Georgia. This country should be on every traveller’s bucket list! Sitting at the crossroads of major civilizations like Persia, Byzantium, and the Ottoman Empire, and serving as a bridge between Europe and Asia, the country is a cultural melting pot that showcases diverse landscapes stretching from the Black Sea coast to the majestic Caucasus Mountains. I had the pleasure of visiting Georgia multiple times between 2008 and 2014, and its appeal always called me to return. Despite both Ukraine and Georgia sharing over 70 years under the same repressive Soviet regime, Georgia struck me as the most exotic place I've ever visited. You will experience rich history, delicious cuisine, beautiful scenery, and very warmhearted people. In this article, I'm excited to share my top nine fascinating encounters in Georgia.  

Show me a place on Earth where people would not have heard of the United States of America or would not have felt its influence. For good or bad, America is such a strong superpower that only a few countries dare to oppose it politically, economically and militarily. Millions of people across the globe have been raised on American music and movies, and well over half of the world's population use technologies originating from the US daily. But America hasn't always been like that. In fact, it was very different from what it is today before Columbus officially "opened" it in 1492. Luckily, there are still some places in the US that can give us a glimpse of what it looked like in the old days. One of them is Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in northern New Mexico. 

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.

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.