New Orleans
21 - 23 May : Who DAT?!
Bourbon, Beignets & Beads
Trippin'.
What's that motto again from Max's restaurant.. "If you're on a diet, this is not the place for you."? Well the same rule applies here in New Orleans, or should I say, N'awlins. Here in NOLA, where Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest and street musicians paint the town, where "watching your waistline" is just a figure of speech and where glimpses of Hurricane Katrina remain, the good times still roll. It is by far one of the most richest, most vibrant and down right resilient city this country is blessed to have.
A food lovers paradise, this is the city for exuberant indulgence. It's a hodgepodge of thick spices from traditional Creole to spicy Cajun and everything buttery in between. You name it, here in N'awlins we've tried it-- beignets at Cafe du Monde, freshly- shucked oysters at Acme Oyster Bar, turtle soup at Commander's Palace-- and of course.. wash it all down with a couple of HAND GRENADES. All the while, struttin' down Bourbon Street collecting beads along the way. *pucker*
I dare you to have a better time in N'awlins.
On a more serious note. You would never guess but masked by the unwavering and genuine Southern hospitality and the constant "Yes Ma'ams and Sirs", New Orleans is still recovering from the devastation that was Katrina; particularly in the Ninth Ward where much of what is left is.. well not much at all. You, however, can help: If you get a chance to go.. go. Go speak to the locals, taxi cab drivers, street performers, etc. Their stories are of great triumph-- of trials and tribulation-- and through it all, they have a great sense of pride for this great city and the strong will to bring it back to the way it was.
Let me sign
Aside from the French and Spanish inspired architectures, we were equally infatuated by all the eclectic and custom store signage throughout the city.
Sleeping: Le Richeleau Hotel. Casual elegance and just minutes from the famous Bourbon Street but just outside enough to escape the noise makers and night crawlers.
Eating: Jacque- Imo's Cafe, 8324 Oak Street, tel: 504 861 0886. I'm not one for green tomatoes but the fried green tomatoes with shrimp remoulade sauce made a believer out of me. Adventurous? Try the alligator cheesecake.. you heard right.
Activity: The New Orleans School of Cooking. When I tell you this is the best gumbo I've ever had.. I kid you not. Went back for not just 2nds, but 3rds and finally had to send G to get the 4th because I didn't want to look like a cow. Butter is definitely better! And what a great alternative to the typical city tours.
More Photos.
View full gallery here.
Seattle
9 - 12 April : The Emerald City
Indulging in Seafood Mecca
Trippin'.
Fresh seafood, great wine and even better coffee. What's not to love about Seattle? It's a medley of all things great in the Pacific Northwest! A city surrounded by mountains and ocean, luscious greens that seem to extend for miles and miles, it is no wonder Seattle is often referred to as the Emerald City.
We had surprisingly unusual weather, sunny skies to be exact, which was a plus when we found out it was pouring back home in San Jose. G went for work and I, of course, went along for the "free" ride. We had a jammed pack weekend as we always do filled with sight seeing, shopping, and what else-- food.
Speaking of food. A friend recommended we do a food tour of Pike Place Market and what a great suggestion that was. We booked a tour with Savor Seattle and had the best time tasting all things great about Pike Place Market-- from Iron Chef winner Tom Douglas' crab cakes, to the world famous fish throwers' smoked salmon! Best of all, as touristy as this place gets, Pike Place Market's captivating personality and character is apparent, alive and well.
Classic, not traditional-- made to perfection
Though not a traditional panzanella, at Dahlia, you simply can't deny its Tuscan Grilled Bread Salad is original and classic. A perfect blend of bitter greens drizzled in a light vinaigrette dressing, mixed with day old grilled Tuscan bread, cherry tomatoes.. and to top off this remarkably- mouthwatering plate-- a slice of prosciutto. It does not get any better than this.
