Category: Travel

The Basilica Cistern – Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul has a lot of treasures above the ground that bring people to the city, but they also have one hidden gem that sits underneath its busiest part. If you look around the opposite side of the street that holds the parks and greatest monuments, you will see a line to a modern looking building that could not possibly hold the crowds that are gathered in the line. It has to be something though, if so many people are lined up to see it, and it would be worth your time if you joined the group to see what it was all about. If you did, you would be taken down to an underground cistern that at one time collected the drinking water for the city of Constantinople, but has sense been drained so people can wander around it and check out the structural marvel that the Emperor Constantine had made back during his rule in the fourth century.

The place is massive. It covers almost 10,000 square meters, and during its heyday, it could supply enough water for 100,000 people for one day. The design has arched ceilings and a variety of columns to keep all of this water safe. The people who constructed it did not spend a lot of time making sure all of the columns matched each other. They knew that they would be covered in water and nobody would be able to see them anyways, so when they built it, they grabbed columns from old buildings and used them to build this cistern. This made it so the columns have their own charm depending on what part of the cistern you find yourself in.

This leads to some interesting design choices in certain parts of the building. In the far corner, in the place they thought nobody would ever come, they had found some shorter columns used to keep the ceiling up, so in order to make up for this problem, they cut off the head of a couple of Medusa statues and placed them underneath the columns to make them tall enough. This makes this the busiest corner of the cistern, and it it fun to check out the faces that they deemed perfect to make the structure sound.

Since they have drained the structure, they have added a bunch of art work in the shallow water that makes the place even more exciting to visit. Some of them are simple designs of leaves or jellyfish, but there are plenty of half completed statues of men and women some of which are pretty creepy. The Medusa is the most terrifying of them all, and they have her hidden in the corner of the Cistern. Others are not as creepy, but a lot of it depends on the color of the light they are showing at the time you find yourself next to one of these statues.

The lighting definitely changes the mood of the place, and at time makes it appear really creepy. No matter the lighting, it is still a must visit place if you are in Istanbul. I have been to a lot of places all over the world, and I can not think of another place like this one. It has been the highlight of my trip out here so far, and I am glad that I was able to see the Basilica Cistern.

Until next time, keep searching for those hidden gems in your travels and make sure you share them with others so they are stay around for the next group.

The Blue Mosque – Istanbul, Turkey

When visiting Europe, many tourists go to the cathedrals, and marvel at their beauty. When in Southeast Asia, they folk to the watts to check out what they have to offer. So it only makes sense that when you are in the Middle East region, you will head off to the mosques and see how they represent the spiritual guidance of the people in this region of the world. Over the last couple of years, I have visited a few of the more important mosques that the world has to offer, but it wasn’t until I traveled to Turkey that I got to see one of the oldest mosques, the Blue Mosque.

The Blue Mosque had finished its construction in the early years of the seventeenth century, and ever since, it has been an imposing figure over the city of Istanbul. It sits in the old part of the European side of the city, and it is easy to find, not only because of its blue dome, but also the six minarets that surround its grounds. The mosque itself is an important piece of architecture because it was the first time ever that a dome was successfully attached to a square building. Despite this feat, it is still a great place to visit for many other reasons.

From the inside, the building becomes even more impressive. The Blue Mosque’s dome looks even more intricate from this perspective. The artwork that adorns the ceiling is original and has had been protected ever since the mosque was built. The designs come from over 21,000 tiles that were places there even though it is hard to distinguish one of the tiles from another. Still, it has created one of the most intricate pieces of art that I have ever witnessed, and much time could be spent looking at the patterns that are created above.

