Arbor a the new t Santa Fe Botanical Garden opening in July 20013, photo/Steve Collins

The Santa Fe Botanical Garden on Museum Hill is a work in progress that has been developing for many years. Anyone who has spent any time in Santa Fe knows that our ecology is unique. This uniqueness is celebrated in a diverse bio-culture that exists despite the minimal rainfall we get most. This has always created a challenge for the humans who have chosen to make an existence here. It is a manifestation of the dynamic tension that creates the matrix of possibilities in New Mexico.  Before man the diversity existed with the rhythms of the seasons. The Santa Fe Botanical Garden presents this high desert culture in  beautiful ways. This arbor will be covered with abundant floral growth, creating a feast for the senses. Part of the garden is designed to celebrate plant life that thrives in our arid high desert environment.  The Santa Fe Botanical Garden, on Museum Hill, is scheduled to open to the public on Sunday July 20th. A festive weekend is planned. Observe for yourself.  Possibilities unfold.

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When, why and how did you start Caroline in the City?
In March 2009, I was a junior in college, bored one afternoon. I started a Blogger site to document my old travel journals and different adventures around Charleston, where I lived at the time. Eventually I took notice of other travel blogs and it became more about my trips to Europe and elsewhere.

Caroline at the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, photo/courtesy Caroline in the City

How did you get that name and what does the name mean to you?
It was the name of a television show in the 90s. Some elementary school boys called me that and since I am more of a city gal than nature gal, I decided to use it as a blog name. And I’m not the only one! There is at least three other Caroline in the City blogs, but mine is the only travel blog.

What is the thing that keeps you the most jazzed about blogging?
Meeting people is the best part about blogging. I love talking travel with anyone, so if they read my blog, that’s even better.

You call yourself a member of the “generation in limbo; highly educated college graduates who are working jobs well below or outside of their skill sets.” How did that affect you?
I think I had to change my perception about what was expected out of me as a college graduate. For a while I felt pretty useless because I didn’t have a “real” job, but instead was bartending and waiting tables. But I have always known that 9-5 jobs weren’t for me, so once I figured out that I could work towards making a living from blogging and writing, my attitude changed. I’m now proud of the fact that I don’t have a grown-up job because the flexibility of freelance and temporary jobs has allowed me to travel like I do.

Caroline at Oktoberfest, courtesy/Caroline in the City

You spent a year on a work visa in Australia. What was your most memorable travel experience in Oz?
It’s hard to pick just one. I loved working at a bar with other foreigners, who became my close friends. But I think bungee jumping in Cairns is what sticks out the most. I don’t love heights, but I knew I had to do it, especially as the platform overlooks a rainforest. It was so fun I did it twice!

You’re based in Atlanta. How often do you travel now?
This year I’ve been traveling at least a week out of every month, sometimes more, but mostly around the south. Most of my travels are around the southern USA partially to visit friends and family and partially to create content for my other blog, This Is My South, which is a travel guide to the southern USA. Atlanta is a great hub for other trips. In past years I’ve only taken one big three-week trip per year.

Do you travel solo or with others?
Ninety per cent of my travels are solo because most of my friends have “real” jobs, but I occasionally travel with my family.

Caorline at a glacier outside Innsbruck, Austria,photo/courtesy Caroline in the City

What excites you most about travel?
I think it’s all about seeing something different. I love my hometown, but different landscapes fascinate me, like the rainforests and outback in Australia.

On the road, do you seek out some experiences more than others?
For some reason I end up purposely doing things that scare me, like the bungee jumping in Australia and paragliding in Austria. I think I seek out things that will make for a funny story. I also like more offbeat experiences, like street art and abandoned buildings.

What’s your most memorable travel experience or favorite trip ever?
I could talk about Australia all day, but in the middle of my year there, I flew to Hawaii to meet my mom and sisters for a trip. It was disastrous at times (like when we got scammed by a hotel and drove around in the dark with no place to stay) and dramatic at others (four women, after all), but Hawaii really surprised me. The food was amazing and cheap and there was no shortage of waterfalls, volcanoes and forests.

Caroline SCUBA diving in the Florida Keys, photo/courtesy Caroline in the City

What’s your favorite place on earth?
Charleston, South Carolina has very fond memories for me. I lived there for four years during college and still visit a couple of times per year. Every time I go, I walk to my old house, grab a cold drink from the Palestinian deli across the street and reminisce.

