travel + photography

Lately, I've been working on organizing travel photos. It's been a pleasure to cull through the many, many photos that my husband and I have taken on our trips together. Here are a few snapshots from a handful of my favorite spots. What happy memories!

In order these are from Boulder, Ildiri, Granada, Vieques, and Chiusi. 

travel: a healing balm

Travel is an essential ingredient in my life. Someone recently described my love of travel as "a healing balm." I've been thinking of this description - because it's a phrase I've never linked to travel - and the words hold true. I love planning a trip, the experiences themselves, and then remembering moments, stories, and places months and years afterwards. 

Last October, my husband and I were in Turkey, where we took this photo using the timer setting on my camera, and I'm so happy the photo turned out. It was a perfect day, in every way, and I'm so grateful that we have this moment captured.

Cesme, Turkey

inspired

What inspires you the most? For me, I find inspiration in many things, but I think travel has to be up there near the top of the list. Seeing sites, tasting foods, experiencing cities, and understanding cultures - that are new to me, is something I hope I never tire of.  Even if it's a place I've been before, there's always more to see.  There are just so many places I want to see and so many countries I want to visit! 

me, taking it all in while in Turkey

flowerful friday

Perhaps more than any flower, the tulip has always captured my heart and imagination. Ever since I was little, I adored the tulip. My mom grew them in her garden, and I distinctly remember how tall and sturdy they were. I couldn't have been much taller than each flower, and I would gaze downwards into the the blooms in awe. Then I fell in love with the illustrations of flower fairies by Cicely Mary Barker, and the Tulip Fairy was my favorite - so much so that she was the inspiration for a Halloween costume one year. 

Cicely Mary Barker's
Tulip Fairy

Not until more recently I learned about tulips and their incredible history. I think most of us associate tulips with the Netherlands, even though their origin is of more eastern descent. But the Dutch do love their tulips, so much so that there was actually a phenomenon in Dutch history called, Tulip Mania. I kid you not! During this period, in the early 1600s, a single tulip could catch as much as 4200 florins (for a little perspective, the annual income of a skilled worker at the same time was 300 florins a year!).

the Viceroy tulip from the
Tulip Mania period

My understanding of tulips expanded greatly when I visited Turkey this past November. Tulips actually originate from Turkey and the Middle East. I've read that the word tulip is actually a corruption of the Turkish word for turban. Almost everywhere Turkey, tulips can be found in art and design. Take a look at the photo of me enjoying a cup of Turkish tea. You'll notice the shape of the tea glass is decidedly the same as the shape of a tulip, trust me, this is no coincidence! The Turks seem to love two things very much - tea and tulips! But then look at the tile work on the wall behind me and you'll see more tulips! Gorgeous isn't it?

tulips, tulips everywhere!

a souvenir from Turkey with their
beloved tulip in blue

Here are some photos of tulips I took this past spring. Their colors are breathtaking. No wonder so many of us find tulips the perfect antidote after winter!

a view from above,
just the way I did when I was little! 

stunning colors!

a few from my garden this past spring

light and reflections

It's the last day of 2011, and I'm ready to embrace 2012 and all that it will offer! I know 2011 was a challenging year for so many. My year was filled with many highs, great friends and family, travel and seeing new places, and a home I love and cherish, just to name a few, but there were lows too. I hope that when, down the road, I look back at 2011 I see myself as someone who grew despite challenges and set-backs.

Without a doubt the best day in 2011!
Stunning views, overlooking the
Aegean Sea, Turkey

The idea that what is to come is tabula rosa - or a blank slate - is very exciting to me. What will 2012 hold for you? Do you have a new year's resolution? 

Over glasses of wine last night my husband and I day-dreamed about the coming year, and because we're "list people" we of course wrote down what we hope to do, accomplish and see in 2012. 

Wishing you the VERY best in the new year!

patterns perfected, part 3

Continuing with the theme of how the Ottomans and the Turks seem to have perfected the use of patterns, I've put together a handful of photos from my recent trip to Turkey. 

gilded beauty at the Topkapi Palace, Istanbul

serenity encapsulated - the Blue Mosque, Istanbul

sun light on a Turkish rug, Alacati

gorgeous use of colors in tile work -
Topkapi Palace, Istanbul

stunning floral motif -
 silk with pearls, gold, and gems
at the Topkapi Palace, Istanbul

more tile - floral motif
Topkapi Palace, Istanbul

even the ground below is decorated

amazing, isn't it?
Topkapi Palace, Istanbul

mosaics, carvings, and amazing details
Aya Sofia, Istanbul

Minimalistic, they are not, but I think the photos show just how amazingly intricate and beautiful Turkish patterns and decor are. 