The Blue Mosque is not as big as some of the more elaborate mosques that can be found in Oman and the United Arab Emirates, but that does not stop tourists from coming to see this sight for themselves. It does not hold a chandelier that has a spiral staircase inside of it so it can be cleaned, or a carpet that was hand-sown and covers every corner of the floor, but you can feel the same sense of reverence when you enter. The biggest difference I felt came from the focus of each mosque. Some of the mosques I have visited seemed more interested in make monetary gain from the people who showed up to look at the place; whereas, the focus of the Blue Mosque seemed to be geared towards spreading the knowledge of Islam to the people who visited. There is a corner inside of the mosque dedicated to pushing this passion on to other people, and it makes it feel more authentic when you arrive.

If you are in Istanbul, the Blue Mosque is a must see, especially considering there is no entrance fee to go and see its beauty, and feel its history. Just know that like many other holy sites, there are some dress codes that you must abide by. Conservative dress is suggested with women being asked to cover their hair when they enter, and men cannot wear shorts or hats. It is nothing that is too uncomfortable, and it is a small price to pay to see this place. Also know that, the Blue Mosque is not opened to visitors during the hour around the call to prayer. It gets packed as soon as it opens up again, so it helps to hold off for a bit to enter, if you find yourself here during that time. Still, there was not enough people in the place to make it too uncomfortable. All in all, it is a great place to visit while in Istanbul.

So until next time, get out there and see what the world has to offer.

A Small Hop Can Take You a World Away

Some times life can get really busy, and it is hard to find time for yourself. It feels as if people are pulling you fifteen different directions, and you have to navigate all of these requests at once or fall further behind. During these hectic times of the year, there is some times a small reprieve that is given to you, and you want to make the most out of that time. It helps to get away for a bit and see a different perspective, but it is not always easy to get that perspective with the time that is given to you. A whole change of environment and culture is not just right around the corner, but if you can squeeze in that change of scenery, I would highly recommend it because it will do you a lot of good.

I am lucky to have this as an option in my life at this time. Right now, I am living in Amman, Jordan, and though I love the country, and people a lot, I do need that escape from time to time so I can get a new perspective on the place I am living. The best opportunity to get this dramatic change for me is to hop on a short flight and land on the island of Cyprus where I exchange an Arab culture for a European one. Within a short time I can look at green fields instead of desert landscapes; I can drink good wine instead of mint tea; I can eat Greek inspired cuisine instead of Lebanese.

It is not just these small things that allow me the escape that I am looking for by taking that small flight. It is also a completely different culture with a completely different vibe. Now, I love the people of Jordan. They are friendly and have a great pride in their culture, but as somebody that comes from a different part of the world, I still feel a little like an outsider. Though traveling a short distance away, I will still feel like an outsider, but now, I am able to go around and marvel at the unique sights that have not become commonplace because I see them everyday. It becomes an exotic vacation where I am creating memories instead of making it through the week so I can enjoy the weekend.

I also get to partake in unique experiences by making this little trip. These always seem to be a part of those places that are a short distance away. In Oregon, it is the mountain lakes, and beautiful hikes that the state has to offer. Colorado has those hikes as well as some of the best skiing that the world has to offer. Cyprus has a bunch of quaint European towns to explore as well as a wine country that is fun to travel through and from time to time experience what it is like to try my hand at making some of the wine.

No matter where you live, I am sure there is some place nearby that allows you the opportunity for you to escape your daily grind. I feel lucky that this place is Cyprus for me. It is nice to escape if only for a long weekend. It makes going home a pleasurable experience again because I can get away for just long enough to make me realize how much I have when I get back.

Until next time, I hope you get to enjoy that close by escape as well.

A Smaller Experience – Pissouri, Cyprus

Throughout all of my travels, I have been able to experience many different types of locations. I have stayed in the largest cities in the world, and have slept in some of the smallest locations as well. I have spent time on various beaches, and hiked around the greatest ranges this world has to offer. I have been to the medium sized tourist destinations, and the ones the same size that are inhabited by the locals of the country, and the travelers hardly ever see. It is the variety that keeps me traveling, but if I am being honest, it is the smaller towns that hold a sacred place in my heart, and the ones that I always wish to travel back to.

