LATH // Review Nexus

Maxim, thank you for the wonderful 'conference/expedition'! A wealth of impressions and information, tons of photos/videos, another macro-region for which I now have a 'living' understanding. Maxim, you are an excellent organizer and storyteller! So glad to have met all the participants, it was incredibly cool and interesting! Until we meet again!

Good morning, dear organizers and conference participants! My immense gratitude to all of you for this small, yet so rich, meaningful, and extraordinary experience, for the atmosphere of goodwill, harmony, warmth, mutual support, and love. The journey was unforgettable in every sense: in its organization (huge thanks to Max and his assistants), in gathering like-minded individuals—unconventional, amazing, erudite people, capable of enjoying life in all its manifestations—in the sights we visited and saw, and from the discussions at the conference and evening gatherings. It was wonderful and unforgettable. Wishing you all kindness, peace, robust health, happiness!!! Until we meet again! 😍

The event was super-packed, full of local flavor, pleasant surprises, and engaging interactions with such diverse people from all over the world, united by common interests. We saw unique sites that few know about, and sites that people might have heard of but will never see with their own eyes. We touched ancient mysteries and also experienced the real, non-touristy Turkey. We learned how kind and hospitable the local people are, saw village life that has barely changed over centuries. If it weren't for Maxim and his friendly team, we would never have found ourselves in these corners of the planet, met so many interesting people, or expanded the boundaries of our consciousness to this extent. On regular vacation trips, we take 1-2 standard excursions, but here, all 9 days were continuous unique excursions and experiences! And even if only 1/4 of the program had been realized, I would already be saying this was the most interesting journey of my life! I sincerely thank Maxim and all co-organizers and participants for this unforgettable experience!🤗

...under the arches of that very church. It was spoken aloud, and the next day, or rather, immediately after it was said, Maxim took the first steps towards its realization... Still not fully understanding my role in the project, I began to prepare, following the principle and words from the song 'Dialogue by the New Year's Tree': — 'It's just winter... April will come, I'm sure... one should live, sew sundresses and light dresses from chintz.' — 'Do you think all this will be worn?' — 'I believe all this should be sewn!' Immense gratitude to all participants, artists, the organizing committee, 'Variant' publishing house, and speakers! 🙏 My deepest respect to Maxim. He possesses a unique ability for panoramic foresight and immense concentration, allowing him to precisely account for numerous factors in the moment. 🔥 ...It no longer matters whether we decided to embark on a pilgrimage to the ruins and within ourselves, or if the ruins called us... Whatever the case, we have all become co-creators of a beautiful new reality! I wish us: only forward and until we meet again! ❤️

Greetings everyone! We arrived in Moscow last night, and here's my small review. Maxim, thank you for the opportunity to be a part of such an event 🌞🙏 Thank you to the assistants, organizers, artists, speakers, and every participant. Irina and Lyudmila, thank you for caring for the inhabitants of Astarte ❤️ I felt myself part of a cohesive and very passionate team of like-minded individuals. Despite there being so many of us—over 70 people—everything was clearly and beautifully organized; I admire the organization of this event and conference 🔥 I was especially pleased that vegetarians also had plenty to eat and snack on throughout all the excursions. Ruins, quarries, cisterns, castles, the Euphrates, Mardin, Somatar Valley, ascent to Mount Nemrut-Dag—so many impressions, events, and facts in such a short period of time. This conference in Şanlıurfa is in my heart ❤️ On the way back, a resident of Urfa sat next to us on the plane, and towards the end of the flight, he told us he knew about Russian tourists and asked to take a selfie with us to show his friends that he flew on the same plane with this group! It was a pleasure to meet everyone involved, until we meet again among the forgotten ruins 😎🌞

A review I'd like to share. Eighteen months immersed in the YouTube and Telegram channels, culminating in a grand expedition to the 7 wonders of northern Mesopotamia. Now that's a super combo! I urge anyone who is hesitating about joining an expedition with Maxim — to take the plunge! So that, like us, you can be amazed seeing forgotten ruins live. And exclaim: 'That's the very powerful straight, non-arched ceiling made of gigantic blocks, located in the Saffron Monastery!' And then, with eyes ablaze, find a similar straight vault, albeit small, among the houses of Mardin and discuss it with other expedition participants. Some might think that one Maxim wouldn't be enough for 70 people, and that some would feel overlooked — that's absolutely not the case. A handshake from Maxim and a personal introduction awaited everyone at the airplane's gangway, and his warmth and care constantly surround you. You can be at the forefront: ask questions, debate, propose theories, give a presentation, broadcast your discoveries while riding the bus. And those around you will only encourage it! This is an interesting formula, thanks to which you don't feel like you're on a classic tour. We were more observers, experiencing the emotions from the wonders of the Ancient world, from the chronicles of our expedition, and from the sheer scale of this event. Constructive suggestions: • Include group work on a specific topic in the program (e.g., 'your version of how it was built' or 'your version of the structure's purpose') followed by presentations from the groups. • Perhaps add a bit more free time in the city (e.g., Mardin) with a common meeting point. Maxim, to you and your organizing committee team, a huge thank you, you've set a high bar! 🥇 Thanks to all speakers at the conference for your knowledge, openness, and willingness to share with us. 🤝 P.S. There was also a big '4-in-1' surprise: in addition to 'Forgotten Ruins,' we were joined by 'SNT Chairman,' 'Engineering Archaeology,' and 'Through the Ruins in a Hat.' And all this is far from everything; it takes time for the impressions to settle into place. Thank you very much! Olya and I loved it very much 🫶