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I have always wondered about distant countries and continents. I wanted to visit America and Asia but was never especially attracted by neighboring countries. To me, a girl living in Ukraine, Eastern Europe, long-haul expeditions seemed more romantic and appealing. Yet, it all changed when I traveled to Turkey in 2014. I could not believe that the country that is just two hours away could charm me so much. Friendly people, their unique lifestyle and oriental atmosphere ¬– everything seemed so miraculous to me that I could not even realize that it was real. My first stop was Istanbul. While landing, I looked down and saw an enormously big city. Later, I visited multiple districts, each being distinctive from one another. It was surprising to see children playing safely on narrow roads with crazy traffic, women carrying large bulks of food and drinks to cook for their families, and men drinking tea on the streets in the evening, sitting on small chairs near their apartments. It was overwhelming to see a mosaic of filigree mosques and to hear a melodic sound calling religious people for prayer. That all was so uncommon for Ukraine and for a girl who lived all my life in a religiously homogenous society. With all these differences and experiences, it suddenly dawned on me: the life we live when we travel is a short introduction to the life we could have if we happened to be born in another country. However, Istanbul is not only about a mixture of different cultures, each bringing something new into its melting pot. It is also about a long history of imperial order, glorious victories, and prominent personalities. It is about clashes between Christians and Muslims and their millennial peaceful coexistence. Istanbul is all about love and beauty that you see every step you take. Native Istanbulians love their city but they also infect migrants and tourists with this love. They make you feel as if you are the most expected and wanted guest in their house. Traders and small restaurant owners all hurry up to show the best products they have, making you feel at home and much happier. Needless to say, the beauty of Istanbulian hills and are mind-blowing. A one-hour Bosphorus boat tour is the best investment you can make as a traveler seeking peace of mind and amazing landscapes. If you buy a famous fish bread before getting onboard at Eminonu station, you will feel a hundred percent local with all your gastronomic needs met. White marble banks, sharp minarets, seagulls, and mighty bridges are all unofficial symbols of Istanbul that keep beckoning millions of tourists and internal migrants every year. The next my stop was Konya. Quite a big city in the heart of the country offered an absolutely different travel experience. Once the capital of an ancient Iconian Sultanate and the center of Sufism, this city has kept its historical, religious and cultural uniqueness. Over the course of just one day, I visited Rumi’s tomb, went to caves left by ancient people inhabiting this place, and observed the beautiful night view of the city from its highest point. Truth be said, there, I ate the most amazing etliekmek (Turkish pizza) in the entire country. My next stop was Antalya, and I was more than excited. A well-known city welcoming millions of tourists each year who travel there to swim in the warm Mediterranean Sea, breathe fresh mountainous air, and enjoy the beauty of green slopes cannot be disappointing. However, my advice is not to stay in the city. All these experiences are available if you trade the comfort of big city life to a car trip to its premises. All the beauty is there, along the coastline and far from touristic places. It is important to challenge yourself and go camping to enjoy the south of Turkey to the fullest. On my way back, all I could think about was why I had not considered going to Turkey earlier. I kept asking myself whether there was still a place that could surprise me more than this discovery of Turkey. Deep in these thoughts, I made myself a promise to go back and experience even more.