To travel .. is to taste the world........

Even though I have a horrible and unfortunate allergy to shellfish, I find it one of the more fun things to photogrpah. Here is a mariscos vendor at Playa Victoria in Cadiz, Spain. One of my first trips abroad, and one of my favorite photos. 

As a pretend, wannabe travel blogger, photographer and world traveler, one of the few things I try to keep up on is participating in Travel Photo Roulette, which is  a contest set up by a real true life blogger, traveler and photographer Jeremy of Living the Dream. I'm always amazed at the likes on Facebook, and retweets and comments on blogs. It's like, "Hey can someone like me too"????

But enough whining. I love this little contest. And I love traveling, and even though my life doesn't allow me to do it as often as I would like, I do it as often as I can. I'm a sucker for the colors of local markets. I love the flower sellers, the fishmongers, the veggie ladies, the candy kids, the fruits I've never laid eyes on. I always have to taste the local drink- The pisco of Peru, the ginjinha of Portugal, the Brunello of Montalcino, and the raki of Turkey. And a few local beers while I'm at it.

One of the best experiences I've ever had traveling was a cooking class in Oaxaca, Mexico. THIS, I swear will make me try to do this in every country I visit. My friend and I were fortunate enough to  experience Alma de mi Tierra Cooking School in Oaxaca, where we were treated to a fabulous experience by Nora in her fabulous home, starting off in a local market and learning the history of the food, traditions, recipes for all that we cooked.

The fabulous fish market at Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington. I tried to get those guys that throw the fish, but they were too quick.  And regret not buying a kaleidoscope and earrings. Hope to get back here one day. 

Mostly I just really love photographing the things I see. A perfect day in any city or region I travel too is to walk the streets and photograph. In Oaxaca I sat at the Zocalo and took photos of random people. I roamed the streets of Cartagena, mesmerized by the colors of the city. Even the streets of Washington DC seemed to come to life through the lens of my camera. And the constant in any country I travel to, is food. 

So this week's Photo Travel Roulette's theme of "mouthwatering" inspired me to write this little post about the food I've encountered along my travels- and maybe someone other than my mom might read this post. 

I love signs. This is one of the best I've seen in San Francisco. Who would have a hard time deciding on these choices. 

Beautiful gorgeous fruit at the Granville Public Market in Vancouver, British Colombia 

Another fabulous sign, after my own heart, New York City 

Store Front- Fabulous- Lower East Side, New York City 

I love the juxtaposition of this photo. Taken at the Union Square Green Market, with New York City iconic architecture in the Background. I LOVE SIGNS. 

Oh these carrots at the Green market- How many colors of carrots are there? 

Again the fish. I think I'm fascinated because I can't eat them, but I love to photograph them . Fish Market, Istanbul. 

One of my favorite trips. Peru. This is in Pisac, in the Sacred Valley, on Market Day. The fruit was spectacular. 

There is food, and then there is New Orleans. Perhaps the most "foodie" city in the United States. Again a taboo food for me, but oh so pretty.
Crawfish, Jazz Brunch, The Court of the Three Sisters

A personal fave, because its personal. My husband and I travel ^ - yes north across the Canadian border every New Year's Eve. We travel to little town two hours north of Montreal to St. Michel Des Saints. There we spend the new year with loved ones and friends, and we always drink Grand Marnier- in the snow. - It's better cold, but no ice. 

Something about the mounds of gorgeous powder at the Spice market, Istanbul. 

From my own back yard. Captain Cass'  Sea Food. Supposedly the best lobster roll on the Atlantic seaboard. hope I just didn't let the cat out of the bag. Rock Harbor, Orleans, Cape Cod,  Massachusetts

A welcome warm snack on a cold day in Lisbon, Portugal. 

Again, the photogenic crab. Lisbon, Portugal. 

Green isn't just for jealousy. These gorgeous brussels sprouts were on display at the Dupont Circle Farmer's Market in Washington D.C. 

Dupont Circle Farmer's market- Washington D.C.

Another favorite. And one of the best meals ever. In a rented apartment in Corniglia, Cinque Terre, Italy. Salami, Bread, Wine, Prosciutto, the BEST tomatoes of all time, and cheese. Fabulous. 

The intersting array of choices at Toronto's St. lawrence market. 

These two colorful beauties at the Portobello Market- London, England

From my own backyard, but worthy just the same. The BEST FRENCH FRIES IN THE WORLD, at Mojo's, Provincetown, Massachusetts. Note the painting in the back- true story. 

