Off The Beaten Path: Turkey

Turkey is perhaps one of the great under-rated travel destinations of our time. Sure the west is a popular tourist destination frequented as a party holiday for many European travellers, but the east remains an untouched, authentic world which beckons adventurous travelers to explore. The further you head east, the further you indulge in the Middle Eastern culture, religion and cuisine. 

Mardin city
A dramatic hillside setting, beautiful golden-stone buildings hiding mosques, churches and boutique hotels, jaw-dropping views across ancient Mesopotamia, and friendly, laid-back locals - the provincial capital has plenty of appeal. Start at the Sabanci Museum with its excellent displays on local history and culture (obligatory mannequins in various poses included). West from the museum, the town’s main street, Cumhuriyet Caddesi, passes numerous architectural highlights such as the 17th-century Post Office, the Emir Hamam that dates back to Roman times, and the restored 19th-century mansion that now houses the Mardin Museum and its collection of archaeological finds. Further west stands the Forty Martyrs’ Church, begun in the 4th century and one of many Syrian Orthodox churches in the area. South of Cumhuriyet Caddesi is the bazaar - hassle-free compared with those in other Turkish cities and specializing in silverware and soap. In among the shops a couple of mosques, Ulu Camii and Şehidiye, can be spotted by their centuries-old minarets. Southwest of the city center the 1469 Kasimiye Medresesi (Muslim school) is worth a visit for its courtyard and pool, and fascinating timepiece.

Midyat
Midyat, around 37 miles east of Mardin, hides its secrets well. The old town is a labyrinth of golden-colored walls with church towers and minarets visible at a distance but tricky to find up close. Head to the roof terrace of the cultural center for a panorama over the whole town, then shop for jewellery in the bazaar.

A short 11 miles east of Midyat stands the monastery of Morgabriel. Founded in 397, it still retains domes built by the Byzantine empress, Theodora, in the early sixth century. St Gabriel himself is buried in the crypt, his tomb containing a niche filled with curative sand. As with all the other remaining Syrian Orthodox churches and monasteries in Mardin, this one is largely funded by ex-pat locals living in Europe and the US.

Urla
Urla is a slow-paced town a 45-minute bus ride away from Izmir, dominated by the blue waters of the Aegean and grayish-green olive trees. Urla’s history dates back more than 5,000 years. It’s home to the oldest known olive oil press. It was formerly the ancient Greek city Klazomenai and one of the oldest known ports of the Aegean. Today Urla is a quiet escape and a leader in the slow-food movement and organic farming in Turkey.

Looking for that uniquely different vacation destination. Call Rawhide Travel and Tours today 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com. We can help!

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Culinary Travel: Turkey

A mesmerizing mix of the exotic and the familiar, Turkey is much more than its clichéd image of a “bridge between East and West”. Invaded and settled from every direction since the start of recorded history, it combines influences from the Middle East and the Mediterranean, the Balkans and Central Asia. Mosques coexist with churches, Roman theatres and temples crumble near ancient Hittite cities, and dervish ceremonies and gypsy festivals are as much a part of the social landscape as classical music concerts or football matches.

The friendliness of the Turkish people makes visiting a pleasure; indeed you risk causing offence by declining invitations, and find yourself making friends through the simplest of transactions. At the big resorts and tourist spots, of course, this can merely be an excuse to sell you something, but elsewhere, despite a history in which outsiders have so often brought trouble, the warmth and generosity are genuine.

This delicious recipe captures the great flavor of oven-roasted Lamb with Kashar Cheese in baking paper. Baking paper keeps the moisture in, while allowing the meat and vegetables to further cook, while Kashar Cheese provides a smoked- meat like taste.

Kagit Kebabi

Ingredients
1½ pounds of boneless lamb, cut into 1 inch cubes
3 tbs butter
1 large onion, finely chopped
3 medium carrots
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 cup chopped dill or parsley
2 medium tomatoes, diced
3 tbs red wine
1 cup hot water
3 tbs margarine
2 medium potatoes, sliced
4 sweet long green pepper
½ tsp thyme
¼ pound kashar cheese

Directions
Sauté Lamb cubes in butter until light brown.

Add onion, carrots, dill, salt (use very little salt because kashar cheese has it plenty!) and pepper. Continue to sauté 10 minutes stirring occasionally.

In a separate saucepan sauté garlic in 1 tbs butter and add tomatoes and wine, continue stirring 5 more minutes.

Add 1 cup of hot water to all of the above. Cook it over medium heat until meat is tender.

Remove meat and carrots, leaving the juice in saucepan.

In a separate saucepan, melt the margarine and sauté sliced potatoes and sweet green peppers.

ix thyme, meat and carrots, potatoes and sweet green peppers.

Divide the meat and vegetables into 4 portions. Grate kashar cheese over each portion. Cut baking paper into 4 pieces of 14 inch squares. Put each portion in the middle of the paper, making sure each gets the remaining juice equally. Wrap-up each portion by going over the top once and secure the two edges by folding in twice. You should have 4 square packages.