Where are you off to next?
I’m embarking on a crazy long Megabus trip from Atlanta to Toronto for TBEX {Travel Bloggers Exchange}. I will be tweeting all along the way, stopping in Charlotte and Washington DC before finally rolling into Canada. I will take a breather for a few months to work, but then in September I’m off to Turkey!

What’s the biggest fantasy on your bucket list?
India fascinates me and terrifies me at the same time. It’s big and loud and pungent and overwhelming. I think it would be the biggest accomplishment in my travel life.

Caroline Eubanks is a freelance writer and travel blogger originally from Atlanta, Georgia. After graduating from college, she went to Australia for a yearlong working holiday. Follow along with her adventures at Caroline in the City, This Is My South, and on Twitter.

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The Santa Fe CVB’s Celebrate Santa Fe Tourism Expo was a big success. Our booth was buzzing. We got to say “hello,” to many old friends and meet new ones. Plus, we won a great prize. We’ll be back next year!

Santa Fe dining and food news:
Maybe you missed it, but Kaune’s Neighborhood Market (511 Old Santa Fe Trail) was closed a month; they were getting a facelift. The market reopened Saturday, May 11^th. It’s chic, spacious-feeling, brightly lit and reminiscent of a big-city gourmet shop. Santa Feans in the know, shop Kaune’s for their meat. Here’s a tip; while they do have prime meats, they also have some great prices on choice cuts they say are sourced from anti-biotic and hormone-free animals. You may be a bit disoriented when you enter. The registers now face a different direction the well-stocked wine section is the first thing you see when you walk in the door, the cheese section is expanded, there’s salad bar and more Shelves are loaded with specialty food items. If you want to have lunch, can grab some of the prepared food items or sandwiches made fresh every morning and eat at the outside patio tables. We loved the new Kaune’s, hope you do,too.

Green chile cheeseburge at Bobcat Bite, photo/Steve Collins

If you missed the news about Bobcat Bite; current owners, Bonnie and John Eckres will close Bobcat on June 9th. Read the details here. If you want to have one more of the iconic burgers, hurry out! They’ll be reopening in town. While the burgers will be great, I’m sure; the gestalt will never be the same. Read more here.

The Santa Fe Farmers Market Tuesday Market opened for the season last week. It’s a great mid-week opportunity to shop locally and sustainably. Hours are from 8am to 1pm. Other Farmers Market news: the Saturday market will go to summer hours, 7am to noon on June 1^st.

Cafe Fresh, the anchor for the new Farmers Market Shops, with over 2,500 feet of shopping and dining space, opened on Saturday, May 11^th. The indoor café features espresso drinks (made with locallyl roasted, Aroma Coffee); locally sourced pastries including gluten-free and ice cream (from Taos Cow). On Saturdays, they’ll offer soups, salads and wraps made with produce from the Farmers Market. Hours are: Saturdays and Tuesdays from 8am to 2pm and Sundays from 10am to 4pm.  The focal point of the café is a mural painted by Native American artist Dominic Arquero, depicting Santa Fe and the mountains beyond before the Europeans arrived.

This week is American Craft Beer Week and Blue Corn Brewery & Café, 4056 Cerrillos Road, is celebrating. They’re offering a “wide spectrum of beer events and tastings” including a beer and tapas brewer’s table dinner on Thursday, May16th. Call them at (505) 438-1800 for details.

Jeanne Hyland’s water color “39 Studebaker”, Eldorado Studio Tour photo/courtesy Eldorado Studio Tour

Santa Fe art:
Northern New Mexico’s studio tours kick off on Saturday, May 18^th and Sunday, May 19^th with the 22^nd Annual Eldorado Studio Tour.  Over 72 studios with over 110 artists in 17 mediums will be open both days from 10am to 5pm.  Genres represented include acrylic, ceramic, digital, fiber, glass, mixed media, oil, pastel, watercolor, sculpture, photography, recycled art and more.  There’s an artists’ reception at the Preview Gallery at La Tienda at Eldorado on Friday, May 17^th from 5 to 7pm. a Here’s a schedule of area studio tours throughout the year.

Squash blossoms at Medicine Man Gallery, photo/courtesy Medicine Man Gallery

Fans of Navajo and Zuni jewelry will want to put this show on their to-see list. Squash Blossom Necklaces: A Resurgence of Style at Medicine Man Gallery, 602A Canyon Road, opens on Saturday, May 31^st. The show, which runs through July 3^rd, features 50 vintage Navajo and Zuni squash blossom necklaces, circa 1900-1960.

