Author: Cascoly

I've been exploring and leading trips for over 40 years. climbing & trekkng in the Alps, Andes, North American mountain ranges and the Himalaya. I'm retired from mountaineering now but world travels in Europe, Africa & Asia continue to expand my portfolio. Besides private travel, I now focus on escorting trips to India & Turkey. Other interests include wide reading in history and vegetable gardening / cooking. You can download digital images here, or find images at https://steve-estvanik.pixels.com. We have many thousands of images we haven't displayed yet; so, if you have a special need or request please contact us

The Fall of Constantinople in 1453

The fall of Constantinople in 1453 was a major turning point in world history, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire and the beginning of the Ottoman Empire’s ascendancy. Constantinople, which had been the capital of the Byzantine Empire for over a thousand years, was one of the most heavily fortified cities in the world, with walls that had withstood multiple sieges.

Cascoly Europe Travels – Photos & Journals

See our latest small group tours Europe is a diverse and fascinating continent, offering an incredible array of cultures, landscapes, and experiences to those who visit. Europe travel is a great way to immerse oneself in history, art, architecture, and cuisine, as well as to explore the beauty of the natural environment. In earlier days,… Continue reading Cascoly Europe Travels – Photos & Journals

Christianity in Cappadocia – Art and Underground Cities

Cappadocia has been an important area for Christian Art for hundreds of years . The terrain is well suited to defense, with cave dwellings and underground cities easily carved from the volcanic tufa. This stone is easy to excavate, but then hardens with exposure to air. With plentiful water and hiding places, various waves of Christian emigrants and… Continue reading Christianity in Cappadocia – Art and Underground Cities

Hoodoo and Cave Church Hiking in Cappadocia

The usual tourist circuit in Cappadocia triangulates Goreme, Avanos and Urgup, but just off this well beaten path there are beautiful, yet easy, day hikes and walks that let you explore the tufa formations and also enjoy vistas of this volcanic land of ‘fairy chimneys’. Gallery of Cappadocia hiking Here are the details from one… Continue reading Hoodoo and Cave Church Hiking in Cappadocia

Ruins of Ancient Architecture

Ancient Ruins Greek & Roman Ruins HierapolisEphesusNemrut Dag colossal headsRhodes, GreeceSantorini Akrotiri, GreeceAegean Coast of Turkey (Aphrodisias, etc) Aspendos theater is known for its remarkable acoustics and impressive architecture. The seating area is divided into three sections: Buy prints, mugs, jigsaw puzzles & other products – Ancient History Ancient Near East Books about ancient Near East – Hittites,… Continue reading Ruins of Ancient Architecture

SanliUrfa – Ancient Crossroads of History

Urfa and Harran are two ancient cities in southeastern Turkey that have a rich and storied history dating back thousands of years. Both cities have played important roles in the development of human civilization and have been centers of learning, culture, and religion for centuries. In 1984, the Turkish National Assembly granted Urfa the title “Şanlı”,… Continue reading SanliUrfa – Ancient Crossroads of History

Göbekli Tepe and Neolithic Malta and Sardinia

Göbekli Tepe is an archaeological site located  about 10 miles from Urfa in southeastern Turkey. It’s intrigued scholars, historians, and the general public since its discovery in the 1960s. The name Göbeklitepe (both spellings are used) means “Potbelly Hill” in Turkish, and it refers to the distinctive shape of the hill on which the site… Continue reading Göbekli Tepe and Neolithic Malta and Sardinia

Back in the USSR – Part 2: Sweated & Feted – Bukhara & Samarkand

Jewels of the Silk Road: A Grand Tour of Uzbekistan Read about our recent trip to Central Asia with more image galleries Previously, on “Back in the USSR”: In 1984 I responded to an invitation from the Soviet Sports Committee to visit the  Pamir, Central Asia & the Caucasus.    We explored the steppes below Pik… Continue reading Back in the USSR – Part 2: Sweated & Feted – Bukhara & Samarkand