where are you going?

W hen people ask me what it is that makes my favorite countries stand out, the food almost always has something to do with it. This shouldn’t be a surprise as travel and food really go hand in hand. What better way to experience culture in another country than by sharing a meal? This is no different for Turkey. Even before my first visit, I was told by many how great the food is there. When I questioned these people on what exactly makes the food in Turkey so awesome I could never seem to get a strong argument. Small dishes, cold dishes, eggplant, and meat on spits were common words and phrases in the conversations. None of which was selling me on Turkey as a culinary destination. I wasn’t convinced. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good kebab. Although tasty, (especially at three in the morning) street meat was far from helping me make Turkey one of my favourite places to enjoy a meal. To help me understand why Turkey gets such high marks for its cuisine I decided to ...

I stanbul. Where the continents of Europe and Asia meet. The result is an amazing collection of sights, sounds, and culture. The food, architecture, and people make this unique city so wonderfully great to me. Instagramming Istanbul has allowed me to share some of my favourite moments from one of my favourite cities in the world.     In This Post... Instagramming Istanbul Comando Steps Hagia Sofia The Blue Mosque. No words. Action on the Galata Bridge Feeling at home thanks to our stay at the Baylo Suites! Turkish Tea time! Just a couple of Turks hanging out. Getting freshly squeezed juices became part of my daily routine. In this case it was mix for my Russian Vodka brought over from Sochi! Our front yard thanks to Sumahan on the Water Eating Kebabs and Donors also were part of my day to day. Love this picture almost as much as the meal! The Grande Bazaar. Yah, its pretty big and pretty hard not to leave without a rug or lamp. One of my favourite days Instagramming I...

The Azores, Portugal. The archipelago is one of the autonomous regions of Portugal, found 1360 km (850 mi) away from the mainland in the Atlantic Ocean. Its volcanic origins result in dramatic landscape, fertile soil and lush greenery. Nine islands, scattered in a 600 km (372 mi) stretch of the ocean, belong to the archipelago. All nine of them have breathtaking sites and developed tourism: nature is the biggest attraction to the Azores. São Miguel is the largest island and has the most versatile scenery: from mountains to populated cities, from forests to lakes, from sandy beaches to precipitous cliffs. Of course, one can find and enjoy various additional activities: golf courses, diving, bathing, hiking, sailing, going on a safari, fishing, enjoying a hip nightlife in the bigger cities or relaxing and enjoying a quiet time in the smaller towns. Why go there? The nature is truly beautiful, unspoiled and providing numerous opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities. Local cuisine is...