Hopi Katsinas on display at the 2012 Native Treasures show, photo/Steve Collins

And speaking of Native American art, one of the premier art events of the year, Native Treasure Indian Arts Festival, takes place over Memorial Day Weekend. This juried show, sponsored by the Museum of New Mexico Foundation, attracts the crem de la crem of Native American artists and artisans. The promoters call it “Santa Fe’s only museum-quality Indian art show and sale.” Each year there is a featured artist, the 2013 Native Treasures featured artist is renown Santa Clara potter, Tammy Garcia. The show will be at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center. There is a benefit preview on Friday from 5:30 to 7:30pm. Tickets are $100 and allow you into Early Bird shopping on Saturday morning. Regular hours are Saturday and Sunday 10am to 4pm. There is a $10 admission charge on Saturday (Early Bird from 9 to 10am is $20), Admission is free. Proceeds from the show benefit the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture.

Buddha in a garden on the 2012 Santa Fe Botanical Garden Tour, photo/Steve Collins

Garden Tour:
The 18^th annual Santa Fe Botanical Garden Tours will be held on  Sunday, June 2^nd and Sunday, June 9^th from 1 to 4pm both days. If you want a peak at some incredible private gardens hidden behind adobe walls and coyote fences, this is your chance. According to the Botanical Garden, “Garden styles are as varied and diverse as the gardeners who tend them, but all are standouts. “

The June 2^nd tour, On and Around Old Santa Fe Trail, will feature gardens in that area. The annual Gourmet Picnic Lunch, on the first Sunday, takes place at the historic National Park Service Building on Old Santa Fe Trail. The CCC-constructed headquarters was completed in 1938. Lunch tickets, $25 each, must be purchased by May 30^th

The June 9^th tour, From Historic To Panoramic, goes farther afield featuring gardens from the “outskirts of the historic district” up to Tano Road north of town. Advance Tour tickets are $35 per person for one day, $65 per person for both days. You can buy tickets at any of the houses on the tour for $40 per person for one day and $75 for both.

Joy Kills Sorrow, photo/courtesy Santa Fe Performance Exchange

Santa Fe music:
Santa Fe Performance Exchange, a volunteer organization bringing alternative musicians to Santa Fe presents Joy Kills Sorrow on Tuesday, May 28the at 7:30pm at Gig Performance Space, 1808 Second Street. The group “brings together an eclectic mix of musicians who each have classical and/or jazz conservatory training, though collectively, they ambitiously utilize their years of study to hone a new acoustic territory yet discovered by many of today’s top artists.” Tickets are $15 advance or $18 at the door which opens at 7pm.

That’s it for this week. If you have any Santa Fe news to share, please let us know.

Tidbits: Santa Fe dining, Farmers Market, gardens and more… is a post from: Santa Fe Travelers

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Chef Andrew Cooper confers with his sous chef, Rubin Tanuz, photo/Steve Collins

Some people are born to cook. Cooper, a graduate of the prestigious CIA (Culinary Institute of America) in Hyde Park, New York developed a love of fire when he was a boy. Next came home economics classes in junior high school where, much to the teachers’ dismay, he got creative with the recipes. By high school, he was working in commercial kitchens. “When it came time for college,” Cooper says, “the chef I was working asked what I wanted to do when I graduated.  I told him, ‘I think about food for more than eight hours a day, I want to get paid for it.’” Not only did he graduate from the CIA, he has a Bachelor’s Degree in hotel restaurant management and a Masters in Food Service Management. This Generation Xer has already achieved one of his major aspirations: to become an Executive Chef.

Cooper, who describes his style as “contemporary regional,” is right in step with the current trend to fresh, local and sustainable. He says his biggest influence was David Bouley of Bouley Restaurant in NYC. Cooper did an externship there while at the CIA. “He really made me understand local ingredients,” Cooper says. How he got the externship is a great story, eat at his chef’s table in his immaculate kitchen and ask him. If you do dine at his chef’s table, be warned; he’ll have you wearing an apron and doing some of the cooking. His guests love it.

The energetic Cooper has a lot of interesting culinary innovations planned for Terra:

He’ll be offering “Culinary Adventure Tours,” where he’ll escort guests to the Santa Fe Farmers Market, or even to the farms themselves. After shopping, the group will either return to the hotel kitchen or head to a local winery and cook up the bounty creating a memorable food and wine lunch. He offers cooking classes and plans to expand them. He’s planting his own garden at the resort and will use the produce from there into farm to table cooking classes.