Wet the bottom of a baking pan large enough to fit the packages, with a couple of spoons of water.

Place packages in pan, loose ends securely tucked under. Wet package tops with a little water.

Bake packages for 20 minutes. Remove packages right before serving.

If you have a taste for culinary travel, let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you plan your next vacation and all of your other reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

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Ellis Island, NY and NJ

Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument

How far would you travel to find a better life? What if the journey took weeks under difficult conditions?  If you answered "Whatever it takes," you echo the feelings of the 12 million immigrants who passed through these now quiet halls from 1892 to 1954. Ellis Island afforded them the opportunity to attain the American dream for themselves and their descendants. Come hear their stories.

Ellis Island is pleased to have reopened on a limited basis. However, due to the nature of the destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy, many parts of the historic Main Building and museum remain closed.

Open/Available:
Baggage Room (Historic Area on the 1st Floor)
Registry Room/Great Hall (Historic Area on the 2nd Floor)
Peopling of America (Exhibit on the 1st Floor)
Theater 1 (Hourly - "Island of Hope, Island of Tears" documentary; 1st Floor)
Audio Tour (limited audio tour; pick up and drop off on the 1st Floor)
Gift Shop (1st Floor)

Your visit will be more similar to that of an immigrant a century ago! Most immigrants were limited to the Baggage Room, Registry Room (the Great Hall) and the Railroad Ticket Office (now houses the Peopling of America Exhibit) during their short time on Ellis Island.

You can still experience where history happened in the Great Hall! In that historic space, millions of people passed their medical and legal inspections and were allowed to enter the United States to start a new life.

Self-guided tours: Walk through 3 floors of exhibits that describe Ellis Island's pre- and post-immigration history, as well as the immigration experience, both before and during Ellis Island's operation as America's premier immigration station. You can find brochures with floor plans at the Information Desk in the Baggage Room on the first floor.

FREE film: "Island of Hope, Island of Tears" is an award-winning documentary shown in two theaters. Each 45-minute presentation includes a 15-minute park ranger introductory talk followed by the 30-minute film. Each theater seats 140 people.

Searching Ship Manifests at Ellis Island: In April 2001, the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Foundation opened the "American Family Immigration History Center" at Ellis Island which contains the repository for over 22 million passenger records (manifests) for those arriving into the Port of New York between 1892 and 1924.

Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

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Plan Your Next Vacation With Rawhide Travel and Tours

Rawhide Travel and Tours with combined total of “75 years of travel experience" provides amazing deals for your dream vacation with experienced, friendly travel experts.

Services offered include booking domestic and international air travel, hotel and resort reservations, car rental and cruises for individuals, corporate, group and incentive travel. Also tour packages of every type from a weekend getaway, to San Diego or Disneyland to involved and detailed vacations worldwide.

Plan your next great vacation with Rawhide Travel and Tours. Call today (602) 843-5100 or email us at flythis@rawhidetravel.com.

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In the News: With 50 Days to World Cup, Brazil Launches City Guide

With fewer than 50 days remaining before the FIFA World Cup tournament begins in Sao Paulo, Brazil on June 12, Brazil’s ministry of sport has launched an online Host Cities Guide designed to provide travelers with detailed information on the 12 Brazilian cities that will host matches.

The online guide offers logistical and transportation information including subway maps, a listing of average cab fares between airports and stadiums, and details on special bus lines operating during the World Cup.  The guide also features information on tourist attractions, culture and cuisine, weather information, currency exchange locations, contact information for embassies and consulates and a list of mobile apps for World Cup travelers. The guide is available in Portuguese, English and Spanish.

The site also offers the full schedule of World Cup matches, with profiles of the teams playing in each of the host cities. Images, videos and informative graphics on the 12 World Cup arenas are also available on the site, and travelers can also use the site’s interactive tool to simulate match schedules.

FIFA announced that they would be holding FIFA Fan Fests in each of Brazil's 12 host cities. Prominent examples are the Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, which already held a Fan Fest in 2010, São Paulo's Vale do Anhangabaú and Brasília's Esplanada dos Ministérios, with the Congress in the background. FIFA announced that they would be holding FIFA Fan Fests in each of Brazil's 12 host cities. Prominent examples are the Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, which already held a Fan Fest in 2010, São Paulo's Vale do Anhangabaú and Brasília's Esplanada dos Ministérios, with the Congress in the background.

The tournament is proving a strong draw for North Americans, who to date have purchased 172,880 tickets, more than the combined number bought by German, British and French fans, according to statistics from Embratur, the Brazilian Tourist Board.

Looking for that uniquely different vacation destination. Call Rawhide Travel and Tours today 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com. We can help!

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Off The Beaten Path: Greece

The ancient cities of Thessaloniki and Athens, with their monuments and museums, along with the islands like Mykonos and their white-washed buildings and pristine beaches, are classic stops on tours of Greece for their culture, history and beauty. However, some of Greece’s lesser-known natural wonders, authentic towns and archaeological sites are just as stunning and have fewer tourists, allowing for a more intimate experience.  


