Postcards from Turkey
Words by Dalene Heck / Photography by Pete Heck
It almost pains us to hit “publish” on this, our final post from Turkey. Because, obviously, it is our final post from Turkey.
For now…
Here are some of our favorite photos of Turkey from our favorite places from (dare I say…) our favorite country?
Enjoy!
Thankfully, on our return to Istanbul, we had much better weather with which to explore.
But we still ducked inside when we had to…
Constructed in the 6th century, the Basilica Cistern is the largest of several hundred cisterns built below Istanbul. A great Basilica once stood in its place, but once turned to a cistern, was capable of holding almost three million cubic feet of water.
The historic ruins of Turkey will forever be some of our favorite spots…
As will the incredible natural wonder of Pamukkale.
And we can’t forget, of course, about the amazing region of Cappadocia.
So many other random, beautiful memories…
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Many thanks to Roomorama for an apartment during our final few days – in the heart of the action in Istanbul! For a full review about our stay, please click here.
Wow, I just can’t wait to go to Turkey! I will fly to Istanbul on June 28th, and after a few days there I will cross the country to the south. Unfortunately I won’t get to see much this time, but I will be back asap. 🙂
Amazing pics, I especially like the Hagia Sophia and the Allah eyes hanging from the tree. Great job!
Thanks Giulia! It’s such a beautiful country. You will soon see first hand. Enjoy 🙂
Giulia,
It actually called “Nazar boncuÄŸu” and not Allah eye as Allah means “God”. According to muslim believes (Islam) Allah does not have a physical body. Just so you know:)
Fantastic pictures as always. Hard to pick a favorite. Look forward to when you return, there is still so much of the country to explore!
I couldn’t pick a favorite either. You should have seen the process to pick the top 15… We started with 75.
Gorgeous as always guys! I am sooo itching to go to Turkey! Soon I hope!
We hope so too 🙂 I am sure you will love it when you do make it there…
Turkey is one of my top 5 places to go to in the next 2 years. This post makes me want to go even more!
Excellent, we love to hear comments from our readers that our posts increase the itch to get to a country. Thanks so much Christine!
Awesome!!! Makes me want to go back!! Someday….
Cheers Annie! You need to get an avatar and replace your gray and white silouette 🙂
I can’t think of a word to describe how beautiful is this! Can’t wait to plan a trip here. It’s been in my bucket list for quite long. =)
I love all your photos, but these ones are particularly beautiful. I can feel in them all your love for Turkey!
I am glad that our love for Turkey was felt. We miss it so… All the more reason to return. Thanks Simon!
Oh let us just gush over your photos once again! 🙂 Great set of postcards. I’d buy them, anyway. So glad you enjoyed your time here and I suspect you can understand why we came here in 2003 to travel for six months and never went home. 🙂
Julia
Julia, I completely understand. It was the first country we have been to where we said we could very easily call this home. Such an amazing place. Thank you.
Love the photo with the eyes on the branch! A coworker just brought me one from his trip to Turkey.
Thanks Megan. Dalene took this photo when we were in Cappadocia, needless to say we found the Envy Eye everywhere throughout Turkey and now have a few on our backpacks to ward off the envy eye.
Who took the first image? Is it HDR? Looks amazing.
Thanks Swapnil. Yes it is HDR – 5 different exposures and a lot of post process. Cheers!
Excellent. I can’t help asking which app did you use for this? I will be interested in a how to.
Hey Swapnil,
Will send you a DM.
P
Stunning photos, really makes me want to visit Turkey again (I’ve been there a few times but that was ages ago). I think it might have to be the night photo from Istanbul but there is so many choose from. Well done!
Thanks Jarmo. That photo took a lot of work. It was freezing cold, near snowing, and I was set up in the middle of the road with traffic buzzing by me. I am so happy I got this shot and how it turned out. Thanks so much!
all amazing..
Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful photos! My favourite is the one of all the evil eyes because my kids were fascinated by them when we were in Greece and Turkey – I couldn’t tell you how many times we had to stop in shops to examine the evil eyes for sale!
I’ve loved reading your Turkey stories and seeing such pretty shots! I had my mouth in motion eating the whole time, and we had less-than-perfect weather, so my pictures aren’t as nice. Where’s the next stop, then? Still curling?
Hey Cat, We are currently in Malta catching up from our quick 8 days trip to Jordan. We will be here until the end of June then off to Slovenia for July. There we will be meeting with the Slovenian curling association and talk them about how I can help with the development of the sport. Very excited at this opportunity.
Wow Amazing photos. And I felt your emotion in every on of them. All of your posts are making me so excited for my trip to Turkey in a few short months.
Thanks for all the great writing and photography!
Thanks Annie. I am happy that the emotion came through in both our writing and photography. I hope you will love your time in the wonderful country.
As a postcard collector – I must say – I WISH they had postcards as splendid as these ones!
So kind 🙂 I keep meaning to contact the postcard company… Thanks Chrystal.
When you do – you let me know! I’ll be the first to place an order! It may be a large one too….but luckily I don’t need the stamps – only the beautiful photos!! Cheers!
I’m with the other who said “WOW”! As usual your photos are amazing. Turkey is on my list but after seeing these photos, I may just have to move it up to the top.
