1. A waiter serves some Turkish coffee in a traditional Tophane hangout.

2. Taksim’s huge “high street,” Istiklal, is packed from end to end come nighttime, creating an irresistibly vibrant buzz.

3. Local life and architecture around the charismatic Beyoglu area.

4. A worker relaxes in a photogenic doorway during his lunchbreak.

5. Sunshine finally splashes onto the streets of Beyoglu.

6. Fishermen pose at the end of a long day’s work on the Galata Bridge.

7. Both sides of the Galata bridge are lined with these hopeful fishermen every single day.

8. A random sign in the tourist district.

9. The gorgeous sunlit arches of the Blue Mosque.

10. A man reads quietly inside the stunning interior of the Blue Mosque.

11. A bread seller earns his keep strolling up and down the Galata bridge.

12. Men playing mysterious games (possibly dominoes) in a hidden alleyway.

13. The famous Eminönü district, as seen from the Galata bridge at dusk.

1. I moved to Berlin almost exactly a year ago. After spending the summer of 2008 working here (on the HG2 Berlin guidebook), I fell head over heels and knew I had to make the move. Given my partner and I had a 9-month-old baby the obvious area to live was Prenzlauerberg — a former Eastern part of the city whose burgeoning population of young families has prompted the nickname Pram-zlauerberg. One year on and I’m still inspired daily by Pberg’s wide, leafy boulevards, multi-layered history, and laid-back vibe. (Image: Zionkirchplatz, Prenzlauerberg)

2. The relaxed feel of Berlin in general has a lot to do with the fact that there’s ‘only’ 3.7 million people here (urban population). Sounds a lot, but compared with London’s 8 million or Paris’s 10 million, it pales, Combined with the large vacant spaces created by WW2 the relative lack of people creates a rare and luxurious feeling of space usually missing from other major cities. Add cheap (but rising) prices, a limited local economy, and a significant creative community and you have one of the last truly ‘bohemian’ capitals in Western Europe.

3. Despite the chilled nature of our ‘hood, it’s only a stroll (or bike ride, usually since Berlin is very ‘geared up’ for cycling) into the hustle and bustle of Mitte, the most central area of Berlin. The spiritual heart of Mitte is Alexanderplatz, a former cattle market that now hosts the towering Fernsehturm, the heavily daubed Fountain of Friendship between Peoples, and a wealth of socialist architecture. Modern constructions notwithstanding, it’s like a brief trip into the heart of the GDR. Radiating from this central timewarp are some of Berlin’s trendiest venues, a dense network of bars, shops, boutiques, cafes, and nightclubs.

4. Despite the ongoing commercialization of Mitte and subsequent bustle, there are still many tranquil areas where you can get a taste of an older, gentler Berlin. The streets around Auguststrasse are full of art galleries and close by is the Scheunenviertel, once home to a thriving Jewish community, now a thriving warren of interesting buildings, shops, and cafes.

5. Oranienburgerstrasse offers the stunning golden dome of the New Synagogue (Neue Synagoge), originally built to accompany the growing Jewish population in Berlin. During the famous Nazi pogrom known as ‘Kristallnacht’, the synagogue was burned, and then heavily bombed in WW2. Rebuilding began when the wall came down in 1989 and it is open once more to the public today mainly as a museum.

6. Hackescher Markt hosts a small market on Saturday mornings and is usually pretty busy thanks to the nearby train station, which was known in GDR times as Marx-Engels-Platz. It’s worth taking a peek inside the station at the gorgeous interior decoration.

7. Around the corner from Hackescher Markt you’ll find the winding river Spree and its impressive Museumsinsel — Museum Island — a UNESCO World Heritage site that hosts several world-class museums including the Bode (pictured here), New Museum, Old National Gallery, and the Pergamon (see next picture).

