places I've been
Places this traveler has marked as been there.
Istanbul, Turkey
Legend says if you stick your thumb in the hole and it gets wet, your wish will be granted.
Istanbul, Turkey
An Art Nouveau gem hides beneath the layers of city grime obscuring this once-magnificent building.
Istanbul, Turkey
Climb a steep hill in 90 seconds on the second-oldest urban subway in the world.
Istanbul, Turkey
The most metal church of all time was built in record time because of an international, pious pissing contest.
Palmyra, Syria
Mysterious lost empire of the Silk Road.
Hama, Syria
Only a handful of these gorgeous historic waterwheels remain but even those are in danger from local unrest.
Aleppo, Syria
Amid the rubble of Aleppo's Old Quarter, part of a historic market has been restored and re-opened.
Aleppo, Syria
One of the oldest and largest castles in the world.
Safita, Syria
Ruins of the Crusaders' headquarters.
Merom Golan, Golan
Saddle up to Israel's only cowboy-themed bar for a hearty (and kosher) steak.
Golan
Named for the biblical warrior, the largest castle in Israel actually dates to the Middle Ages.
Golan
Ghost Town in the Demilitarized Zone of the Golan Heights.
Damascus, Syria
3D war panorama in Damascus built with help from North Korea.
Jerash, Jordan
Gladiators battle and chariots race daily in the ruins of a once-great Roman city.
Petra District, Jordan
An ancient capital city that dates back 3,000 years and harbors many surprises.
Petra District, Jordan
A more chill but no less fascinating version of the famous ancient archeological site.
Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Tel Aviv's popular neighborhood went though endless waves of transformation.
Amman, Jordan
Just outside of Jordan's capital lies an ancient castle and intriguing caves dating back to the Copper Age.
Areedh Sub-District, Jordan
Concentrated around the Dead Sea, these surprising canyons are filled with coursing water, fish, and even crabs.
East Jerusalem, Israel
A "miracle" that seems to produce more holy fistfights than holy revelations.
Jerusalem, Israel
The only quarter of the Old City not dedicated to a major world religion.
Jerusalem, Israel
The home of the Dead Sea Scrolls is an abstract modernist dream.
Laqiya, Israel
Traditional Bedouin crafting has become an official tourist site and successful industry for its female craftspeople.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
This indoor ski resort has a mountain contained inside a mall.