During my recent trip to Cyprus, I got to stay in such a place, Pissouri, Cyprus. Now, this is my second time to this incredible and often overlooked country, and the last time I stayed in a bigger tourist destination, Paphos. Though I enjoyed, and would recommend it to anybody for its great food, and historical sights, it does not the same kind of charm as this small town does. Pissouri has the amazing restaurants, and walking streets that you hope to find in a European country. The locals are friendly and are eager to share the various types of wines that are created on the island. And the greatest part is that you automatically feel a relaxed, easy-going pace as soon as you enter the town.

Though the town sit perched on a mountainside that leads to the wine country of Cyprus, it still only a five minute drive down to the coast. I has come at the end of September which is the end of the tourist season, and it was easy to find a place to stretch out in the sun while still being able to enjoy the warm summer water of the Mediterranean Sea. It is located next to some restaurants that are not as nice as the ones that you can find in town, but they are still a nice place to hop in to get a quick bite for lunch.

But don’t eat too much because there is always dinner around the corner. I know when I travel back to the United States, I forget about the portion sizes at restaurants. I am always excited when I get to across the pond to experience the portion sizes that are more conducive to what I can actually comfortably enjoy. This was not the case in Cyprus. The portions out there were more in tune to American eating, and it surprised me when the meal was first placed before me. Despite these large portions, they did not skimp on the recipe in favor of the size. The food was outstanding, and I don’t know if I would have had the same kind of meal if I stuck more to the typical places that tourist gravitated to instead of this smaller town.

When I look back at both of my experiences while visiting Cyprus, they were both great. I enjoyed both trips, but to compare them would not do either justice. They were both great experiences, but I believe that in the end, I will have fonder memories of staying in this small town. It seemed to me that the smaller experience was custom made for me; whereas, the times I travel to bigger cities, it feels like an experience that anybody could have at any time they travel to one of these destinations. It is just who I am though, and you might feel completely different about your travels. Either way, there is a way to experience this wonderful country, and no matter which one you do enjoy, you have to put Cyprus on your countries to visit. It is a hidden jewel that you will not regret, and worth going to before more people make the discovery.

Until next time, keep on getting out there and enjoying experience both big and small.

Revecca Winery – Cyprus

Cyprus is one of the most beautiful countries I have visited in the European Union, but it is often ignored by travelers. I can sort of understand why, especially when it comes to Americans. It takes a bit of an effort to make it all the way over to Europe, and there are bigger name countries that they would like to visit before making it to this tiny island which in all actuality isn’t even a part of the continent of Europe. Still, there are plenty of reasons to consider this tiny island country to come and visit. It is home to amazing beaches, tall peaks that even offers skiing during three months of the year, ancient Greek ruins that have held up exceptionally well over the centuries, and most importantly, one of the oldest traditions for wine anywhere in the world.

Cyprus is a must for any wine enthusiast out there. There is only one place in the world that has spent more time creating wine and that is the country of Georgia. There are many varieties that can only be found on the island, but the most famous one is a dessert wine called Commandaria. It is considered the wine mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey that was made from dried grapes and was considered the best wine in the world. Though the recipe has not changed much over the centuries, there are still many variations of this nectar that it is worth traveling around the mountains of Cyprus to the various wineries to try what they have to offer on this selection of wine.

This has been the second time that I have voyaged to these various wineries. The first time I went on a tour which is a great way to do it. A person will come and pick you up in the morning and drive you around while you get to sip the various selections you come across. You never have to worry about drinking too much, and you will be introduced to some of the more popular wineries in the region. The second time I went, I traveled around on my own schedule, and visited some of the lesser known wineries. This does not mean that they do not produce great wine. It just means that they are a smaller operation, and you have to get off the beaten path in order to find their tasting rooms. It changed the way that I enjoyed the region and it came with a few unexpected surprises along the way.