8. The Pergamon houses some stunning reconstructed buildings such as the Pergamon Altar, the Market Gate of Miletus, and the Ishtar Gate, all consisting of parts transported from the original excavation sites. The Pergamon is visited by almost 1 million people per year, making it the most-seen art museum in Germany.

9. Two good things about walking or cycling around Berlin is: a) the lack of steep hills, and b) the abundance of street food. Depending on the season you’ll find anything from roasted chestnuts to salty pretzels – and of course wurst, in abundance. Inhaling currywurst as you walk is a popular past-time here in Berlin.

10. A walk beneath the lime trees that line the grand boulevard Unter Den Linden is mandatory for most tourists, and with good reason. At one end is the demolished Palast der Republik (from the GDR days); at the other, the world famous Brandenburger Tor, which is especially picturesque at night.

11. Equally impressive by night is the Reichstag, the seat of the German government again since Reunification. A tour up to Sir Norman Foster’s glass dome — built to emphasize the ‘transparency’ of democratic government — gives not only insightful views into the German parliament but sweeping views across the city.

12. On the other side of the Brandenburger Tor lies the Holocaust Memorial, a tribute to the “the murdered Jews of Europe.” 2,711 concrete blocks of differing height create an “uneasy” sensation as you explore within them. In the distance you can see the glass dome of the Reichstag.

13. Further along the Spree, in Kreuzberg, you can’t miss the 100-foot-high Molecule Men by artist Jonathan Borofsky.

14. Signatures from David Bowie and Iggy Pop at the famed Hansa Studios in Kreuzberg, where seminal albums like “Heroes” and “The Idiot” were recorded (amogst other albums by U2 and Depeche Mode). Kreuzberg has a rich musical heritage. It was the center of Berlin’s squat / punk scene, and today its mix of Turkish immigrants, hipsters, and punks continue to create a vibrant culture. The local nightlife remains among the city’s best, with veteran alternative / punk venues like SO36 rubbing shoulders with techno spots such as Watergate, Klub der Visionaere, Arena, and many, many more.

15. Though much of Berlin’s turbulent history lives on only as ghosts (there’s not much left from the WW2 / Nazi era save for the odd building and bullet-riddled courtyard) there’s plenty of evidence of the former Communist era. Perhaps the best place to get a sense of life in the GDR is a walk along the grandiloquent Karl-Marx-Allee, lined either side with classic examples of Soviet structures such as the famous Kino International (as seen in the movie “Goodbye Lenin”), where Communist Party leaders once watched films and puffed cigars in the Honecker Lounge out back.

16. Though the wall has been down for 20 years, there are still many psychological divisions between East and West. Many Ossies (East-dwellers) rarely cross the city to ‘Wessie’ areas like Charlottenburg, even though they offer a wealth of history (this was where the swinging ’20s were happening, after all), lots of key attractions (like the Kaiser William Memorial Church, pictured), and some very charming areas, such as Savignyplatz.

17. Charlottenburg is also good for shopping. Kurfürstendamm, known locally as the Ku’damm, is Berlin’s Oxford Street, a wide, long road full of brand stores, car showrooms, hotels, and restaurants. The feeling of upscale wealth around here can be a far cry from other city districts, especially less gentrified areas such as Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain.

18. On Sundays, the famed Mauerpark Flea Market takes place near the former wall. This haven of old vinyl, clothes, funky furnishings, and general tat draws a hip and generally hungover crowd every week. In summer, the adjacent park sees sunbathers, jugglers, and a highly popular public karaoke session.

19.After the market you can buy a ‘wurst’ from one of the many vendors. These mobile sausage sellers (pictured) are especially popular and completely unique to Berlin. Remnants of the wall line Bernauer Strasse, and the excellent Berlin Wall Museum (as well as outdoor exhibitions) can be found around here as well.

20. Nearby Kastanienallee has plenty of funky, independent stores, cheap eateries, and stylish cafes. But I prefer to head back to the ranch, maybe stopping off at my local hangout Wohnzimmer — “The Living Room” — to relax on the GDR-style furnishings and read, chat, or raise a nice cold Pilsner to Berlin. Poor, sexy – and effortlessly inspiring.