Meteora

Drive two and one-half hours southwest of Thessaloniki to find Meteora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that abounds with fantastic peaks created by nature’s erosion of the surrounding rock. The spires appear inaccessible and it is difficult to imagine the resolve of the religious hermits who first climbed up to settle in the caves and fissures. In the 9th century, monks topped the towers with monasteries. Some of the monasteries have been turned into museums; all are worth the climb up steps to visit, but being reasonably fit will make the trek that much more enjoyable.

Even if you are not up to the climb, the view is still remarkable: from first light through to the evening hours, the sun washes the gray rocks with a paint box of colors; at night the towers are spectacularly illuminated by spotlights. Meteora is also treasured by Greeks as the inhabitants helped in keeping alive Greek Orthodox religious traditions and Hellenic culture during the Middle Ages and the Turk occupation of Greece from 1453 to 1829.

Diros Caves

The underground waterways of the Diros Caves, which are among the most stunning natural attractions in Greece. Archeological finds include plenty of mammal fossils, including one of the largest discoveries of hippopotamus bones in Europe. Paleolithic and Neolithic artifacts (on display in the adjacent museum) have been found here as well, indicating that the caves were one of the earliest inhabited places in Greece.

The caves are estimated to be about 14 kilometers long, but only about 1,500 meters can be seen on a guided visit. The 30 minute tour is by boat and starts at the edge of an underground lake, where you will don a hard-hat and life preserver.  The guide uses poles to maneuver the boat through the caverns and tunnels, which are eerily lit and decked out with breathtaking stalactites and stalagmites. Warning for the seriously claustrophobic: some sections are just wide enough to allow the boat passage, and in some stretches you have to duck your head. The air is about seventy degrees year-round, so a sweater or light jacket is recommended for those who get cold easily.

Mystras

The ruins of the city of Mystras, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, Overlooks the city of Sparta. Mystras began as a fortress built in 1249, and was expanded by the Venetian and Turk occupiers. The ruins are spread over the side of tree-dotted Mt. Taygetos and consist of a Citadel near the peak and fortified Upper, Middle and Lower Towns cascading further down the mountain.

The site was abandoned in 1832, but is now occupied by a convent of nuns who care for the antiquities. As you walk along its paths, you will wonder at the palaces, walls and gates as well as well-maintained frescos inside the many churches such as Agios Demitrios, where you will also find the Archaeological Museum of Mystras and its Byzantine and Ecclesiastical exhibits.

Stavros

If you are partial to rocky hills, scented with wild herbs and decorated with geraniums, sandwiched between volcanic coastlines and olive groves and vineyards heavy with fruit, you will want to visit Stavros. Located about 30 minutes north of the city of Chania on the northwest side of Crete’s Akrotiri Peninsula, there are a few small and well-manicured “apart-hotels”, but Stavros has yet to be overrun by tourists.

Visit many serene inlet beaches with clear-as-glass turquoise waters where you can rent two lounge chairs and umbrella for about 5 Euro per day. This is also the perfect area for long and easy road runs (or walks), where you will see an abundance of bougainvillea, as well as oleander, palm and orange trees. Drop by Christiana’s tavern on Stavros Beach for some fresh grilled fish, Cretan cheese pies and a glass of retsina; owner/chef Maria may let you have your picture taken with the Oscar™ for cinematography won by “Zorba the Greek,” which was filmed here.  Many of the locals were extras in the movie, and Walter Lassally, who won the treasured gold statue, has a home nearby.

Looking for that uniquely different vacation destination. Call Rawhide Travel and Tours today 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com. We can help!

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Culinary Travel: Greece

Greece is a country teeming with myths, traditions, history and living culture. Travellers choose it as a destination not only for its incomparable natural beauty, but because it is a magical place, full of discoveries, charm and secrets. Travelling in Greece is at the same time a way of becoming acquainted with the origins of western civilization. Let yourself be captivated by its historical wealth and singular modern reality. A trip to Greece is the experience of a lifetime that leaves the pleasant feeling that the world is ultimately very rich, very beautiful and very interesting.

As one sets out along these charming roads, they will at the same time experience local culture. Hamlets around the vineyards, traditional guesthouses and ‘temples’ to authentic Greek cuisine go to make a world filled with enjoyment and excitement.

Souvlaki is one of the most popular street foods in Greece and for good reason. Its stuffed with well cooked and seasoned meat, garnished with a cooling tzatziki sauce, wrapped in a delicious crispy pita and best of all? It tastes like heaven! Souvlaki stands for “meat-on-a-skewer”, however the majority of Greeks and especially those from Athens call any type of pita wrapped meat a souvlaki, specifying the type of meat and method of roasting separately. 

Make your own homemade, traditional Greek pork gyros wrapped in a pita bread – souvlaki style with this easy to follow recipe!

