Today, on December 19, many Eastern Christians celebrate the St. Nicolas Day. Little children especially look forward to it because they usually get gifts under the pillow brought by St. Nicolas. The tradition is very much like what Santa Claus does on Christmas, however not many people realize that Santa Claus and St. Nicolas are the same person. 

I love Istanbul. It's a little bit chaotic, a bit overwhelming, a bit stinky, but it's always real, vibrant and timeless. Istanbul used to be an important milestone on the Silk Road connecting East and West, North and South, and many cultures that would not intersect otherwise. There has been no Silk Road for many years now, but you can still see, hear, breathe, taste and touch its influence. For me, Istanbul is one of those cities that I always want to come back to. As a matter of fact, it also has a historical significance for me as a Ukrainian, as Kyivan Rus brought up Christianity from here over a millennium ago. This article will guide you through the top 7 attractions in Istanbul that I handpicked for you.

Elmali is an old Ottoman town located way off the beaten path so the vast majority of tourists in Turkey have no clue it even exists. Yet Elmali is a very interesting and authentic place where you can almost witness life in rural Turkey as it was 100 years ago before the Ottoman Empire collapsed.

Super extreme heat and very low precipitation caused several forest fires in Turkey along the Mediterranean coast in the summer of 2016. When we hear about things like that in the news, we tend to empathize with those who are affected, but, trust me, it's a completely different experience when you and your family are personally impacted by a natural disaster.

There are many fascinating places worth visiting in southwestern Turkey, and the eternal flames of Chimaera at Mount Olympos (different from Olympus in Greece where the Greek gods are believed to have lived) is one of them. Located just a short drive from the laid-back village of Cirali, it features some of the most unusual geological phenomenons on Earth where small fires constantly burn from vents in the rocks.

Turkish land, being a crossroad of cultures and civilizations over the centuries, holds some of the best ruins from Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. Most of today's Turkey used to be called Anatolia or Asia Minor in ancient times. And the most 'generous' part of Anatolia in terms of old ruins lay along the southwestern shore of the country closer to Greece. I read a dozen books and articles while preparing for my trip to Turkey, so here are the top four most impressive lost cities I hand-picked for you among dozens of others in Turkey.

In my previous article, I deliberately omitted the natural wonders of Turkey as one of the reasons to travel to this beautiful country, because I wanted to make sure you get enough pictures and information to fully appreciate such places. Turkey has been lucky to have some unique natural treasures and Pamukkale, a World Heritage Site, is one of them that attracts visitors from all over the globe.

I have visited Turkey three times and will do it again if I get a chance. For many reasons, Turkey is one of my favourite destinations. Unfortunately, the majority of people who visit Turkey, never leave their all-inclusive resort to explore this wonderful country. But trust me - Turkey has so much to offer so that anyone can find their own reason to fall in love with Turkey.