The wall of windows at Terra offers great views, photo/courtesy Four Seasons Rancho Encantado

He’s started a local beef program. They buy a half a steer once a week and age it on property for 21-48 days. The entire animal will be used in his kitchen. He’s also buying whole pigs from a local farmer for Terra’s new Charcuterie Program

This enterprising chef is working with a local bee keeper who will put some hives on the resort’s property. “The bees will be able to pollinate off of all the amazing lavender we have around the property,” Chef Cooper says, “and then we can use the honey for our restaurant, bar and even in our Spa.”

In the wings: private dinners in the vegetable garden serving from two to eight people. A private chef will create the meal right in front of the diners.

Cooper and his wife, Ruby are a Four Seasons family. They met when they were both working at the Four Seasons in NYC, got married at the Westlake Four Seasons, where she was the Room Service and Banquet Manager and had their sons while they were both working at the Hawaii property. She’s currently staying at home with their two young sons.

Cooper keeps himself jazzed about cooking. He says that every day, “something new happens.” What’s next for this creative chef? You’ll have to wait and see. “This is such an exciting industry, Cooper says. “ I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.” We can’t either.

Popcorn Crusted Scallops with Huckleberry Gastrique, photo/courtesy Four Seasons Rancho Encantado

Chef Cooper share his grilled scallop recipe with our readers.

Popcorn Crusted Scallop with a Huckleberry Gastrique (Serves 4)

For the carrot puree:
3 each large carrots (Peeled and cut into smaller pieces)
2 cloves garlic
1/3 cup (vegetable or Chicken) Broth(enough to cover the carrots)
Salt and pepper to taste
¼ cup heavy cream
1Tbs. butter

Simmer carrots, garlic, broth, and salt in a 1- to 2-quart heavy saucepan, covered, until carrots are very tender, 12 to 14 minutes. Purée mixture with cream and butter in a food processor until smooth.

For the popcorn:
Pop your own popcorn or use your favorite microwavable popcorn

For the Scallops:
8 each U-10 Scallops (cleaned)
Season scallops with salt and pepper
In a hot pan with 2T. of blended oil, Sear the scallops on both sides and finish in the oven.

For the baby Vegetables:
5 baby Carrots (blanched and sliced in half lengthwise)
5 asparagus tips (blanched and sliced in half lengthwise)
4 cherry tomatoes (cut in half)
Micro Green Salad

For the Huckleberry Gastrique
1 cup Sugar
½ cup raspberry vinegar
½ cup huckleberries (Fresh Raspberries can be substituted)

Huckleberry Gastrique
In a medium saucepan combine the raspberry vinegar and sugar. On high heat, reduce by half. Add huckleberries and allow to sit in hot mixture for 30 minutes. Turn heat back on and simmer for 30 minutes. Cool, then puree in a blender until smooth. Place the mixture back in the saucepan and cook until reduced by half again. This should be a semi-thick liquid, not runny.

To plate:
Spoon carrot puree in the center of the plate, then press the spoon into the puree and gently drag the spoon to the bottom of the plate creating a “schmear” on the plate

Place two seared scallops on top of the puree, then spoon some of the freshly made popcorn over the scallops. Garnish with the baby vegetables around the scallops. Spoon the gastrique around and finish with micro greens and a fresh herb salad

Authors note: We were guests of Terra for dinner. Their generous hospitality has not influenced this post in any way.

Santa Fe dining: Meet Terra’s Chef Andrew Cooper is a post from: Santa Fe Travelers

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At last, after so many years of wishing and hoping, New Mexicans who love the Big Apple can get there nonstop! On April 22, JetBlue began daily nonstop service from Albuquerque to JFK, and even if the flight times are a bit of a challenge, the fares are enticing.

jetBlue on Day One in Albuquerque, photo Judith Moir

We took the inaugural flight out of the Albuquerque International Sunport, and JetBlue really pulled out the stops to make us feel welcome. Gift bags for the lot of us, cake and champagne, free movies and a very welcoming staff all contributed to the excitement of getting to New York on a four-hour flight. Yes, if you live in Santa Fe you still have to add the hour or so for driving to Albuquerque and parking the car, but compare that to changing planes and using up a whole day to fly east, and it seems like a winner!

Full Service, photo Judith Moir

The flight from Albuquerque to New York is a red-eye – our flight left at 11:10pm (they may still be tweaking the times). But what’s not to love about having a whole extra day in the city. We arrived at 5:30am; no commuter traffic into the city? As long as your hotel will stash your luggage and you plan ahead, the only downside is an early-to-bed that evening, but Chinese food delivery and a big flat-screen compensate nicely. Judging from the passenger load, it’s a reasonable conjecture to think that if this catches on, better flight times may very well materialize.

