Turkmenistan
The Gates of Hell
A fiery crater has been burning in the Karakum Desert since 1971.
Places I want to go
Places on this traveler's wishlist.
Turkmenistan
A fiery crater has been burning in the Karakum Desert since 1971.
Oxford, England
The fantastic charm of England's oldest botanical garden has made it a place of writerly inspiration for centuries.
Oxford, England
The beams of the New College, Oxford dining hall come with an amazing story.
Oxford, England
Hidden in plain sight, this creepy sculpture watches from above.
Oxford, England
One of Europe's oldest libraries.
Oxford, England
The names Lúthien and Beren can be found inscribed on the shared grave of the famous writer and his beloved wife and muse.
Rilski manastir, Bulgaria
This historic black and white monastery is one of Bulgaria's architectural jewels.
Istanbul, Turkey
This eatery re-creates dishes from the Ottoman Empire so you can dine like a sultan.
Adalar, Turkey
One of the largest wooden constructions in Europe was meant to be a casino, but soon became an orphanage.
Istanbul, Turkey
A fountain standing as a testament to a doomed alliance.
Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
An homage to the medieval rulers of Bulgaria.
Samovodene, Bulgaria
Outstanding, eerie frescoes and decorations fill this 19th-century monastery.
Sofia, Bulgaria
Eastern Bloc nostalgia, anybody?
Karlukovo, Bulgaria
The ceiling of Prohodna Cave in northern Bulgaria affords a peek at the sky via two deity-sized-eye-shaped holes.
Gabrovo, Bulgaria
A mountain pass in Bulgaria's Balkan Mountains was the site of four historic battles.
Shipka, Bulgaria
A magnificent, glittering building tucked into a tiny Bulgarian mountain town.
Kazanlak, Bulgaria
UNESCO-protected ancient burial ground.
Melnik, Bulgaria
This tiny Bulgarian town offers a stunning location in the mountains and a storied history.
Beli plast, Bulgaria
In a long-dry lake bed, these groups of massive stone pillars bear a striking resemblance to clumps of everyone's favorite fungi.
Yagodina, Bulgaria
A spectacular Bulgarian cave resembling a devil's head with a waterfall rushing down its throat.
Ardino, Bulgaria
An architectural marvel that spans the Arda River, and has stories of a haunted past.
Kyiv, Ukraine
340-foot statue built to honour the Heroes of the Soviet Union.
Kazanlak, Bulgaria
An abandoned saucer-shaped monument in the Bulgarian mountains.
Lviv, Ukraine
Monumental sculptures guard many of the graves, transforming this necropolis into an open-air fine art museum.