This was the church of the Order of the Knights of St. John (yes, the St. John's ambulance guys). Completed in 1577, the church interior was originally very simple, but in the early 1600's, one of the Grand Masters called for a redecoration. Years of money and gifts from Grand Masters and Knights yielded a gorgeous example of the baroque style.
Read MoreMalta is the first place we've been to where we found it hard to pinpoint the local cuisine. Part of our confusion stems from the fact that Malta, as a port city, has incorporated a lot of foods and flavors from other cultures into their own. One discovery we made was that Sicilian food has a heavy influence here, so we were very excited to partake in the first decent pasta we've had in months.
Read MoreMeteora didn't arrive on our travel bucket list through the usual ways like guidebooks or word of mouth or stunning movie scenes. It all began with a record album. Back in 2003, Linkin Park released their second studio album. The album itself was one of the best they've ever released, but what captured my attention was the album title: Meteora. Fascinated by this title, I took to the Internet to find out the origins of this word. A few clicks in, this is what I saw.
Read MoreOkay, this is really a "Favorite Corners" post, but with Athens, "Favorite Ruins" felt more appropriate. Athens is an intriguing coexistence between modern, myth, and ruin. Clean efficient metro lines zip beneath the ancient weight of marble temples. Words etched in early Greek letters share walls with fresh graffiti. Construction noises boom from inside the stoic crumble of the Parthenon. A young olive tree marks the spot where, thousands of years ago, the goddess Athena planted a gift for the city that would forever treasure her name.
Read MoreWe're in Athens, which means round two of delicious Greek food! Opa!
Read MoreWe almost didn't visit Istanbul. Days before we were scheduled to arrive, a suicide bombing occurred on Istiklal street which was near where we were planning to stay. After some serious discussions, we still decided to go. The day of our flight from Chania to Athens (where we would then take a connecting flight to Istanbul), a sandstorm arrived from Africa grounding all morning flights. And then the strong winds came. We decided that if we missed our connecting flight to Istanbul, we would just stay in Athens. However, the skies cleared, the winds calmed, and despite being a hour late, we managed to make our flight to Istanbul. We are so glad we did.
Read MoreAfter removing our shoes (complimentary plastic carrying bags can be found at the entrance), making sure our arms and legs were appropriately covered, and one headscarf for me, we were ready to tackle the sacred mosques of Istanbul. I've put our top 3 in this blog, but there are over 3000 mosques to explore in this city.
Read MoreI asked someone how to say "thank-you" in Turkish, and he taught me in a simple, beautiful way. He said, "You can use English words to learn. Just remember 'tea', 'sugar', 'a dream'. Teşekkür ederim. That lesson will stick with me for a while, not only because Turkish tea with sugar really does taste like something fit for dreams, but because that's what their food feels like to me. Simple ingredients yielding simply magical dishes. Enjoy.
Read MoreWinter on the isle of Crete. The tourists have not yet arrived nor has the sea gathered its full warmth from the sun. Our days are sunny and quiet, filled with walks along Nea Chora beach and meandering the cobblestone streets of this sleepy fishing village, watching as it readies itself for the impending crush of summer crowds. We've seen the sights, savoured the food, and adored the animals from a far, so to wrap up, here are a few of our favorite Cretan corners. Efharisto!
Read MoreBefore the Greeks, there were the Minoans. The Palace of Knossos is one of the largest and most restored Minoan palaces on Crete. Built around 1700 BC, these ruins are the oldest we've ever visited, but this site was actually inhabited even earlier back in 7000 to 3000 BC. With great age comes a few great myths, and this place is rumored to be the labyrinthine palace of King Minos and the Minotaur and also where Icarus lost his wings.
Read MoreAh, Greek food. Lemon and orange trees brighten the streets with fruit and blossoms. Fishermen sell their morning catch right on the docks. It feels like they truly live off of the land and sea here. While on the island of Crete, we tried to find a few dishes that are purely Cretan and encountered an intoxicating after-meal custom.
Read MoreDogs and cats are like little four-legged citizens here. They know how to cross the streets, they hang out with their friends on the beach, and even frequent their favorite restaurants to see what's cooking. We also just like taking pictures of them.
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