FOOD

There is nothing like enjoying a lip smacking, finger licking, "this is the best food ever" meal! Sampling succulent food is sometimes the best part of your trip. There are certain dishes that I found to be out-of-this-world delicious! Years later just thinking about those meals makes my mouth water. The sites can be great, the prices can be cheap, but there's nothing like GOOD FOOD!

 

 

 

Istanbul

Istanbul is one of those great cities that you dream about exploring. It is a fascinating mix of the Western and Eastern worlds. One of the only cities that is on two continents, Europe and Asia, Istanbul embodies everything you are looking for in a vacation.

Enjoying life in Istanbul is easy and cheap. An easy transfer is available from the airport to the city center. Their metro and buses will cheaply transport you from one part of the city to another. The food is amazing. Be sure to try the fish kebabs below the Bosphorus Bridge. Turkish tea is a delight enjoyed at any time of the day. Walking around Istanbul is the easiest and cheapest way to see the city. However, the city is vast, so pace yourself and plan out what you want to see. Ask around to find a good Turkish Bath; after a long day of sightseeing, there's nothing like relaxing in a steam room and a massage.  

From Istanbul, you can easily visit other parts of Turkey or the Black Sea. You can also fly further into Central Asia and explore the Silk Road leading you through countries like Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

 

 

 

 

                                 

Tenerife Canary Islands

Contributed by B.D.L.

 

I’m a person that loves islands. I have traveled to Corsica, Mallorca, Sardinia, Cyprus, islands in Southeast Asia and a few others around the world. All islands are not created equally! There is something special and something different that I love about every island I have visited.

My most recent quest for “the best island ever” led me to Tenerife. This is the largest island of the Canary Islands; a Spanish island chain that is just off the coast of North Africa. Like most islands, the temperature in Tenerife is utterly fantastic. The northern part of the island does receive its fair amount of rain, but this creates a lush green terrain. This is in contrast with the southern part of the island which was very sunny during my stay. There is something intriguing about being on a tropical island and seeing snowcapped mountains; another added jewel of Tenerife!

Tenerife offers many cheap reasonably priced deals. With a group of friends, we found it extremely affordable to rent a house. It was very easy to find cheap food on Tenerife. Everywhere we went there was Happy Hour and discounted prices. Ask the locals for the best restaurants to go to. They led us to an excellent all-you-can eat meat buffet! The food was succulently divine, begging us to come and eat there again. Every day we ate at restaurants where we saw other locals and we were not disappointed: gambas, pizza, sardines, Canary Island spicy chicken, homemade garlic bread, and papas arrugadas with green Mojo sauce.

One of the best things about Tenerife is the beach. While others spent their time exploring all the hidden gems of Tenerife, I bathed in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Tenerife hosts all the things you love about the beach: quiet alone time, warm water, exquisite sunsets, and they are FREE! The beaches of Tenerife are truly splendid and cannot be compared with any others.

I know my journey to find “the best island ever” will continue. North and South America is glittered with tropical paradises. The South Pacific is world renowned. Yet, the splendor of Tenerife is something that I’ll never forget and its beauty will hold a special place in my heart.