Travelling Pioneers

In the main tourist center of Antalya, Turkey, I discovered a little hidden treasure that seemed to defy time: a quaint antique store nestled among the city's vibrant streets. This isn't just any antique shop; it's a veritable time capsule, each visit revealing amazing new finds. As I stepped through its doors, I was immediately struck by the astounding array of artifacts, each with a rich history etched into its being. Remarkably, some of these relics dated back over 2000 years, their silent forms narrating tales from eras gone by. The origin stories of these pieces were as fascinating as the items themselves. Many had journeyed from the troubled lands of Iran and Iraq, brought over by refugees who, in their search for a new life, smuggled these pieces of their heritage across borders. Before I show you some of the finds, here is the location .... Just in case you ever make it out that way. This was an old Bible on calf skin. Written in greek. No idea how old. Beautiful ca

The most fascinating thing about the Pegamon Museum in Berlin is how the objects there are connected to the Bible. In this page I will try to share the top things that not only relate to the Bible, but confirm it’s authenticity. I will also share things that bring Bible accounts to light and make them more realistic. 1. The Ishtar Gate This is the crown jewel of the museum and has much significance to the Bible. It was likely seen by many Israelite captives, including Daniel himself! It was built by Nebuchadnezzar around 575 BCE. The walls were disassembled in Iraq and moved to this museum early in the 20th century. The beautiful and colorful glazed bricks retell the glory of Babylon. Original gate brought to Berlin from Babylon This was one of the gates through which one could enter Babylon. What is more impressive is that which is not seen. Babylon was so fortified that this wall extended 14 meters (45 feet) underground! It accounts for the confidence and pride that Nebuchadnezzar ex

One of the cool things about living in Turkey is that it fits our pioneer budget on many levels. Besides the cheap cost of living, access to the Istanbul International Airport give us good budget options for holidays. This makes travel on a budget possible to so many destinations in Europe and beyond. It fits perfectly with a pioneer budget and so I want to share our budget experience in Budapest. The culture shock hit us pretty quick though. A small bottle of water in Turkey is about 25 cents. Here in Budapest, it’s around $3. Same brand! After that initial shock, we were ready to experience some bonafide Hungarian culture. Here are, in our opinion, the best things to enjoy in Budapest on a budget. Hungarian Goulash – 15 euro After living in Turkey for a while, you really start to miss pork – especially bacon. Muslims don’t eat pork so it’s almost impossible to find in Turkey. So we asked a local at our hotel for a place that the locals go to for Hungarian food. We weren’t disappoin

One of the best hidden gems in Cappadocia are the pottery making establishments. Unlike most amazing things to see in Cappadocia, this one is completely free, well organized and is arguably the best pottery place to see. What I love about this pottery place is that the tours are well organized and completely free ! Better yet, they even give you a free little pottery souvenir. We reached the place by car and it is located here . The name of the place is Chez Galip and is one of many pottery establishments in the Cappadocia region. After visiting many of these establishments in Cappadocia, I have to say that this is hands down the best pottery experience that we have had. Let me give you 5 reasons why this is a must see in Cappadocia. 1. See Pottery Making Demonstrated in the Workshop Upon entering, you come to a room where there is a potter’s wheel. A well trained “potter” is ready to demonstrate how pottery has been made by hand for thousands of years. What we found amazing about t