patterns perfected part 2

What better way to be reminded of a wonderful vacation to a far-off land than with a souvenir that embodies the destination of one's trip? Here's a close-up photo of a Turkish platter. This type of ceramic is so quintessentially Turkish - with tulips, their national flower, and carnations, their symbol of strength. I adore the use of bold colors and soft lines. And every time I look at the platter, prominently displayed in our dining room, I am instantly and happily reminded of a country far away that I was lucky enough to travel to!

a little bit of Turkey,
now at home

patterns perfected part 1

I enjoy photographing close-ups of details I find beautiful. When I was in Istanbul recently my husband and I visited Topkapi Palace. I snapped this photograph of just one example of the Ottoman's brilliant use of patterns. 

blues and whites with
black and golds

nars - a turkish delight part 2

Keeping with a post theme from a few days ago, I wanted to share a few more shots of lovely pomegranates I photographed in Turkey. I adore the way each fruit dangles like a piece of jewelry and up close you can spot a few that are so ripe they spit open on the tree, showcasing their ruby-like pieces for all to see.

like hanging gems! 

so ripe!

nars - a turkish delight

Given that my blog's name pays homage to the amazing pomegranate, you can understand why I was truly delighted to see so many ripe pomegranates on my trip to Turkey recently. Here's one I captured on a most gorgeous day. 

nars - the Turkish word
for pomegranate

8 weeks ago, 7 hills

How quickly time flies! It's hard to believe that 8 weeks ago my husband and I were enjoying the incredible panoramic views atop the Seven Hills Restaurant in Istanbul. In every direction we looked mosques and minarets could be seen and once dusk set, these structures were lit with breathtaking beauty. From the soaring Blue Mosque to the more rustic Aya Sofia to the little neighborhood mosques that dot the city, these buildings were like glowing gems once darkness encompasses the bustling metropolis of Istanbul. 

the Aya Sofia -
the inside is amazing!

the Blue Mosque -
what a gorgeous site!

a photo for a monday morning

Good Monday morning! Here's to hoping we all have good work weeks with minimal stress. 

I think having a photo to look at and imaging myself somewhere completely peaceful for a few moments is a great way to take a little break from the day. I captured this scene on a remote hilltop along the Aegean Sea in Turkey. You can click onto the photo for a bigger image - check out all of the details - a tiny town with a mosque's minaret, rolling farm country, and off in the distance are Greek islands. What a view!

my moment of zen

an old man and the sea

Looking out to the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea. I wonder what he's thinking...

light and reflections

I never tire of seeing sunlight reflect off of water in an almost dance-like manner. Here, looking out from a tiny Turkish village to the Aegean Sea, the water catches thousands of sun beams and like sequins, scatter light in every direction.

the Aegean Sea - gorgeous

alacati, turkey - part 3

Without a doubt, staying at the Tas Otel (Turkish for Stone House) made our visit to Alacati so very special. This beautifully quaint and small-scale locale is my idea of the perfect boutique hotel. You won't find a t.v. or a telephone in the rooms, intentional omissions that I happened to love. I also happen to love that you will find olive trees, palm trees, bougainvillea, lavender, and geraniums in the hotel's courtyard - it's a feast for the eyes!

the cream and blue facade 

in the courtyard 

tea time!

looking out to the courtyard

looking out to tiled roofs,
bougainvillea & a pomegranate tree 

breakfast - superb! 

the view at breakfast - lovely!

The Tas Otel might just be absolute perfection. I didn't want to leave! I only wish Alacati wasn't so far away! 

Check out their website.

alacati, turkey - part 2

I always try to capture some candid photos of locals when I travel, though I never want to intrude by taking photos, so I try to be discreet. The Alacati locals were friendly and traditional - probably a reflection of small town life. 

greeting an elder

usually full of locals enjoying some nice
baked goods and a cup of tea

local boys

local men

alacati, turkey - part 1

From the moment I read about Alacati (the "c" is pronounced with a "ch" sound) I knew I would adore this little town full of history. The goals of our vacation to Turkey were to see new places and to relax. We knew Istanbul would meet the 1st requirement but not necessarily the 2nd. Alacati seemed to fit that bill perfectly, and we could not have been more pleased with its quiet and scenic streets and proximity to the Aegean Sea. It was the perfect spot for a few days of total relaxation, allowing us to enjoy a slower pace for a little bit. 

even the town map is cute 

an old style windmill

an address marker  

blue and white decor throughout town

a local lady looking out
a balcony window

so scenic!
the sign - "nars" - Turkish
for pomegranate 

what a view!

evening in Alacati - so peaceful!