1. Marrakech is one of Morocco’s oldest and most alluring cities. Despite the constant influx of tourists, the city has maintained an exotic Old World atmosphere — particularly within the ancient medina, where map-toting tourists attempt to navigate the labyrinthine streets and locals go about their daily business as they’ve been doing for centuries.

2. Bikes and cars are common in Marrakech (prepare for a fair bit of pollution) but the donkey is still a ubiquitous form of transport, especially in the dusty medina where it’s used to pull heavy loads through the notoriously narrow streets.

3. Another common sight in the medina are…kids! The family unit is cherished by Moroccans and the streets also serve as a children’s playground, often for boisterous games of soccer such as this.

4. A large part of Marrakech’s exoticism are the abundance of old traditions and customs that are kept alive. Here a vendor sells groceries direct from a handcart.

5. Traditional artisan skills such as weaving, metalwork, pottery, bread baking, and carpentry are all very much alive in Marrakech. In fact the medina has its own “artisan quarter” where you can watch these craftsmen at work.

6. Morocco is a Muslim country. Several times a day the familiar sound of the muezzin (call to prayer) sails through the air and devotees swarm to the many mosques (sitting outside if they’re full), or simply kneel and bow their heads towards Mecca wherever they happen to be.

7. A trip to Marrakech is not complete without a visit to the souks. This intimate warren of pathways is comprised of shops often no taller and wider than the people inside them, who hawk everything from silverware to oriental carpets, pointy ‘baboush’ (slippers), replica designer handbags, and love potions. Be prepared for lots of haggling — Monty Python style.

8. The souks are intensely atmospheric. Packed tight with locals and tourists, they’re a whirlwind of motion, smells (good and bad), and patchwork roofs that create compelling chiaroscuros when the sunlight filters through.

9. Though Marrakech doesn’t hold an abundance of cultural highlights compared to other cities, there are several places well worth visiting. One is the beautiful Ben Youssef Medersa — the city’s oldest Koranic school — which was closed down in the ’60s but refurbished and reopened to the public in the ’80s.

10. During the day, Marrakech’s main square, the Djemaa El Fna, is a busy and fairly modern hub for shoppers, traders, and tourist touts (snake charmers, water bearers, acrobatic dancers). Come nighttime the place transforms into the largest open-air barbecue in the world, as the air fills with smoke and locals and visitors sit next to each other to chow down on everything from harira soup to seafood.

11. Sometimes the heat and hassle of the Pink City can get too much. Fortunately, there are a number of easy and accessible escape routes. One of the most popular trips is up to the Atlas Mountains, just an hour or two’s drive from Marrakech. The cool peaks provide beautiful respite from the chaos of the medina, and are full of Berber villages and superb walking routes.

12. And if you thought life in the city was authentic and traditional — life in the mountains is often more so.

13. Non meat-eaters needn’t worry, though — even mountainside cafes have access to vegetables.

14. Another possible day trip from the city is to Essaouira, a small, charming fishing town on the coast. It has good tourist infrastructure, and its distinctive white and blue medina is today a UNESCO heritage site. The seafood here, as you’d expect, is especially tasty.

15. Those looking for a more dramatic adventure can book a safari out to the Sahara. It’s possible to spend the night (or more) in traditional bivouac tents, climb sand dunes, and drive around marveling at the vast expanse of sand and nothingness. Now and again the barren landscape is punctuated by nomadic shepherds like this hardy Berber lady.

16. We also came across these Berber children, who were happy to receive our gifts of jewellery and biscuits in exchange for a photograph. They didn’t pause too long given the encroaching rainstorm.

1. Iceland’s main road (the “1″) is around 800 miles long and circles the entire country. Since there is very little traffic on this island of 300,000 souls, not to mention a distinct lack of vegetation and wildlife, much of the time there’s just the country’s majestic nature — lava fields, glaciers, streams, lakes, and huge lichen-covered mountains — for company.