My favorite surprise came when visiting the small village of Ayios Mamas. Up a steep hill indicated only by a hand painted sign is the tasting room for the Revecca winery. They only focus on the Commandaria wine that the region is famous for, and their production is only seven to eight barrels a year. The tasting room is a small room in what used to be the house of the grandmother who first inspired this winery. It has been converted, but it still holds the feel of walking into someone’s home with a welcoming smile. It was my last stop of the day, and the one that had me enjoy an adventure that I would not have gotten on a regular wine tour.

The owner of the winery first told us all about the operation as we got to taste two of the vintages they had. When our time there was ending, I asked where the vineyards were, and she explained to me that she was going out there after we were done there because it was harvest time, and if we wanted, we could go visit them with her. I have learned in all of travels that when out and somebody offers something like this, you always say, yes. It did not disappoint. We were able to go to the vineyard, taste some grapes straight from the vines, watch as the grapes slowly dried out in the sun, and watch as they brought in daily haul so get the process started with them. It was a side of wine production that not many people get to witness and it made the personalized tour much more memorable than the one I took last time. Now, I know that this is not something that will be offered to all guests who show up to taste the wine, but it would not have happened if we hadn’t planned our own day.

Both ways are great experiences, but I am grateful to the Revecca winery to give me an experience that I will never forget. Not only did I learn a lot about the process of how one of the oldest wines in the world was made, but I got to taste a couple that were the premiere example of these wines. If you do find yourself in Cyprus, make sure you take time to visit the wineries, but find those hidden gems that won’t bring in the crowds like the bigger establishments. Revecca winery would be the perfect one to start with.

Until next time, keep on getting out there and finding those experiences.

Denver International Airport – It is still weird

Ever since Denver International Airport was created, there has been controversy surrounding it. The designers had some bizarre ideas of how to give the place its decor, and it ended up with some really weird pieces of artwork. There used to be the murals depicting children presiding over the death of an animal on a World War II kind of battle field. There was the strange Native American music constantly playing on the bridge to Concourse A. And there were the strange gargoyle that could be found in the baggage claim area. The strange design of the landing strips along with all of this art created an environment ripe for the emergence of conspiracy theories. It did not help much that in order for Denver to be considered a city worthy of the international scene, they erected an anatomically correct giant blue horse rearing up on its hind legs and staring at you with its devil red eyes as the first thing travelers see as they leave the airport and head into the city.

Denver became a strange place in the mind’s of the people living outside of it all of because of its airport. Considering the airport recently turned twenty-five years old, the fine people of the city decided that it needed a remodeling. I have been to the airport a few times since and have not had time to notice the strange artwork anymore because everywhere I turned I ran into the signs of construction in process. Most of the time I came, I was in a rush to get out of the airport or rush to a plane that was getting ready to leave, so I did not have time to look for signs of the things that made this airport unique.

I got stuck in the main building recently, and had an opportunity to walk around and look for the strange sights that I had come to know over the years of living in Denver. I did not think that they would keep the bizarre artwork in the hopes of becoming more respected internationally, but I was surprised to see this was not the case. Despite having to navigate through the construction, they have done an amazing job of modernizing the building, giving it a sleek and user friendly kind of design. And though a couple of the pieces of art could have been hidden behind construction walls, many of the strange pieces that made DIA weird were still there. I could find the gargoyles, the Native American music playing, the horse, and a couple of these murals even though the oddest ones were still hidden. It made me relieved that DIA would embrace this weird aspect of itself, and I hope that it never loses it.

So the next time you travel through Denver try to find these weird aspects of the airport, and embrace the odd nature of DIA. And if you know of any weird things that I should find in other places in the world, let me know, so I can hunt them down for myself.

Life on Hold

Summer Break is one of the greatest perks for teachers. It is a time for them to unwind from a busy school year, and recharge their batteries so they can be ready for their students in the fall. For some teachers, it is a time to take on some projects that they have forgotten about during the regular school year. For others, it is a time to travel around the world and create those memories that they can think back to when things get tough. For an international school teacher, it is a time to travel back to the places they left behind and catch up with loved ones, and friends.