Gifts for passengers on the inaugural flight, photo/Judith Moir

The return flight is a similar test of will. It leaves JFK at 8:25pm and arrives in Albuquerque a little after 11pm. Still, with 100 channels of Sirius XM radio and the 36 channels of free Direct TV to keep me occupied with all the programs I never have time to see, I was content.  I am always happy when the first checked bag is free, especially since I knew my half-empty bag would be a lot fuller after a few days of NYC shopping.  The pay-per-view movies are recent releases, and according to JetBlue press releases, Wi-Fi via satellite is coming soon.

Our fare was very reasonable, and since I have been getting regular emails about sale fares, it seems obvious that JetBlue wants to build a base of New Mexico travelers. If you want to trade the horizontal sights of New Mexico for the verticality of New York, check it out for yourself:

With JetBlue offering direct flights from NYC to Albuquerque (and vice-versa), it’s a great time to take that trip!

Will you fly JetBlue ABQ to JFK?

A set of genes colliding with a set of circumstances touching down in New Mexico, that’s Judith Moir, aka Santa Fe Red! Formerly Communications Director at Santa Fe’s Inn on the Alameda, Red is totally and irrevocably in love with all things Santa Fe and never misses an opportunity to share her insider’s tips for enjoying the music and art, cuisine and culture, and overall magic of travel to the City Different. Her romance with the written word combines with an art school education to paint the story of New Mexico in living color.You can find her on LinkedIn.

Feeling Blue? Perk Up with a JetBlue Nonstop from ABQ to JFK! is a post from: Santa Fe Travelers

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Bobcat Bite a rustic spot on Old Las Vegas Highway, photo/Steve Collins

The restaurant has earned a lot of accolades over the last 10 years or so. Bobcat’s gotten national and worldwide attention, appearing on the pages of Travel + Leisure, Gourmet, Bon Appétit, GG and more. It’s even been on the Food Network. Being New Mexico, the item most touted in the green chile cheeseburger, but they’re all worth biting into. Were Bobcat’s burgers incredible before 2001? We don’t know. It’s before our time.

Local food experts and James Beard Award-winning cookbook authors, Bill and Cheryl Alters Jamison have it on their Top 5: Bill and Cheryl Jamison’s Favorite Burgers in Santa Fe. Road food mavens Jane and Michael Stern are fans and so are the Santa Fe Travelers. Can all these foodies be wrong? But, the burgers they’re extolling are special. Made from a hand ground mixture of chuck sirloin from New Mexico-raised beef, these 10-ounce giants are special. Grill master John Eckres has the touch.

Bobcat’s iconic and delicious green chile cheeseburger photo/Steve Collins

Both sides now- sort of:
According to a statement the Eckres released this week, they thought they owned the business.  They discovered during recent lease negotiations, that the Panzer’s claim they own the business as well as the real estate. The Eckres have had business licenses, bank accounts and paid taxes under the Bobcat name for years. Interestingly, the Panzers do own the trademark. They registered it in 2012. Why did they wait so long? You’d have to ask family spokesman, Mark Panzer and according to local media he’s keeping a low profile. According to posts and articles on Bobcat, he’s not returning calls. Researching Bobcat’s awards and accolades, they all seem to have come since the Eckres’ took over.

Awards and tee shirts are on shelves at Bobcat Bite, photo/Steve Collins

The future:

The Eckres close up shop on June 9^th. They are looking for a downtown location and reportedly have found one at Garrett’s Desert Inn and will reopen under a new name. That site has been a bit of a revolving door for eateries. Can the Eckres with their famous burgers make it work?

Who will run Bobcat in the future? According to local media sources, the Panzers are looking for someone to take over.  Will their burgers keep up the gold standard established by the Eckres.  John Eckres told The Santa Fe Reporter, “’It’s possible the landlord will bring someone else in (to takeover Bobcat Bite). We’re not sure who that might be or when that might be. We’re really disappointed it has to be that way.”’ The Eckres are concerned that people will come based on their reputation and not get the burger they expected. Their names are what’s associated with all the national and worldwide coverage of the eatery. Will the next owners hit the mark? Only time will tell.

We’ll miss Bobcat, but are excited that we’ll be able to get a great burger in town when a craving hits. The trip out to the Las Vegas Highway location when we needed a burger fix was often a bit daunting. So, we’ll look on the sunny side. We hope John and Bonnie Eckres can, too.

Share your Bobcat memories in our comment section below.

