Have tea in a cemetery with a dazzling view of Istanbul.

Quite possibly the oldest love poem known to humankind.

No one is sure if the world's fourth-largest diamond had been found in a rubbish heap or was pawned by Napoleon's mom.

A fountain standing as a testament to a doomed alliance.

This half-forgotten fortress was constructed by the Ottoman conqueror of Constantinople.

This museum was invented in a novel before being made real by the author.

This crucial gathering spot along the "hippie trail" still displays old notes between traveling beatniks and backpackers.

A gorgeous, Gaudí-esque stairway constructed in the city of Istanbul by a prominent Jewish family.

Legend says if you stick your thumb in the hole and it gets wet your wish will be granted.

A meow-velous tribute to a beloved street cat, made famous on the internet.

A small etching on the white marble parapet was written in runic script by a Viking mercenary.

The ornate miniature mansions were built for Istanbul's feathered residents.

A marvel of Byzantine engineering under the streets of Istanbul.

This ducal residence was once home to a future Russian empress and a French king in exile.

The statue of a legendary giant who carried Christ and shouldered the world's sins.

This celebration of Latvia’s freedom and independence avoided demolition over half a century of Soviet occupation.

This ornate church has survived Nazi and Soviet occupation, including a short stint as a Soviet-era gymnasium and cinema.

This statue is dedicated to the animal cosmonauts that perished during space flight experiments.

This charming Latvian lane doubled as Baker Street on the Soviet Union’s version of Sherlock Holmes.

The mile-long pier stretches from a ruined fortress out into the Baltic.

Guests become prisoners on a visit to Latvian prison.

Built to ward off Napoleon's army, this city-sized abandoned Russian fort is now perfect for urban exploration.

The reconstruction of this prominent building fulfilled a long-written command.

Latvia's symbolic mountain-shaped national library is home to millions of cultural tomes.