Loved this combination of mushrooms and strawberries, at a farmer's market, Evora, Portugal. 

Another hometown shot, taken the day of the Boston Marathon- 1 year after the bombings. The beer never tasted better than it did that day. 

Mexcal. Oaxaca. Oranges. Spiced Salt. 

Chicken- Oaxaca, Mexico 

The produce in Mexico was divine. Peppers of every shade and heat, tropical fruit I had never heard of, and tomatoes, oh the tomatoes. 

Another beautiful display in Nora's kitchen during our cooking class in Oaxaca. 

Beautiful bananas- Oaxaca

Again a market, again the colors. gorgeous squash blossoms at the La Spezia Market, Liguria, Italy. 

Grapes galore at the Campo di Fiori Market- Rome, Italy 

A thirst quenching beverage in the piazza, Florence, Italy 

The remnants of wine and grappa tastings, Montalcino, Tuscany. 

Barrels of Brunello, Tuscany. 

A favorite photo. Cafe del Mar in Cartagena, Colombia. It is here that hordes of people come to watch the sunset, lovers meet, and I drank beer. 

The colorful cerveza of Colombia. 

Pomegranates in Istanbul. 

The Fishmarket of Istanbul 

Heating the peppers at Nora's. I wanted that pan, and have not seen one like it since. Oaxaca. 

Our stuffing for empanadas- 

The cutest green tomatillos- Oaxaca

How many kinds of chiles are there? 

World Famous Pralines in Charleston, South Carolina

Peppers on the flame, Nora's kitchen, Oaxaca

Colors at the Market, New York City

New Orleans

Octopi, flying high. 

And on the insanity of Istanbul .....

Fezzes for sale

 It smacks you in the face. The winding, twisted streets of Sultanhamet, like a maze, dotted with centuries old relics, mixed with storefronts selling fezzes, carpets and evil eyes. If I had been drinking on the 9 hour flight from New York, the pre-dawn taxi ride to our small boutique hotel, ( the White House), would have sent me reeling, head out window, trying to contain my stomach.  But alas, my only inhibitions were from the long trans-Atlantic flight, lack of sleep, and time zone shock. I had traveled with my mother during my school vacation- only a week- Not nearly enough time to even scratch the surface of the largest city in Europe.

Dusk in Byzantine

Sultanhamet, the city's old quarter, is home to the must-see sights; the impressive, yet sad Hagia Sofia, the immense and beautiful Blue Mosque, the remains of the Hippodrome with its Egyptian Obelisk and Column of Constantine, The Gand Bazaar and the Spice Market. This is where you will find the majority of tourists, and locals eager to please or more than likely take their money. Tourism has seemed to boom the economy here. And, it can be an annoyance, to be haggled and harassed and shaken down to buy a rug, or Chanel Number 5, a leather jacket, Turkish saffron, or any other wares you can think of. We were chased down to eat in restaurants, buy perfume, olive oil soaps and pocketbooks. Guidebooks were correct in saying a more enjoyable shopping experience  will take place across the Golden Horn, in the area of Taksim Square, in the "New Quarter". However, as you wade your way through the endless barrage of peddlers, you begin to realize the historical importance this city has held in its days of Constantinople and even in its recent history as Istanbul.

The Grand Bazaar

Hagia Sofia

The Hagia Sofia is beyond impressive in its mass and in its history. Built by the emperor Justinian in the 6th century as a church to serve the Eastern empire, Justinian was said to have uttered upon his entrance to the Hagia Sofia, "Solomon, I have surpassed you". (Thanks Lonely Planet). However, the sad aesthetics of the museum today make you  realize how much damage the fundamentalist beliefs of all  religions  have destroyed ancient treasures of the world. I set foot into my first mosques in Istanbul. An interesting experience, only men are allowed in the front prayer area, we had to remove our shoes, cover our heads, and the aesthetics are so much different than what I am used to in a house of worship. But, beautiful nonetheless.

The Blue Mosque

The Mosque of Sulyeman The Magnificent

The whole city is a rush to the senses. Your eyes drift upward towards minarets, as you marvel at the unique architecture and unusual skyline. The call to prayer from those same minarets, five times a day and the unusual Eastern European tinge of the the Turkish language resonates on the streets. The smells of the baklava, rotating meat, kebabs, surprisingly good Turkish wine, and exotic spices follow you through your sightseeing marathons. And all that food and wine I just mentioned, yeah you get to eat that too. 

Pistachio Pastry

Spice Market