Tom Douglas' Dahlia Lounge, 2001 4th Street, tel: (206) 682-4142
est salmon (or any fish dish for that matter) goes to-- *drum roll please*-- Elliots' Alaskan Troll King Salmon smoked on alder plank. Insanely good! Smoked fish-- simple enough. The entree itself, nothing utterly worldly or remarkably unique at first glance. And yet it was love at first bite. The rest of the meal was a bit of a blur after that. Simple it certainly is not but to put it into words is difficult and down right challenging. It's a -you've- gotta- try- it- to- believe- it to even begin to understand its levels of complexity. And once you do, salmon (or any fish) will never taste the same.
A perfect weekend getaway to indulge in some of this countries finest palette pleasers.. or should I say teasers? Which ever way, we'll cheers to that!
Sleeping: Inn at the Market. Tucked away in an ivy-covered courtyard, this boutique hotel is a tranquil hideaway located practically "in" the vibrancy of Pike Place Market.
Eating: Serious Pies, 316 Virginia St, tel: 206 838 7388, for two-- order 2 or 3 pies. Try the potato! If you're lucky, you might just run into Tom Douglas himself.. we did.
Activity: Don't miss the perfect photo opt at Kerry Park. Tip-- Have your taxi wait while you take a quick photo because there is no other way down the hill and taxi's are few and far in between.
More Photos.
View full gallery here.
Ephesus & Istanbul
31 October - 3 November : Merhaba Turkey!
Halloween in Ancient Ephesus & the Greatest City in the World
Trippin'.
Ephesus. No visit to Turkey is complete without a journey to the remarkably preserved Ancient City of Ephesus. The presence of a number of noteworthy ruins was once the greatest cities of the Ancient world and is home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
We booked a half day tour with Nur & Ekol Travel and had a personal guide all to ourselves to take us through Ancient Ephesus. One of the most amazing sites I have ever seen.. so well preserved. You truly do see how life once was some two- thousand years ago. In an ancient city like this, having a guide is far better than any travel/ history book you can get. We were able to go at our own pace and have all of our questions answered. Lunch was included-- our first Turkish meal-- and one we cannot wait to experience again when we go to Istanbul. All in all, Ephesus was everything people made it out to be. Truly an experience and highlight of the entire cruise.
Istanbul. While you may have preconceived opinions and ideas of what to expect when visiting Istanbul, they all hold truth to a certain extend. Istanbul is a bridged between modern and ancient, conservative and progressive, religious and secular, the very familiar and at times exotic and where East truly meets West. Whatever it is, we all can agree, Istanbul is undoubtedly becoming more interesting by the day and can hold its own next to the Rome and Bangkok destinations of the world.
So glad we ended our 3- week vacation in Istanbul because it is, hands down, the greatest city on Earth! And while the weather was unforgiving at times, it was bearable. A few drizzle here and there was not enough to ruin our time here. We stumbled upon the best guide ever-- Ayse from OurExplorer while planning the trip and she turned out to be even better than what other travelers had reviewed. We only booked her for half the day for the Cistern, Hippodrome and Hagia Sophia for $30 per person and she was not only nice, but spoke English very clearly and 
even managed to suggest us places to eat and shop. She knew her Istanbul history. Of course we've read up on places that are a must for eats and she was able to confirm it's authenticity. She also told us how to bargain at the bazaar and that we should pay no more than such and such for souvenirs. A great start to our 2.5 days in Istanbul.
The Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar is a sight to be seen. It is every photographer's dream.. and the shopping is not bad either! I went a bit nuts and came home with 10 pashminas-- they don't make it like this anymore. It was a must! We had some of the best food, the best shopping, and the best experience here in Istanbul than our entire trip combined. Lastly, it may just be Turkey in general, but Istanbul has some of the nicest people you will ever come across. People here will literally pick up the money you drop, chase you down and hand it back to you. That has to count for something, right?!
Sleeping: Maywood Hotel, Nobethane Caddesi No:25 Sirkeci, tel: +90 212 520 21 93. Have the cab driver call the hotel for directions because it is not easy to find but is located just minutes walk from the monorail system and is two short stops to the downtown area. Convenient and cheap!
Eating: Sultanahmet Koftecisi, tel: +90 212 513 14 38. Don't be fooled by the other look- a- likes in town. This place is the real deal!
More Photos.
View full Ephesus gallery here.
View full Istanbul gallery here.