For the pork gyros
1 pork tenderloin, cut into strips
1 clove of garlic, chopped
1/2 red onion, sliced
3-4 tbsps of olive oil
1-2 tbsps red wine vinegar
1 tbsp oregano,thyme & rosemary
1/2 tbsp of honey

For the tzatziki sauce
1 cucumber
2 cloves of garlic
1/4 of a cup extra virgin olive oil
500g of yogurt (18 ounces)
1-2 tbsps of red wine vinegar
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

To serve
4 pita breads
1 red onion, sliced
1 tomato, sliced
fried potatoes (optional)
some lettuce

Instructions
To prepare the pork gyros, mix into a large bowl the tenderloin (cut into strips), the garlic, the red onion, 3-4 tbsp of olive oil, 1-2 tbsp of red wine vinegar, some thyme, some rosemary, and mix with your hands. Squeeze the ingredients together, so that all the flavours blend and add 1/2 tbsp of honey. Wrap the bowl and put it into the fridge. Leave the marinade in the fridge for at least 2 hours, before using it (ideally leave it over night).

In a (very hot) large non-sticking pan, add the tenderloin along with the ingredients of the marinade, and sauté for 1 minute on each side, without stirring, until the meat is nicely coloured, crispy and tender inside.

To prepare the tzatziki sauce for the pork gyros, pour in a food processor the olive oil and garlic and blend until the garlic is diluted (don’t leave any large pieces of garlic). Into a large bowl, grate the cucumber, season with salt and pepper and leave it aside for 10 minutes. Wrap the grated cucumber into a towel and squeeze, in order to get rid of most of the water. Into a bowl, add the cucumber, the blended garlic and oil, the yogurt, 1-2 of red wine vinegar, salt and pepper and mix. (This recipe is for 5-6 servings. Store in the fridge and always serve cold.)

Use a cooking brush to oil the pita breads on both sides and season with salt, pepper and oregano. Place a large pan (upside down) at the bottom of the oven, place the pita breads on top, and bake in preheated oven at 250C for about 1 minute.

Pork gyros is usually served wrapped, like a sandwich. To serve, spread some tzatziki sauce on the pita breads and top with the pork gyros, some slices of red onion, some sliced tomato and wrap.

If you have a taste for culinary travel, let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you plan your next vacation and all of your other reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

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Get involved with Earth Day!

Every year on April 22, over a billion people in 190 countries take action for Earth Day. From San Francisco to San Juan, Beijing to Brussels, Moscow to Marrakesh, people plant trees, clean up their communities, contact their elected officials, and more—all on behalf of the environment.

Like Earth Days of the past, Earth Day 2014 will focus on the unique environmental challenges of our time. As the world’s population migrates to cities, and as the bleak reality of climate change becomes increasingly clear, the need to create sustainable communities is more important than ever. Earth Day 2014 will seek to do just that through its global theme: Green Cities. With smart investments in sustainable technology, forward-thinking public policy, and an educated and active public, we can transform our cities and forge a sustainable future. Nothing is more powerful than the collective action of a billion people.

Mother Earth is a common expression for the planet Earth in a number of countries and regions, which reflects the interdependence that exists among human beings, other living species and the planet. For instance, Bolivians call Mother Earth Pachamama and Nicaraguans refer to her as Tonantzin.

Here are some developments around the world:

The world’s first completely electric solar-powered bus was introduced in Adelaide, Australia toward the end of last year. The bus, named the Tindo, is not only the first of its kind (although there have been other solar-power “assisted” hybrid buses), but it is also completely free to Adelaide residents, and offers free wifi as an added bonus! 

Cooperative utilities are on the forefront of the solar revolution in the United States. Because they are owned by the customers, cooperative utilities can more easily integrate renewables. That’s exactly what happened in Kansas. The state will soon be getting its first community solar power plant.

Earth Day network is committed to greening every school in the US within a generation. By installing solar panels, improving energy efficiency, investing in sustainable waste management, and educating students in the classroom, the campaign will help mobilize youth to keep our cities green in the future.

Among renewable energy types, wind is certainly becoming one of the most popular. While Germany pioneered the mass installation of solar energy, the UK has reached nearly 3 million megawatt hours, accounting for 13% of Britain’s totally electricity demand. This makes the UK the largest consumers of wind.

As the global organizer behind Earth Day, Earth Day Network creates tools and resources for you to get involved with Earth Day in your community.

Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

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Experience Full Service

Need to travel on business or leisure, Rawhide Travel and Tours will make it happen. We will arrange your flights, rail, hotel and car rentals. Let us assist you in planning your upcoming business trip. We're also available to help you plan that exciting vacation.

Want a small hotel or a luxury resort? Let Rawhide Travel and Tours customize the perfect spot just for you! We have many choices.  Let Us Help You Get Lost.

Call us at (602) 843-5100. Check out our website: rawhidetravel.com or email us at flythis@rawhidetravel.com.

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In the News: London Heathrow's new Terminal 2

London's Heathrow Airport will officially open its new Terminal 2, known as The Queen's Terminal, on June 4, 2014, nearly sixty years after The Queen opened the original Terminal 2.