This creates a strange dichotomy for those international teachers, and it gets weirder the longer that they stay abroad. There is a life that they return to for a couple of months every year, and though they will fall back into those routines that they used to live, they are still guests to a life they used to live. On the other hand, when they are back at their respective schools in various places around the world, they are leaving behind their home town and the identity that they built over the years of living there. It is almost like they are living two lives, and throughout the course of the year, they experience those two sides of themselves.

Some people would claim that this is true for anybody that moves away from their home town to a new location, and there is some truth to this. Those people have those moments where they head back to where they are from when they are trying to pick up what they left behind. But it is like holding on to the ocean as it laps against the shore. There is no way that they are going to be able to hold on to it because it keep drifting away from them. They can experience it for that short moment that they are back home, but as soon as they leave, it will be gone again.

Though international teachers have the same problem when they are back in their home towns, there is a little more permanence to their trips. A lot of that time is spent catching up with those people that are still there, but they have more time to settle in. It is not just a week or two of vacation, but a couple of months where they still have things they have to attend to in their other life. I have been back in the States on numerous occasions where I have had to work on professional development, or create plans for the upcoming school year. Any teacher will tell you that their work does not end during the summer vacation. They might not work as much, but they are still working. It takes away this notion of being on a two month vacation where you are visiting friends and family, and it turns into you living in that place where you came from for a period of time.

It is not like it is a bad voyage, returning to this life that you left behind, but it means that the life that you are living is the one that you left behind. I spent two months this summer living out of a suitcase, moving from place to place, trying to get little things done for the upcoming school year, and watching videos of my puppy that were sent by the boarding facility where she was staying. The life I have been living over the last nine years was placed on hold.

This is not to say that I did not enjoy my time in the United States. It is always a pleasure to go back and get to spend this time with my family. At the same time, there comes a moments where I want to get back to the place where I spend most of my life right now. I am looking forward to get home. When I feel this way, I know that the holiday has been a good one. It has gotten me to the place where I need to be, a place where I am excited to get back to work and refreshed after a long break with the ones I love. I also will not have to lead this duel existence again until the next trip out to the United States when I am ready to go back.

So, I would like to thank America for the great summer as I say great to see you again to Jordan. I can’t wait to get back to my original home, but it is also nice to be back home at the same time.

Fauntleroy Park, The Lower Half – Seattle, Washington

Seattle is a city with limited space. It cannot sprawl out like other cities in the United States. Because of this, the sky slowly disappears as house, and towers grow taller and taller. More and more people crowd on the streets, and it is only until you get to the coast that you are able to find space to maneuver about. Still, they have made sure to protect certain parts of the landscape so the people of Seattle can get away from it all and get a feel of what it was like to live on the Puget Sound before it became so overrun with people. One of these places is outside of West Seattle called Fauntleroy Park.

There are really two parts of this park. The upper half is a thick forest with paths that run through it. It has easy access because of a lot of parking lots by it, and if you wander through these forests, you will run into people walking their dogs. It also allows for access to picnic benches, and a public pool that is open during the summer months. But if you take the road down to the shore, you will find access to a path that will lead to a rocky beach that is not as crowded as the other paths are.

Many people use it as a launching point for their kayaks, and paddle boards. There are quite a few of them here, but it is quieter than other places where people usually put in such as Alki Beach or the University of Washington. It is far enough away from the city and rush of people that most people that come out here for these activities have enough space to make it feel like they have it to themselves.

Staying on the coast is just as rewarding. Even though it is pretty packed with people out walking their dogs after work hours, and others come to hang out on a beach that is not as crowded as some of the more sandy ones in town, but it is not enough where you can’t find your own private spot on the expanse of shoreline. A walk down the beach will reveal a lot of little surprises as well from shelters made from the driftwood to carvings that will remind you that you are in the Pacific Northwest.