Read more about Bobcat Bite

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Civil War re-enactment at Rancho de las Golondrinas, photo Steve Collins

Did you know that New Mexico played a key part in the Civil War? For a month in 1862 Santa Fe was under occupation by the Confederate forces. There were two New Mexico battles: Valverde (just south of Soccorro) and Glorieta, about a half hour north of Santa Fe. The objective was to take over Fort Union, and from there control the Santa Fe Trail which would give the Confederacy a supply depot as well as control of a route to the west coast. The photo is of a re-enactment of the Battle of Valverde at El Rancho de las Golondrinas in Santa Fe last weekend.

Read about Fort Union

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When, why and how did you start Turkish Travel Blog?
I started it in June of 2010. I had previous experiences of setting up blogs so it was quite easy to do. It was born from my decision to become a freelancer who was location independent. I knew I needed a portfolio for my work and my passion is learning about the country of Turkey so I based the theme on that.

Sitting in the blue cave of Meis, photo/Turkish Travel Blog

How did you get that name and what does the name mean to you?
I really wanted to use Turkey Travel but many other people were already using that theme and I wanted to stand out so I went for the next best thing. For me, the name is my online journal about my travels around Turkey. The people I have met, the food I have tried, the places I have seen and I try to emphasize the culture and traditions because I have married into a Turkish family.

What is the thing that keeps you the most jazzed about blogging?
When random strangers tell me how much they enjoy my blog and my articles have influenced their travel plans. It is nice to know that my work is not just being washed up in among all the other articles on the internet.

You’re a UK expat based in Turkey. What year did you move there and why did you choose to live there?
I first arrived in Turkey on a holiday in 2001 and fell in love with it, so went back to the UK, handed my resignation in and got a job as a holiday rep. This involved working in many different holiday resorts but I think my future in the country was sealed when I married a Turkish man.

How long do you expect to remain in Turkey?
Forever. I will die in Turkey. It is my home and my adopted country. While it does have some faults, I generally have a better life here than I ever did in the UK. There is no reason for me to ever give it up.

Admiring the view in Savsat National Park, photo/Turkish Travel Blog

Is there an expat community that you interact with?
I live in a small resort on the Aegean coast of Turkey called Didim. It has a large British expat community. I don’t get involved with community expat projects but I do have a small, select group of friends to socialize with. Most of the time we meet up for a drink or go out on the daily boat trips that leave from the harbor. We also sometimes organize a bus and just head off to the nearest attraction or site to see.

Are you travels exclusively around Turkey?
Yes, they are purely about Turkey. In the last ten years, I have only left the country once and that was to head back to the UK for two weeks. My travel plans this year are a painting holiday on the Bodrum peninsula. This region is a haven for Turkish artists and photographers because of the Mediterranean vibe and laidback lifestyle.

I will then be volunteering for a month at a turtle rehabilitation center. They help turtles that have been injured by fishing boat rudders or fishing line hooks. They also help to preserve the nesting grounds in nearby beaches.

After that, I will be sticking to the Aegean coastal resorts for some easy travel experiences. I went to a lot of places last year that were off the beaten track and the schedule did take a toll on my energy levels.

Attempting traditional pottery in Avanos, photo/Turkish Travel Blog

What is the best thing about living in Turkey? What is the most difficult thing about living there?
Most of Turkey does not have a materialistic attitude towards life, like the UK did.  We don’t replace cars because they are out of date or spend double on a pair of sports shoes because of the brand name. We focus on the practicality of the object and whether it works. When you don’t need to focus on appearance and latest trends, it makes life a lot easier.

The most difficult aspect is the language. I am not fluent and don’t think I ever will be. With hindsight, I would have learned Turkish when I was younger because now it is hard to grasp and retain the skill of being bi-lingual.

What excites you most about travel?
Anything that makes me go wow, whether it is a gorgeous landscape, delicious food or meeting someone new. I am a relaxed traveler and flexible in my itinerary so a lot of the time, there are unexpected surprises where ever I go.  These are pleasant experiences that form a majority of my memories.

On the road, do you seek out some experiences more than others?
I love exploring historical sites and museums. Photography is also important to me. I am not an expert but love practicing on people and landscapes. I would love to do a photography tour workshop through Turkey but unfortunately these are too expensive for my style of travel.

Panoramic view point in Cappadocia, photo/ Turkish Travel Blog

Is being in your comfort zone important to you?
I did sea kayaking once which was completely out of my comfort zone. It was of no surprise that I failed miserably. I also went to the top of a mountain in Kas to paraglide off it but backed out. I have also backed out of a hot air balloon trip twice!