Consisting of a main building and a satellite terminal (Terminal 2 B) connected by a passenger tunnel, the $4.1 billion terminal will eventually be the home of 23 Star Alliance airlines that serve Heathrow, as well as Aer Lingus, Germanwings and Virgin Atlantic Little Red.

T2B, Terminal 2's satellite building, has won a prestigious gold award for sustainability.

Designed to accommodate up to 20 million passengers a year, Terminal 2 will open in phases, in hopes of avoiding some of the glitches and equipment meltdowns that occurred when the airport opened Terminal 5 in March 2008. United Airlines will move all its Heathrow flights and operations to T2 on June 4, with the other airlines moving in during the next six months.

While the terminal is still a work-in-progress, trials to test the terminal operations are underway and some preview tours are taking place to show off the parts that are done.

A 77-ton, 230-foot long twisting aluminum sculpture titled Slipstream, by British artist Richard Wilson, hangs in the covered court leading into Terminal 2 and is impossible to miss. The sculpture gives form to the imagined flight path of a stunt plane and it was Wilson's intention,  "to transpose the thrill of the air-show to the architectural environment of the international air terminal." Richard Wilson's Slipstream is longer than an Airbus A380 airliner.

Entering the terminal, passengers will be able to check-in at any of 66 self-serve kiosks that will print out boarding cards and bag tags and tag their own bags before moving on to any of 60 common bag drop check-in desks.

Fifty-six full-service check-in desks for premium passengers and economy travelers who need assistance will also be available and, once past security, many travelers will be able to board their planes using self-service boarding technology at the gates.

The airport's departure lounge and gate hold areas are light and airy, with 63 shops, bars and restaurants, including seven restaurants that will have views of the airfield. Many shops will focus on trendy British brands and many restaurants will be projects of high-profile London chefs.

Terminal 2's complete line-up of shops and restaurants has been announced.

It includes Cath Kidston, London's Pride by Fullers, Bottega Veneta, Michael Kors and The Gorgeous Kitchen, a new restaurant created by four local female chefs.

Heathrow has already announced some world-leading names for Terminal 2, including John Lewis and The Perfectionists' Cafe by Heston Blumenthal.

In addition to a pharmacy, Terminal 2 will have attended play areas for kids and 100 power poles and seated plug-in devices.

There will be a wide variety of independent and airline-branded lounges for those seeking a little extra pampering, free Wi-Fi that lasts longer than 90 minutes, and a better chance at finding a power plug to charge up their gadgets.

The Plaza Premium Lounge (with locations in arrivals and departures) will be Terminal 2's only independent pay-per-visit lounge and will have lounge seating, eight sleeping suites, a business center, Wi-Fi enabled workstations, shower rooms, private resting areas and a restaurant.

Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines will have lounges for their premium passengers, as will United Airlines, which will have an arrivals lounge with 17 shower suites as well as two departure lounges: the United Global First Lounge (for first-class passengers) and the United Club, a 280-seat retreat with a 25-seat bar, a TV lounge, private phone booths and two buffet areas for United Club members, United's business-class passengers, Star Alliance Gold members and business-class customers traveling on other Star Alliance carriers.

The two United Airlines lounges will share eight shower suites that include the added perk of valet service for pressing and steaming garments.

Looking for that uniquely different vacation destination. Call Rawhide Travel and Tours today 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com. We can help!

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Off The Beaten Path: Sintra, Portugal

Sintra is a town within the municipality of Sintra in the Grande Lisboa subregion (Lisbon Region) of Portugal. Owing to its 19th-century Romantic architecture and landscapes, it has become a major tourist centre, visited by many day-trippers who travel from the urbanized suburbs and capital of Lisbon.

In addition to the Sintra Mountains and Sintra-Cascais Nature Park, the parishes of the town of Sintra are dotted by royal retreats, estates, castles and buildings from the 8th-9th century, in addition to many buildings completed between the 15th and 19th century, including the Castelo dos Mouros, the Pena National Palace and the Sintra National Palace, resulting in its classification by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1995.

Long the home of Portugal’s monarchs, Sintra is a magnificent town of marvelous historic mansions, all set against the backdrop of lush hills. Sintra’s many castles include the Palácio Nacional de Sintra (a main abode of Portuguese royalty until the early 20th century), the hilltop and storybook Palácio da Pena, Quinta de Regaleira (incorporating several architectural styles and with gorgeous surrounding gardens), the Castelo dos Mouros (Moorish Castle), and the Palácio de Monserrate.

Palácio Nacional de Sintra
The star of Sintra-Vila is this historic palace, with its iconic twin conical chimneys and lavish interior. Of Moorish origins, the palace was first expanded by Dom Dinis (1261–1325), enlarged by João I in the 15th century (when the kitchens were built), then given a Manueline twist by Manuel I in the following century.

