Following the book 『Meeting the Cities of Anatolia』, about the travelogue of the Turkish civilization, this time, I published 『Back in the Time of Anatolia』, a photo essay that conveys the traces of Anatolia through images captured on camera.
You can encounter pages of history and culture that lived and thrived in Anatolia through photographs.
Sometimes you can look at the scenery while listening to stories of history and culture, and sometimes you can feel the poetic aftertaste solely through images.
The moments conveyed in the photographs provide a moment to listen to the small voices of those who lived in the great flow of history.


The Anatolian Peninsula is a land where numerous peoples have passed through since the beginning of human civilization.
From the ancient Hittites to Persia, ancient Greece and Rome, Byzantium and the Ottoman Empire, all empires have made it the center of their history.
So Anatolia is a place where various ethnicities and cultures coexist.
The 40-day city tour in search of the remaining traces of Turkey continued through Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya, Konya, and Ankara.
Geographically, it covers a journey across the Bosphorus Strait to the Black Sea, Aegean Sea, and Mediterranean Sea, and across the Anatolian Plain to the rugged Taurus Mountains and the Great Plain of Konya.
Additionally, a pilgrimage to the mosques in each city allows visitors to learn about Islamic culture along with its architectural style, and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations displays artifacts bearing traces of ancient history.

This time, it is a journey through the civilization of Turkey with the poetic aftertaste conveyed by the photographs.
Let’s embark on a journey through photo essays, “Back into the Time of Anatolia.”

The ship, which had been sailing all day, returned to the port of Eminönü after stopping in Üsküdar.
The sun was setting west into the Sea of ​​Marmara, painting the Halic Bay golden.
The scenery we saw today will be unforgettable for a long time.
Even the waters of the Bosphorus Strait and the distant Black Sea.
On the hill, huge domes stretched out picturesquely from the Suleymaniye Mosque to the Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia.
Isn't this a wonderful silhouette created by civilization?
The cityscape with the evening sun at its back was so beautiful.
As I entered Istanbul by boat through the Bosphorus Strait, I finally felt like I had entered Istanbul.
--- From "Istanbul"

The marble path was wet from the intermittent rain in the morning.
As the rainwater reflected, the road sparkled mysteriously, as if it led to another world.
Perhaps 2,000 years ago there was a thriving port here.
Because the road we are standing on is the Arcadian Street that leads to the port.
A few columns still standing on either side of the street would have formed an arcade with shops and roofs.
For those who visited Ephesus, the streets would have been decorated splendidly and bonfires would have been lit to brighten the streets at night.
As I walked along the road, I imagined the past in the scenery that had disappeared.
--- From "Izmir"

Kaleichi had a strange charm that piqued the curiosity of foreigners.
I spent the whole day wandering through the alleyways, which were similar yet different, unique yet full of emotion.
I wandered around as if I were an explorer, and sometimes I returned to where I started.
Sometimes, voluntarily getting lost can be an opportunity to discover new things.
--- From "Antalya"

My whole body was shivering from the cold in Konya.
I crossed Mevlana Square and entered the market.
I found a very old-looking tea shop in an alley lined with shops.
The teahouse and street scenery were so pretty that I thought it might be a movie set.
I carefully opened the door and went inside, and it was packed with customers, with no empty seats.
An old man gestured for the embarrassed traveler to come in.
Then, the guests started moving little by little to make room for us.
It was right in front of the stove where tea was brewed.
--- From "Konya"

A small shop caught my eye between the tall buildings.
An old man was spreading out a thin cloth-like material and covering himself with it.
It was a thin pie used to make börek, one of Turkey's national breads.
I've tried various types of borek in many cities, but this is the first time I've seen a store that sells the ingredients like this.
That too in the capital city of Ankara.
At that time, an old woman came to buy pie.
How about borek with potatoes for dinner tonight?
I was quite curious as to whether it was a meat-filled borek.
--- From "Ankara"

It was still dawn in Istanbul, but looking up into the sky, I could see dawn beginning to break on the distant horizon.
The sun was rising today on the plains of Anatolia, far away where the sun rises.
Basking in the sunlight, I realized that my 45-day journey was over.
Now, I said goodbye to Anatolia, which was moving away.

--- From "Istanbul Again"