Roger Short Memorial Fund Travel Diary – Mia Muxlow (2022, PPE)

It would be wrong to start this journal without the greatest possible thanks to the benefactors and organisers of the Roger Short Travel Scholarship. The extreme generosity of these individuals enabled me to travel and explore Turkey in a way that would have not been feasible without the grant. My trip was truly one of the greatest experiences of my life and has gifted me a deep appreciation for Turkey, its people and its culture. It will forever hold a special place in my heart, and I hope that this travel diary does justice to the memories I have and my immense gratitude.

When applying to the grant I wanted to find a purpose of my trip to Turkey beyond a holiday and go there with the dual intention of enjoying and learning about Turkey and its culture but also to take this incredible opportunity to develop a personal area of interest, religion, in a unique way. Why people believe what they believe and how that affects the cultures and societies that stem from these beliefs. It is these sort of questions that compelled me to elevate my ambitions to go to Turkey and not just savour and celebrate the culture, but with the dual intention of invigorating and curating a personal area of interest, religion, in a truly unique way. I saw Turkey as an incredible opportunity to investigate these areas of interest, a fascinating country to observe religion within, and I am happy to report that I was not wrong.

During my trip to Turkey, I stayed in four places, Istanbul, Uçhisar (Cappadocia), Konya and Antalya. Each was fascinating, welcoming and helped to provide a new perspective on Turkey as a whole, alongside building a rich tapestry of the religious history of the country. Istanbul was an incredible start to the trip. The city was loud and vibrant, filled with incredible sites and culture. There was constant commotion, a frenetic energy, with the call to prayer echoing through the streets, people ushering you into their shops and the smell of grilled corn. It was a perfect example of the layers within Turkey, from the pandemonium of the Grand Bazaar, the calm of the Bosphorus at sunset, and the sheer scale of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. Victoria’s neighbour Emir stated that the best way to see Istanbul was to wander, and I did just that, exploring diverse neighbourhoods sandwiched between two continents. I often found myself sitting with a cup of tea, simply watching the city exist; chaotic, beautiful, and alive. It was the perfect place to begin understanding Turkey and its people.

You can read the full travel diary here.

Published: 16 January 2026

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