Castelo dos Mouros
Soaring 412m above sea level, this mist-enshrouded ruined castle looms high above the surrounding forest. The 9th-century Moorish castle’s dizzying ramparts stretch across the mountain ridges and past moss-clad boulders the size of small buses. When the clouds peel away, the vistas over Sintra’s palace-dotted hill and dale to the glittering Atlantic are – like the climb – breathtaking.

Quinta da Regaleira
This magical villa and gardens is a neo-Manueline extravaganza, dreamed up by Italian opera-set designer, Luigi Manini, under the orders of Brazilian coffee tycoon, António Carvalho Monteiro. The villa is surprisingly homely inside, despite its ferociously carved fireplaces, frescos and Venetian glass mosaics. Keep an eye out for mythological and Knights Templar symbols.

Convento dos Capuchos
Hidden in the woods is the bewitchingly hobbit-hole-like Convento dos Capuchos, which was originally built in 1560 to house 12 monks who lived in incredibly cramped conditions, their tiny cells having low, narrow doors. Byron mocked the monastery in his poem Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage , referring to recluse Honorius who spent a staggering 36 years here.

Sintra-Cascais Nature Park
In its territory, the park presents a stunning diversity of environments and landscapes, including sand dunes, forests, lakes, a rugged coastline where high cliffs are interspersed with lovely beaches, the imposing and Cabo da Roca, in the center, the magnificent Serra de Sintra and the entire area classified by UNESCO as a cultural landscape heritage of mankind.

Looking for that uniquely different vacation destination. Call Rawhide Travel and Tours today 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com. We can help!

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Culinary Travel: Portugal

It might only be a small country but Portugal manages to be both astonishingly beautiful and endlessly surprising. If, when you think of places to visit in Portugal, you imagine the sandy beaches of the Algarve or the idiosyncratic cities of Lisbon and Porto, then any journey into the real heart of Portugal promises to be a revelation. It’s not just the landscape that captivates, though there is a stunning variety of scenes, from the steep mountains and lush valleys of the center and north to the arid plains and cove-speckled coastline of the south. But there’s also great charm in a country that preserves its medieval villages, walled towns and glorious monuments while at the same time embracing progress and modernity with a style all its own.

These qualities are best displayed in the capital, Lisbon, which has acquired a contemporary, boutique sheen without quite jettisoning its most endearing, rather old-fashioned, characteristics. On the Algarve and elsewhere, family-friendly resorts – the mainstay of European tourists for more than fifty years – also combine a gentle sophistication with enduring traditions. And other main towns all have their thriving festivals, restored historical quarters, sparkling new cultural centres and wi-fi zones. But head into the deep rural areas,  the Alentejo, the mountainous Beiras or Trás-os-Montes, and a different, slower-paced Portugal emerges. Despite massive EU-funded road-building schemes, and a burgeoning interest in rural and ecotourism, central and northeastern Portugal particularly are still conspicuously underdeveloped. For anyone wanting to get off the beaten track, there are limitless opportunities here to experience small towns, hamlets and rural regions that still seem rooted in earlier centuries.

The country has a striking north-south divide that’s as much to do with history and politics as geography and climate. Above a roughly sketched line, more or less corresponding with the course of the Rio Tejo (River Tagus), the people are of predominantly Celtic and Germanic stock, living in a corn, cabbage and potatoes belt of often marginal land. It was here, in the north at Guimarães, that the Lusitanian nation was born (following the Christian Reconquest from the North African Moors), and here too that early industry was concentrated, with the city of Porto still considered an economic powerhouse. The Romans, and later the Moors, on the other hand, established themselves south of the Tagus, where vast agricultural estates could be developed, producing the classic Mediterranean crops of oranges, olives, figs and cork.

Salted Cod or bacalhau is probably the most traditional ingredient you can find in Portugal, especially during holiday seasons.

Baked Salted Cod with Cream (Bacalhau Com Natas)
Serves 6 
Preparation 10hr
Cooking 1hr 55min

Ingredients
400 g bacalhau (salted cod) (see Note), cut into rough pieces
4 large pontiac or desiree potatoes, unpeeled
125 ml (½ cup) olive oil
2 large onions
300 ml pouring cream

Instructions
You will need to soak the cod overnight.

Rinse salt from cod and place in a large bowl with enough water to cover. Stand overnight, changing water 3 times. Drain and pat dry with paper towel.

Place potatoes in a large saucepan with 3 tsp salt and enough water to cover. Bring to the boil, then reduce heat to low and cook for 1 hour or until almost tender. Drain. When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, peel and cut into 1 cm-thick slices.

Preheat oven to 200°C. Using your hands, break cod into 3 cm pieces. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a large frying pan over high heat and cook cod for 1 minute each side or until golden. Transfer to a plate.
Add 1 tbsp oil to same pan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring, for 6 minutes or until golden. Transfer to a plate. Heat remaining 60 ml oil in same pan. Cook potatoes, turning halfway, for 5 minutes or until golden.