Gorgeous photos of Turkey. Love the light in these. I have to admit I haven’t bought a postcard in years but I would if they looked like this 🙂
Thanks Jeremy! I need to contact a postcard publishing co. apparently 🙂
Wow, as always, just WOW – lovely photos. I especially love the Hagia Sofia ones, I’m glad you got better weather!
We are certainly happy too. Us Canadians dread snow. Funny isn’t it?
Your photography blows my mine. I need to go back to Turkey. Plenty of reasons though, we’ve only been in Istanbul and Izmir.
“mind”, not “mine”.
Eventhough the “mind” is “mine”.
(long story short, it’s a typo!)
hehe, i knew what you meant. Thanks so much Dina. Definitely a lot more to explore outside those two magnificent cities. Hope to maybe meet up again on our travels 🙂
Beyond beyond beyond amazing! I can’t pick a favorite they are all so gorgeous. <3
Thanks so much Andi, we had a tough time picking only 15… Like I mentioned above, we started at around 75 and had to obviously cut down…
Absolutely stunning photos!!
WOW! Stunning photos! The one of the tree with the eye charms is awesome! Great great shots! I can tell this will definitely not be the last we hear of you in Turkey ; )
Thanks Caro. Again, Dalene’s eye and trigger finger on that one. Not even much post processing. You are right that this won’t be our last journey there.
Wow. Just wow. I think this may be my favorite collection of postcards yet!
Thanks so much Amanda. We loved your collection too on New Zealand and hope to see more!!!
Awww, the end of the Turkey posts! I feel like it’s the end of an era, lol. Lovely photos, as always. 🙂
I know, us too. We heart that country so damn much. We’ll be back.
We keep saying that we have to meet up with you guys, what’s your plan over the next while?
!!!!! Absolutely Amazing. !!!!!!!!
Fantastic pictures – makes me want to hop on a plane to Turkey this afternoon.
Do it! I dare you 🙂
Beautiful photos 🙂
Incredibly incredible photos. Words fail me. Just awesome stuff. I have a feeling Turkey will be back on your agendas soon!
IT WAS OFF your agenda? Shame, Laurence, shame. I take my sunscreen back. 🙂
This is really inspiring me to visit Turkey. Which is fortunate, since we’re headed there quite soon.
A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. pictures………….
I think you guys will really like it – glad you are going there. Although, it might be a little “tame” for you and Z after all you’ve seen and done.
I absolutely can not wait to get to Turkey! Dani’s been a few times, but I just have this feeling I am going to love it. I just want to jump and live inside your pictures for awhile! 🙂
Jess! You’ve got to go! Probably our favorite country…and I don’t say that lightly!
We’ve just left Turkey too after four glorious years to return home to England. These mouth-watering images have made me instantly nostalgic.
Four years! Wow! I’m sure it was difficult to leave after that long.
Gorgeous photos of a wonderful country! Even though you had to leave, at least you made some great memories, met some amazing people, and now you have all these beautiful photos for reminiscing.
Amazeballs x100.
I love your made up words! 🙂
Amazing images – doubly looking forward to my trip in September to Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pammukale and Antalya now!
I am already needing a trip back. I hope you will love it as much as we did.
I really want to go back to Turkey one of these days soon. We’ve only been to the Blue Mosque and both the spice and Grand bazaars on a long layover in Istanbul. Your food post especially makes me want to visit! 😉
Those are really incredible photographs! You did a really god job capturing all the beautiful and diversity of sights in Turkey!
These are all so amazing I have no idea how you narrowed them down but I think the hot air balloons are my favourite, the way you framed it feels like we’re peeking in on a scene.
Wow! So hard to pick a favorite, but I’ll go with the hot air balloons.
Wow there all great, but the Hagia Sofia will be my Favourite.
Beautiful. I especially like the black and whites. There’s been a lot written about Turkey on a number of the blogs I read recently, and the reviews couldn’t get much better. just another place to add to an already bursting bucket list 🙂
It is a truly special place, unlike any other we have been to. I hope it moves to the top of everyone’s list.
If all teh above comments could be put in one, I would not be able to express my admiration and LOVE for this gorgeous, amazing, enchanting country. I have been there five times and every time I LOVED it more and more! My heart, soul and thoughts are there. I am going to go back there every single year! Thank you for those girgeous pictures and the delight you are giving with them! I have collected thousands of pictures from all over Turkey…
Thanks for your comment Roberta! You feel exactly as we do…can’t say enough good about Turkey. 🙂
Thanks for your comment Roberta! You feel exactly as we do…can’t say enough good about Turkey. 🙂
Love the evil eye tree – where was that taken?
That was in Cappadocia! On the way to the open air museum in Goreme, there was a little stand set up on a little side road where a lady was selling them for people to tie onto the tree.
That’s what I get for skipping the open air musuem in the middle of the stifling hot day to go work in the shade!
Gorgeous Photos! I pinned all your pictures… I couldn’t resist! Hope you don’t mind :))
Ha – of course not! Thanks! 🙂
Amazing photos. You’ve put Turkey at the top of my wish list!
Woot! Now if only Turkey Tourism would respond to my emails asking for money… 🙂
Amazing photos! We haven’t been to Turkey yet but it is certainly on the list. I love the photo with the mountains and hot air balloons! Thanks for sharing.