When I arrived in Cappadocia, the very first advice I heard was: 'Don't leave without waking up early in the morning.' It was still night when I opened my eyes, but I was so excited that I forgot about my tiredness. Even just watching the balloons being prepared was an experience on its own; the sound of the flames, the balloons slowly rising like giant swans… When the sky turned pink, hundreds of balloons floated all at once and I felt like I was inside the pages of a fairytale.During the flight, the fairy chimneys, vineyards, and winding dirt roads beneath me looked like an endless painting. Time had stopped, and the world was nothing but silence. When we landed, it felt strange to realize the day had only just begun; I was so full that it felt as if I had lived for days. Sitting down for a village breakfast among the stone houses, the smell of hot gözleme mixed with the colors still dancing in my mind. Cappadocia reminded me how nature and history can exist in perfect harmony.

I have visited Istanbul many times, but each time I discover a different side of it. This time I turned my route away from the crowded tourist squares. I started walking from Karaköy, diving into the streets toward Balat. Colorful painted houses, old doors, and walls covered with graffiti suddenly appeared. The laughter of a child, the paws of a street cat, an old man sitting in front of a small café… These are the truest moments of Istanbul, hidden in the details.As I wandered the streets, I sat down in a café for some tea. A woman at the next table told me about how she used to play in this neighborhood as a child. Through her story, I realized I was actually hearing the city's story too. The beauty of Istanbul is not only in its grand mosques or historical palaces, but in the daily lives of its people. Getting lost in these streets taught me that to know Istanbul is to become part of its living stories.

When I first set foot in the Alps, I was mesmerized right away. The peaks were covered in snow, while the valleys stretched out in lush green grass. On one side were crystal-clear lakes, on the other, small wooden houses… It felt as if I had stepped into a postcard. Choosing my hiking trail seemed challenging at first, but with every step I took, a sense of peace spread within me. The city rush, phone notifications, traffic… all of it was left behind.Along the way, I stopped by a small waterfall and sipped coffee from my thermos. At that moment, I asked myself: 'How long has it been since I truly stopped just to breathe?' Nature reminded me of the things I had forgotten. Sometimes a journey isn't only about seeing new places, but also about walking toward yourself. The Alps gave me exactly that; in the silence of the mountains, I found my own inner voice.