Layer a greased 30 cm round baking dish with half the onions, then half the potatoes, then the salted cod. Top with remaining onions, then remaining potatoes. Season with salt and pepper, then pour over cream.

Bake for 45 minutes or until golden and potatoes are very tender.

Cooking Notes
Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C.

Bacalhau is available from good delis. Ask your deli to cut it for you as it’s very hard or use wet-salted bacalhau which has no bones and is much softer, and cut into 4 cm pieces.

If you have a taste for culinary travel, let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you plan your next vacation and all of your other reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

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Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
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Dry Tortugas National Park Florida

Explore a 19th Century Fort and snorkel crystal clear water with incredible marine life. Almost 70 miles (113 km) west of Key West lies the remote Dry Tortugas National Park. The 100-square mile park is mostly open water with seven small islands.  Accessible only by boat or seaplane, the park is known the world over as the home of magnificent Fort Jefferson, picturesque blue waters, superlative coral reefs and marine life,  and the vast assortment of bird life that frequent the area.

Visitors from around the globe journey to the Dry Tortugas. A variety of remarkable experiences await those who arrive. Whether you find yourself camping, snorkeling, birdwatching, fishing, or just enjoying a view from the top of massive Fort Jefferson, you quickly realize how magical this place can be.

Fort Jefferson
The commercial ferry operator provides daily guided walking tours of Fort Jefferson. Tours begin daily at 11:00 am near the entrance to Fort Jefferson and last approximately one hour. A self-guided tour of Fort Jefferson is also available. Simply follow the interpretive signage, or inquire at the visitor center for more information.
 

Camping at Garden Key is an incredible experience. Amazing star gazing, snorkeling, sunsets and more! But you must be prepared to camp in this remote location. A 10-site, primitive campground is located on Garden Key, the same island as Fort Jefferson, and is a short walk from the public dock. Campers must bring all supplies, including fresh water, fuel, ice, and food.

With less than 1% of Dry Tortugas National Park being dry ground, the best way to see this remarkable national treasure is by getting in the water. Dry Tortugas National Park is situated at the southwest corner of the Florida Keys reef system, the third largest in the world. Due to the remote location, and easterly flowing gulf current just south of the park, you are sure to discover a much greater abundance of marine life and often much larger versions than anywhere else in the Florida Keys.

Historic Coaling Pier Pilings - In the late 1800s the US Navy built coaling warehouses and piers to refuel their ships. Eventually a particularly strong hurricane saw to the destruction of these structures and the Navy decided not to rebuild them. Fortunately for the visitor today, the pilings these piers were built upon did survive and offer an excellent opportunity to see some of the parks larger marine animals. The shelter created by the pilings, mixed with a deep drop off into the dredged channel, attract large groupers, tarpon, barracudas, and the occasion shark. You can also expect to see a variety of smaller fish and colorful coral living on and around these pilings.

Moat wall – In order to protect Fort Jefferson from an amphibious assault, and to add protection from the rough waters of the Gulf of Mexico, a wall was built around the fort creating a moat in between the fort and the moat wall. While swimming in the moat is prohibited, swimming around the moat wall is a wonderful way to discover some of the great cultural artifacts and superlative marine life in the park. Visitors can expect to see anything from reef squid, cement barrels, nurse sharks, anchor chains, hogfish, and maybe even the endangered American crocodile that lives in the waters of the park.

Coral heads – Located at the edge of swim area are some of Gardens Keys largest and most well preserved coral heads. These coral heads grow so massive that you cannot swim over top of them. Here you will see excellent examples of both stony and soft corals. Along with the coral formations, you will also find a variety of colorful reef fish including parrot fish, angel fish, triggerfish damselfish and others.

Look but don't touch! All coral, reef fish, and cultural artifacts are protected.

Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100rawhidetravel.com

Let Us Help You Get Lost

Whether business or pleasure, Rawhide Travel and Tours delivers. Internet Travel sites list hotels and destinations, but offer little else. Our years of experience in the industry will help you design the perfect traveling experience. From romantic getaways to large events, our experienced agents will handle all the details. Traveling does not need to be stressful. You can count on us for great value and dependable service.

We arrange travel air, land and sea. We can arrange the perfect destination package including, resorts, conference rooms and meeting locations, special events, and attractions.

Call us and start planning that special vacation or event today. 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona  85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
 rawhidetravel.com

In the News: "It's a Small World" turns 50. Sing along!

The timeless Disney tune "It's a Small World" that wafts through our memories from past theme park vacations turns 50 this year, and on Thursday, Disney parks worldwide hosted a global sing-along.

At Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, a huge chorus of the song was performed in front of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom by cast members and a children's choir from Central Florida Performing Arts.

The kids, who didn't seem to mind belting out several takes of what some consider an earworm, sang for a live broadcast on "Good Morning America." Tributes to the song will also be held throughout the park all day, and other parks around the world also held sing-alongs.

Not that the parks are in short supply of the song on any regular day. Disney officials estimate that during a 16-hour operating day, the song is played, on average, 1,200 times.

