Morocco! In the 1960s and 1970s, Marrakesh was for some Europeans a kind of nearby version of the great road to Kathmandu — less distant, but with the same promise of difference, spices, slow time, and the feeling of having arrived somewhere far away.At a time when Western musicians were looking for new sounds and…
Ortaköy Mosque
Lost in Istanbul Whenever I visit Istanbul, I have three absolute must-visit spots. First, a morning Turkish coffee at Hafiz Mustafa in Taksim. Second, the Süleymaniye Mosque, simply because it was designed by the legendary architect Sinan. And third, a walk down to the Ortaköy Mosque—mostly because it’s a bit further out, which helps me…
Late Night Strolling Down Manhattan
A short nostalgic essay about experiencing New York In the middle of summer, I was already making plans for what I would do for ten days in New York. Nothing dramatic, nothing touristy, nothing that would excite me too much. Something for the soul, as they say.Reminiscing about the years before, when I wandered those…
Cottage Cheese Polenta
A Creamy Twist on a Slovenian Classic Cottage cheese polenta is a simple but extremely filling dish that you can prepare as a standalone meal or a rich side dish. The cottage cheese adds a creamy texture and freshness to the polenta, while also boosting its protein content.While polenta is considered an Italian national dish,…
Thin Air and Narrow Runways
When one day you decide to go trekking around the Annapurnas. When you have no fitness at all, but you somehow convince yourself it will work. It was back in 2007, when I was younger and believed there were no obstacles under the sky for me.You start the journey in Besi Sahar and, after two…
Kyrgyzstan by night
I always had (and still have) a desire to take a good picture of the night sky. I remember all the nights when my father carried me on his shoulders as a little boy. And we would observe the stars and constellations. All those exotic names Aldebaran, Denebola, Ursa Major, Cassiopeia, the Milky Way rang…
Uncle Ray Solo
One Man Band Have you ever photographed something that seemed interesting to you at the time, and years later you realized that you had photographed a piece of history, a piece of urban legend, something that was left behind in another time?So I was walking through Fishermen’s Wharf in San Francisco back in June 2001….
Dandelion
In the kitchen I remember that as a child I didn’t like lettuce and everything that looked like it. I claimed that it was all just a slightly different grass and that it was for rabbits. And I’m not a rabbit!My mother was a smart woman. She knew that it wouldn’t help if she forced…
Cats of Istanbul
The Aristocats American animated musical comedy film produced by Walt Disney Productions was a popular film in the early 1970s. Set in Paris, the plot follows a family of aristocratic cats who are set to gain their mistress’s fortune, much to the dismay of her butler. Thrown into the countryside, the family is helped by…
Katz’s Delicatessen
Anyone who has seen the movie When Harry Met Sally should raise their hand. Well, I haven’t. But I’ve heard a lot about it. And Meg Ryan has always been my favorite.But first things first.Katz’s Delicatessen is a legendary, kosher-style (but not kosher) deli in New York City’s Lower East Side that has been serving…