Turquia

Colorful landscapes full of history and culture, in a tour that we made my partner and friend, with whom I traveled a few days and now I share with you. We were able to visit several countries, we had the opportunity to be in Istanbul - Turkey, Athens - Greece, Cyprus, Israel - Jerusalem. A trip full of mysticism as we visited some emblematic but at the same time wonderful places.

I will start with Turkey which is officially called the Republic of Turkey and I can tell you that it is a transcontinental country, with most of the territory located in Western Asia and a smaller part in Eastern Europe.

Nor can one visit this city without passing through the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and more than 4000 stores; its extension is enormous and daily receives between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors approximately. For us, it was an incredible labyrinth! Here you find everything. Fashion, and household items of all kinds, are just a few of the many things that are sold in this majestic place; considered one of the first shopping malls in the world: it is currently a tourist attraction and one of the most visited annually.

Our taste and satisfaction made us even more enthusiastic about our tour, but we arrived at another place called Jerusalem in Israel where it was incredible to go back to such ancient and significant places and moments.

Jerusalem plays a central role in the spiritual and emotional outlook of all three major monotheistic religions. For Jews around the world, it is the center of ancestral longings, living proof of ancient greatness and independence, and a center of national rebirth; for Christians, it is the scene of the agony and triumph of Jesus; for Muslims, it is the goal of the mystical night journey of the Prophet Muhammad and the site of one of Islam's holiest shrines. For all three religions, it is a holy city, a center of pilgrimage, and an object of devotion. Jerusalem has retained a diverse and cosmopolitan character, particularly in its walled Old City with its Armenian, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim quarters. Here we saw Arabs in traditional and modern attire; Christians, Western and Eastern, a variety of secular attire and monastic garb; Jews in casual and Orthodox dress; and crowds of tourists mingling in colorful patterns. Synagogues, churches, mosques, and homes of various styles make up the city's unique architectural mosaic. The aroma of cooking and spices, the ringing of church bells, calls to prayer, and the chanting of Jewish prayers at the Western (Wailing) Wall add flavor to city life. The absence of vehicular traffic within most of the Old City helps preserve its character, for us, it was a very special place, also because we learned that in 1981 UNESCO declared this site a World Heritage Site. Nazareth, Bethlehem, the Jordan River, etc., are places that, even if you are not religious, it is super interesting to visit simply because of the history they hold. And what to say about the languages that we heard in Arabic, Hebrew, Latin, or English that assures to be a multicultural city in another sense.

From there we moved to Cyprus. It is a popular tourist destination for Europeans, in this location, we were able to observe its mountains, fertile valleys, and wide beaches. Here many couples and couples visit this romantic island and at the same time warm its climate. Perhaps because of the memory of the home of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. Established for more than 10 millennia, Cyprus is located at a cultural, linguistic, and historical crossroads between Europe and Asia. Its main cities, the capital of Nicosia, Limassol, Famagusta, and Paphos, have absorbed the influences of generations of conquerors, pilgrims, and travelers and have a cosmopolitan and provincial air.

I also tell you about our tour of Athens in Greece, its territory is incredible since one-fifth of it corresponds to its islands, which are only 2 thousand, comparable in size to England or Alabama in the United States.

Greece is the southernmost of the countries of the Balkan Peninsula. Geography has greatly influenced the country's development. It has about 170 islands that are inhabited; some of the easternmost Aegean islands lie within a few miles of the Turkish coast. The country's capital is Athens, which expanded rapidly in the second half of the 20th century.

Historically, the country's arid landscape caused people to migrate. Greeks, like Jews and Armenians, have traditionally been migratory people living in various parts of the world.

We marvel at the city and the landscape, Greece is a country that is at once European, Balkan, Mediterranean, and Near Eastern. It is at the junction of Europe, Asia, and Africa. And here I boast its rich gastronomy and the friendliness of its people. In Athens it was incredible to walk through the streets of the city with an infrastructure that dictates history, with its white marble floors, and suddenly find archaeological sites, there mixed among the city that speaks of its ancient history, just seeing the Acropolis up close was impressive, as it is undoubtedly the most popular attraction of the Greek capital. Approximately seven million tourists climb the Acropolis Hill every year to teleport back to ancient Greece and get a close-up view of the Parthenon. A place with the rich history of the Acropolis has many fascinating stories to tell. It is a unique monument declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Today I recommend you to travel to those countries that I visited because it was an incredible experience in general, they were countries I would say, swathes of incredible landscapes for their history that frame beauty and variety of culture.