It is one of those hidden little gems in a city that continues to grow bigger and bigger every year. It is a little bit of a hike from the hustle and bustle of the main parts of the city, but it is worth the trek because it will feel like what the city used to be in it infancy. I hope that they make sure to keep this so that feeling never leaves this part of the country. It is something that is important to hold on to in this busy age.

Ekkstacy – A Night Reliving My Youth

What do you do if your nephew invites you to go see a band you have never heard of in a small club in the downtown part of the city you find yourself in? Well, if you have been following this blog, you would know that the answer to that question is, go. I don’t know what I am about to see. It could be great, or it could be a disaster, but either way it will be an adventure.

So I went down to the Larimer Lounge in Downtown Denver with my brother and his son to see a Canadian singer named Ekkstacy. We actually listened to his music on the way down so I could see what I was getting myself into. It was mellow with a little bit of an emo vibe to it. The music wasn’t what I usually listen to, but I liked it enough that I thought it was worth the price of admission.

What I saw brought me back to my college days. The performance had a lot more energy to it than the tracks we listened to while driving down to the show. The show happened in a cinder block room with poor acoustics, and filled with a younger crowd that knew the words to the songs, and jumped around while loosing themselves to the music. There were pits that formed for these short songs that burst into the room and left before they overstayed their welcome. In other words, I found myself at a punk rock show.

It wasn’t something that I had been to in quite a long time, and I did not rush into the madness like I would have in my youth, but it was fun to be back at a show like this. I do not go to many shows anymore, partly because I live in a country where bands don’t come through as much, and partly because the bands I would love to see cost way too much anymore. So it was fun to go and see a show in the raw and be exposed to a new band that I probably would have never listened to if it wasn’t for my nephew. Oddly enough, the scene had not changed that much since my time as a college student when I would go see bands like this more often.

So the next time somebody suggests you go out and try something new that might take you to a place where you have not been for a long time, say yes. It might transport you back to a time you had forgotten about, and present you with a new experience that you will never forget about.

The Alki Art Fair – Seattle, Washington

There is a rule of thumb in Seattle – when the sun comes out, you go outside. It is strictly followed during the winter months when the sky is usually shrouded in a cloud, but things are a little different during the summer months. There might be some clouds in the early morning, but they usually burn off before the afternoon, and the day delivers the perfect weather to enjoy. This is why many people come to visit this city during the summer, and certain places crowd in with people.

The city knows this as well, and uses the opportunity to have their festivals and fairs. They find the most iconic places in the area and gather artists, food, and music to give the people something to do while the weather is so beautiful. One of these celebrations has been coming year after year in late July on Alki Beach near West Seattle.

The Alki Art Fair is a chance for artists from the Pacific Northwest to come together to show off their latest creations. It is a great place to find paintings, photographs, woodworking, clothing and jewelry directly from the artists who created it. Many people gather here to find that next perfect thing for their house while being able to talk to the artists at the same time. Most of the work has the feel from this part of the world, and helps to support the arts in just Seattle, but all of Washington and Oregon as well.

The best part of coming to this art fair as opposed to others across the country is that afterwards, I found myself still on Alki Beach. It is one of the hidden treasures of Seattle. Yes, it does bring out many tourists who want to have a great view of downtown Seattle and hand out on beach right on the sound, but it is not as many as are found in Queen Anne or Pike’s Place Market area. It is the place where you can find more of the local population, especially on a great summer day as they look for the perfect place where they can come out and enjoy it.

Alki Beach is far enough away from the Seattle’s city center that tourists rarely find it, but it is a great location to hang out on the beach all day, enjoy kayaking or paddle boarding, and there are plenty of shops and restaurants on the other side of the street from the beach to entertain you as well. The art fair is just a great excuse to make it out to this part of Seattle and adds more flavor to an already great spot. If you were unable to make you way to it this year, don’t worry, there will be another chance to make it there next year. It will help you to make it out to this spot of Seattle and see something that many people miss out on during their visits here. It won’t take you long to figure out why when you come.