My comfort zone is important to me but I still like to be given the choice whether I should stay in it or attempt something daring. The hot air balloon trip is still on my bucket list and I am hoping it will be third time lucky!

What’s your most memorable travel experience or favorite trip ever and why?
I have so many but one that always comes to mind is the camel wrestling event. Camels normally wrestle each other in the wild for the affection of a female so the Turks took the concept, put the camels in a ring and bet on them. It is a great honor for the owner of the winning camel.

We arrived for the finals of the tournament and were the only foreigners. Everyone was looking at us. The only toilet was a hole in the ground. We didn’t understand the rules of the camel wrestling so could not bet.

Within an hour, we were sat with local Turks drinking Raki (the National alcoholic drink) as well as fully understanding and cheering on the camels. By the end of the day, I somehow ended up playing in a local village band! To this day, I am not sure how that happened.

Playing in a Turkish village band, photo/Turkish Travel Blog

What’s the biggest fantasy on your bucket list?
Win a lot of money, buy a campervan and hit the road. I would explore all of Turkey from the east to the west. At the moment, I am working then traveling then back to work when money runs out. It feels like I am constantly stopping and starting my life. I estimate this road trip would take about five years to complete. After that my bucket list would be complete and I would need a new list!

Natalie Sayin runs the Turkish Travel Blog and is committed to exploring every town, village and city in Turkey. As a traveler, she is completely hopeless because she cannot read maps and loses her way, even in a one street village! This doesn’t stop her though and she invites you to follow her on Facebook or Pinterest.

Meet the Travel Bloggers: Turkish Travel Blog is a post from: Santa Fe Travelers

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Santa Fe dining news:
The restaurant scene’s been in a lot of flux this year. We have even more news to report this week.

The Legal Tender, photo/Steve Collins

Legal Tender, in the small hamlet of Lamy, will be closing May 31^st. This fun restaurant will be missed especially by the people in the Eldorado/Lamy area. Lots of good food and music were happening here. The building also houses the Lamy Railroad & History Museum (who owns the building). Their board felt that the restaurant wasn’t compatible with the museum.  Politics!

Pranzo Italian Grill’s Executive Chef Steve Lemon, photo/courtesy Pranzo Italian Grill

Pojoaque’s Ó Eating is no more. Former Chef/owner, Steve Lemon, is no heading the kitchen at Pranzo Italian Grill. We can’t wait to see what he’s done to the menu. Pranzo owner Michael O’Reilly is excited about having Lemon aboard.  There’s a new menu featuring house-made pasta and other Lemon signature touches.

Dining al fresco on the patio at La Posada, photo/Steve Collins

For years, Fuego was the fine dining restaurant at La Posada de Santa Fe Resort and Spa.  Now all of the dining at the hotel falls under the Fuego umbrella. The same items are available in all the hotels’ dining venues.  Chef Carmen Rodriguez’s new menu, featuring his distinctive Global Latin Cuisine, offers diners choices that run the gammed from casual to elegant; Small Plates to Big Plates with a lot in between.

Savor the Flavor, in conjunction with the New World Cuisine exhibit at the Museum Of International Folk Art and Delicious New Mexico, is at the Milner Plaza on Museum Hill Sunday, June 2^nd from 10am to 5pm. The free event will feature cooking demonstrations, NM cookbook authors with their books, a wine tasting featuring New World wines,  and, lots of food to taste and buy from New Mexican food purveyors.

Dr. Pepper baby back ribs from 100 Grilling Recipes You Can’t Live Without, photo/Daniel Barsotti

James Beard Award-winning cookbook authors, Bill and Cheryl Alters Jamison have written yet another new cookbook, 100 Grilling Recipes You Can’t Live Without.  Their latest outdoor cooking book combines recipes, barbecue history and advice.  The Jamisons, long-time Santa Fe residents, highlight southwest dishes along with other grilling favorites. The book ends with a chapter on grilled desserts. Come meet them and get them to sign your book at Savor the Flavor (see above).

A few random food and dining tidbits:
The Santa Fe Farmers Market began Tuesday hours today.

The new restaurant going into Vivre’s spot run by the owners of Peas ‘n’ Pod will be called Terra Cotta. What a great name; evokes  rich visual images.

Rumor has it that Chef Joseph Wrede has found a home for his restaurant.