2. If you’re lucky you might even see the famous Northern Lights (aurora borealis). This photo was taken on a trip around the Snaefellsnes glacier, one of the most stunning areas of Iceland and just a 2-3 hour drive out of Reykjavik.

3. Another scene from Snaefellsnes, this time taken during sunset. Due to its low population, much of Iceland is quintessentially rural, though with a crazy volcanic twist that makes the landscapes highly distinctive and memorable. Ever seen sheep or horses grazing peacefully in a lunar-style lava field? You will here…

4. Speaking of horses, the Icelandic breed is world famous. They’re generally small — pony-sized in fact — and have special gaits. Fun fact: laws prevent animals from being imported to Iceland or returning to the country after they’ve been exported.

5. Another very special (and largely under-acknowledged) area in Iceland are the Westfjords. The oldest part of the island geologically, they’ve developed a unique community. Travel up here can be tough due to the deep, winding fjords. On the upside you’ll often feel like you’re driving through a fairy tale.

6. A great time to visit the Westfjords is in April or May when there’s still a good chance of snow on the mountains, but when the roads are generally clear (they can be closed off during winter). Snow-based activities in the area include ice fishing, snowmobiling, and spontaneous snowman making.

7. The Westfjords region has generally been in decline since WWII and the fall-off of the fishing industries. Yet the tourist infrastructure is excellent and though many residents literally abandoned their houses and moved to Reykjavik for work, many others have kept second homes here.

8. In harsher weather you can see and feel how bleak the Westfjords (and other remote parts of Iceland) can be. Yet even foreboding skies, whiplash winds, and driving rain can’t strip the country of its inherent and often unexpected beauty. The dominant forces of nature are felt everywhere.

9. On the other hand, Iceland is an absolute delight in summer. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not cold during spring, summer, or even (sometimes) autumn. In fact, temperatures are generally at European levels, give or take a few degrees. But don’t forget that the farther north you go, the less nighttime you’re going to get. Akureyri (pictured here from across the fjord), is the second largest city after Reykjavik with 10,000 inhabitants. It’s a popular place due to its exquisite setting, nearby whale-watching tours (in Husavik), and proximity to major natural attractions such as Lake Myvatn.

10. The coastline in Iceland’s north is fascinating with its strange mix of luminous green lichen, steep cliffs, and sky-wide vistas. This shot was taken near Husavik, one of the great whale-watching centers of the world. In the background is Lundey Island, home to a multitude of bird life including puffins, black guillemots, fulmars, and arctic terns.

11. Lake Myvatn, an hour or so from Akureyri, is one of Iceland’s most beautiful and mysterious areas. A mesmerizing array of lava lakes, bubbling geothermal areas, and volcanic craters, it’s unlikely you’ll forget a trip here in a hurry. It really is like paying a visit to the moon (well, presumably. And with a bit more water).

12. To the east of the Myvatn area lies the formidable Hverfjall. A kilometer in circumference, this looming black volcanic crater was formed around 2,500 years ago.

13. A wider view of Hverfjall takes in grazing horses, parts of Lake Myvatn, a snow-capped glacier, and the region’s famed geothermal resources, which power the Myvatn Nature Baths — or the northern Blue Lagoon as it’s known. This thoroughly modern spa area (see the building with the blue roof) has mineral-rich geothermal water, a cafeteria, three natural steam baths, and a 5000-sq.-meter geothermal bathing pool maintained at a constant temperature of 38-40ºC. Sploosh.

14. You can also see the bizarre formations created by that geothermal activity up close at Hverarönd, a collection of bubbling sulfuric mud, clay springs, and steaming rocks. Remember what I was saying about the lack of darkness in summer? This photo was taken at 11pm.

