Pescetarian Paella

12 large shrimps
2 kilo of mussels
8 sea snails
saffron oil
paella rice
1 red bell pepper
2 tomatoes
lots of garlic
1 onion
1 bottle of cheap white wine
salt, pepper and oregano
bouillon
fresh parsley

First cook the mussels by boiling a cup of water, a cup of wine and splash of saffron oil and steaming for about 15 minutes. Let cool. To cook the sea snails do the same but add a clove or two of garlic.

Remove the mussels and sea snails from their shells and place in a large pan of butter and garlic on low heat. Boil water and add a bouillon and wine. *Follow the quantity ratio on the package. Add the rice to the pan with the seafood, toast the rice (two minutes) and then slowly mix in the boiling bouillon water. Let simmer.

In a separate pan add all the veggies with oregano, olive oil, garlic, onion and saffron oil. Sauté. Once the rice is nice and fluffy, mix everything together and top with fresh parsley.

We all tried this and survived, even enjoyed it. Bon appetit!

Guard Changing REmix

Made this little number in honor of the great guards who serve in Athens.

Back to the Parthenon

The Parthenon

The Agora (ancient marketplace)

Perhaps my favorite part of Athens is the strange wonders you stumble upon. You could be in the modern tourist area and realize that on all sides you're surrounded by ancient ruins. The Parthenon looms over the city almost menacingly; reminding you of all the history you don't know. 

Athens café

Part Four : Chimes of a Different Rhyme

In place of church bells, this is what chimes through the city of Istanbul five times a day.

Part Three : Prince's Island and Asia

A one hour ferry ride one can be on Prince's Island. A tourist island with rented bikes and some nice jungle views.

A ten minute ferry ride Rebecca and I were in Asia. We got lost in what seemed the Beverly Hills of Istanbul and a busy neighborhood with children and old men. Although I might've slightly hoped for Asian stereotypes to be thrown at me, the Asian side of Istanbul was a relaxing alternative to the bustling Western epicenter of clothing stores.

Asian side

Istanbul is an amazingly perplexing city where the hospitality is ready with çay (tea). It left me wanting to go back, explore more and slowly begin to understand their complicated culture and history. Perhaps a huge part of that was our Couchsurfing hosts. Thanks hostesses with the mostesses! They've inspired me to open my tiny corner of the world when arriving back in America.

Part Two : Paradoxic Square

Basilica Cistern

Hagia Sofia

 The main tourist square in Istanbul houses the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia and Basilica Cistern. All grand, all have withstood many changes of arms, religions and a lot of things I don't know. One fun fact : the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camaii) was built by the Sultan to 'out do' the Christian Hagia Sofia, according to our Couchsurfing hosts. Today it is strangely littered with pushy salesmen, hyper-touristic tourist shops and corn on the cob (although that I don't mind so much).

The Blue Mosque

Inside Blue Mosque

Part One : Baklava Means Six Pack Abs

How does one not love a city that straddles two continents and two religions, where the direct translation of baklava is six-pack and there are too many different types of street food?

Turkish flags everywhere

A bridge lined with fish restaurants!

Istanbul is a weird mix of Western consumerism, a history for the history books and a constantly evolving traditional culture. Paradoxical, chaotic, fragrant, rainy and sunny; Rebecca and I explored the streets mostly lost and seeing what we stumbled on.