Santa Fe Art:
The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum has an exciting new show.. The traveling exhibition, Georgia O’Keeffe in New Mexico: Architecture, Katsinam, and the Land, opens  on Friday May 17^th at 10am. The traveling show, mounted by the GOKM  and last seen  at the Denver Art Museum, runs through September 11^th. The exhibition features paintings of New Mexico churches, crosses, folk art and katsina carvings that O’Keeffe made between 1929 and 1953. From Santa Fe the show will travel to the Heard Museum in Phoenix. The museum is currently closed to mount the new show and will reopen on the 17^th. On May 18^th, the O’Keeffe Museum is offering free admission to New Mexico residents.  The museum is also free to NM residents and their guests  the first Friday of every month from 10am to 7pm.

Debby Young’s sculptures, photo/James Hart, courtesy Axle Contermporary

Sculptor, Debbie Young has hit the jackpot.  One of her life-sized pieces can be seen at Axle Contemporary, the gallery on wheels, from May 17^th through June 2^nd. There’s an opening on Friday, May 17^th from 5 to 7pm in the Railyard Plaza. On May 24^th, Red Dot Gallery (operated by Santa Fe Community College) at 826 Canyon Road opens a show called Splinter Group. A few of Young’s smaller pieces will be featured in this group show that runs through June 28^th.

Churro sheep at El Rancho de Las Golondrinas, photo/Steve Collins

On Saturday, May 18^th and Sunday, May 19^th, El Rancho de las Golondrinas living history museum, presents the Santa Fe Fiber Arts Festival.  Weavers and other experts will share their knowledge and demonstrate their skills in the world of fiber arts.  There will be demonstrations in churro sheep shearing by hand, herding sheep with border collies, natural dying, carding and spinning  using traditional techniques and tools.  There will also be a fiber arts market featuring wool products and fiber arts supplies. The event is from 10am to 4pm both days. Admission is $8 for adults $5 for Seniors (62+) and teens (13 through 18); children 12 and under are always admitted free.

Santa Fe Orchestra Chorus to perform “Carmina Burana”, photo/courtesy Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra

Santa Fe Music:
The Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra closes its 29^th season on Saturday, May 18^th and Sunday, May 19^t. The Santa Fe Symphony will conclude its exciting 29th Season with a spectacular performance of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana at the Lensic Performing Arts Center. The Santa Fe Orchestra  Chorus,  directed by Dr. Linda Raney is joined by soloists Mary Wilson, soprano, Sam Shepperson, tenor, and Jeremy Kelly, baritone. Tickets, $20 to $70,are available through The Lensic or Symphony box offices or online at Tickets Santa Fe

That’s it for other Tidbits until next week. If you have any Santa Fe news, let us know,

Tidbits: Lots of Santa Fe dining news and more… is a post from: Santa Fe Travelers

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The event opens at 10am with a ribbon cutting, featuring state and local officials including New Mexico Tourism Secretary Monique Jacobson and Santa Fe Mayor David Coss.

St Francis Cathedral Basilica. Santa Fe, NM, photo Steve Collins

Why we’re going to be there:
We are going to be there to promote our travel-planning and tour business The Santa Fe Traveler, along with about 70 other local tourism-related businesses. We’re sharing a booth with fellow tour guide Tom Gallegos and Sue and Georges Mally of Santa Fe Walkabouts. Stop by our booth; say hello and sign up for a chance to win one of the prizes we’ll be giving away. Sue and Georges are bringing their Pinzgauer all-terrain truck. It was once part of the Swiss Army. This off-road toy can just about go vertical in Georges’ skilled hands. They will be offering free (and very horizontal) Pinz rides in the afternoon. Stop by our booth early and sign up; space is limited.

Santa Fe Walk Abouts Pinzgauer, photo Stve Collins

Why you should come:
The show will give local residents and travel professionals an overview of what’s available to both residents and visitors to Santa Fe. Who says you can’t play tourist in your own town? We do it all the time.

Seminars are scheduled throughout the day; there will be tours of the Convention Center and great prizes to win. Every business with a booth (remember it’s over 70) has donated a prize.

Santa Fe Convention Center, photo Steve Collins

The day ends wraps up with a social mixer from 5pm to 7pm.

We’ve been promoting Santa Fe for years because we love it. Our blog Santa Fe Travelers is a growing resource of what Santa Fe and Northern NM have to offer to people who live here and to the visitors who come. If you want to get our blog posts delivered directly to your email inbox; sign up here.

Put this event on your calendar. Stop by and say “hi” to us and the over 70 other businesses who will be sharing their love of Santa Fe  at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center on May 9^th.

Santa Fe Tourism Expo May 9th is a post from: Santa Fe Travelers

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