1. The small Amazonian town of Parintins is reached from Manaus via a 20-30 hour boat trip…or a one hour plane ride.

2. The population of Parintins is 100,000. During the 3-day Boi Bumbá festival the population doubles as visitors arrive from all over Brazil, creating a colourful mix of local culture and burgeoning tourism.

3. Everybody in the town gets involved in the event in some way – even if they have to be at work.

4. A pre-party in the main square soon draws out the town’s most enthusiastic dancers.

5. A tropical lunchtime downpour does nothing to dampen spirits.

6. By the afternoon downtown Parintins is ablaze with colour, music, food, and dancing.

7. Street dancers leap to the sounds of a live band in Parintins as the town gets ready for a weekend of huge celebrations.

8. The festival’s roots go back around a hundred years. The blue team (the upper-class Caprichosos) fight against the red team (the working-class Garantidos). Parintins is the only place in the world where the Coca Cola sign is blue, a direct result of the sensitive division of the town’s color-driven rivalry.

9. Each team has 2-3 hours per night to outdo their opponent in terms of exuberant costumes, retelling of folkloric legends centered around a bull (boi), and, of course, beautiful singers and dancers. The “bombodrome” is open to tour groups before the event begins. Here you can get an insight into the madness to come as you walk amidst giant colourful trees and flamboyant, outsized creatures.

10. The stadium (“bombodrome”) is packed out by 8pm. Finally, a year’s buildup of tension, secrecy, and passionate rivalry is unleashed.

11. Many of the costumes and designs are so wildly imaginative they take many months to make and are different each year. This giant female face emerged from a traditional Amazonian house whose walls were made up of costumed people that dispersed fluidly in a show of virtuoso choreography.

12. Just when you think things can’t get more outrageous, a giant green man appears, almost as tall as the stadium, sprouting a slightly smaller baby-creature from above his head. You don’t need shamanic hallucinogenics to have a trippy time in the Amazon.

13. And what should leap from the green baby-creature when it reaches the ground? Why, a beautiful woman dressed in vivid animal feathers of course.

14. After a stunning performance from Caprichoso, the red team (Garantido) rolls out giant puppets to intimidate their opponents, impress the judges, and drive their supporters wild.

15. One of the final Garantido beauties shows her stunning snow-white plumage to the crowd. While Boi Bumbá isn’t widely known internationally, it’s the second largest festival after Rio Carnival, and is every bit as wild.

1. The sun rises over the River Negro, the largest left tributary of the Amazon and the largest Blackwater river in the world.

2. An overcast sky greets us as we prepare to leave our eco lodge and embark on a river trip

3. A traditional Amazon home. A family of eleven non-indigenous Amazonians live here. There’s no electricity and cashew and Brazil nut trees grow in the back garden.

4. A man moors his boat to the porch, where the family’s clothes dry in the sun. Boats are the only real form of transport here in the Amazon and it’s essential to maintain them well.

5. Making tapioca – also known as cassava or manioc. The extracted starch is ground to a powder then sieved and finally cooked in a huge wok. Though fairly tasteless on its own, adding butter or flaked coconut creates a tasty snack.

6. A twelve year old boy shows off his catch – a huge blowfish almost as big as himself.

7. A tribal music ritual. Though watching this kind of traditional dance could be considered a tourist spectacle this is, paradoxically, often the only way such customs are kept alive.

8. A young member of an indigenous tribe refuses to smile for the camera during the music ritual.

9. The younger kids down in the tribal village were much more forthcoming…

10. A night-time trek through the jungle. Our guides picked this flammable resin from a plant and used it both as a makeshift torch and a method of warding off evil spirits.

11. This cheeky monkey, just several months old, is being held in a sanctuary near Manaus. Her mother died soon after she was born and she is now cared for by a keeper (pictured).

12. Tourists feed and swim with botos – river dolphins that have a distinctive pink hue. Botos have traditionally been imbued with supernatural powers in Amazonian culture. This particular location serves as a therapy center for local handicapped children.