It was written by Richard and Robert Sherman at the request of Walt Disney himself. The brothers won Academy Awards in 1965 for the music for "Mary Poppins."

The "It's a Small World" song and animatronic attraction debuted at the 1964 New York World's Fair in a salute to UNICEF. It was moved to Disneyland in California in 1966 then recreated at the other Disney parks. The attraction opened at the Florida park in 1971.

While some adults may complain about the infectious nature of the song, the gentle boat ride is a calm and air-conditioned respite from the crowds and heat and little kids love it.

With its hundreds of costumed dolls, the attraction was considered high-tech back in the 1970s. It's definitely different than many of the other new theme park offerings these days. There's no 3D, no complicated storyline.

Also in tribute to the song is what Disney is calling the first-of-its-kind online global sing-along. Fans can record videos of themselves singing the catchy tune at SmallWorld50.com, where many truly painful renditions in multiple languages already are playing.

You also can create virtual small-world dolls on the site to benefit UNICEF, the United Nation's Children's Fund. Disney will donate $1 (to up to $100,000) for each video and doll created on the site.

We defy you to evict this earworm from your brain.

Looking for that uniquely different vacation destination. Call Rawhide Travel and Tours today 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com. We can help!

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona  85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
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Off The Beaten Path: Spain

Away from the big cities and the holiday costas, Spain rarely fails to surprise and please the eyes, be it with the huddled stone houses and red-tile roofs of ancient villages, a set of rolling wooded hills rising from the plains, or a line of cliffs washed by strong Atlantic surf. Nowhere in Spain is untouristed, but it's never hard to get well off the beaten track and make surprising discoveries, especially in the less-travelled north, west and center of the country.

The northern coastal regions of Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque country are sometimes described as "green Spain", which is accurate because this is the rainiest part of the country. But in the most popular travel months, from June to September, you have almost as much chance of sunny days here as you have by the Mediterranean. The greenery extends from high inland mountains right down to a coast that is liberally endowed with dramatic capes and curves of sandy beach.

In the west, bordering Portugal, lies Extremadura, a land of more rolling plains, olive groves, oak forests and surprisingly abrupt mountains rising around its edges, along with villages, towns and cities such as Mérida and Cáceres, that still echo the Middle Ages. It was from here that many Spanish conquistadors hailed, including Francisco Pizarro; moreover cities across the Americas; Albuquerque, Mérida, Medellín, were first founded in Extremadura.

Winsome El Gastor (population 1,900), sitting on its hillock up from the nearby lake, goes by the moniker of the “Balcony of the White Villages.” You wouldn’t think it makes its living from agriculture and cattle farming, so proudly kept, neat as a pin it is. El Gastor is one of those quintessentially unassuming Andalusian villages where the church bells chime happily, old men adorn the square under towering palm trees, and nothing much ever happens. It makes an agreeable difference to be in a place where people still greet each other in the street, where the simplicity of a restaurant belies the quality of its home-cooking, and you get more change in your hand for a beer or coffee than you’re used to. The warm climate makes the location an interesting holiday choice from early spring to late autumn. If your stay coincides with the feast of Corpus Christi, just for once in the year you’ll witness a very different scene. White turns to green as the villagers deck the streets with palms and garlands, setting up impromptu altars for the church procession to bless. Afternoon music accompanies the festivities with melodies played on unusual traditional wind instruments, developed from the Arabic chirimia. 

La Sierra del Sueve, south-east of the chaming seaside town of Gijón, is unknown to most visitors to Asturias who generally head directly for the spectacular Picos de Europa. What they miss out on is a self-contained natural environment that still has patches of Europe’s original forest, holly, ash and beech woods, birch and almond, mingling together with the most significant concentration of ancient yews in this part of the continent, thousand upon thousand of the tree which once gave shelter to long-gone druids. A mild microclimate obtains here thanks to the proximity to the coast, which also brings sea mists rolling in to cloak and swirl around this magical little world linked by meandering pathways. Limestone outcrops rise above a gentle, peaceful, yet still wild landscape populated by few people but many other animals, including a very special one. Sueve is the home and last refuge of the asturcón, one of the world’s oldest horses.

Looking for that uniquely different vacation destination. Call Rawhide Travel and Tours today 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com. We can help!

 Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona  85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com 

Culinary Travel: Spain

Spain is a diverse country sharing the Iberian Peninsula with Portugal at the western end of the Mediterranean Sea. It is the country with the second-largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, after Italy, and the largest number of World Heritage Cities. 

Spain is considered an exotic country in Europe due to its friendly inhabitants, relaxed lifestyle, its cuisine, vibrant nightlife, and world-famous folklore and festivities. Among many places worth visiting are Spain's thriving capital Madrid, the vibrant coastal city of Barcelona, the famous "Running of the Bulls" at Pamplona, major Andalusian cities with Islamic architecture, like Seville, Granada and Córdoba, the Way of St. James and the idyllic Balearic and Canary Islands. 

Spain conjures images of flamenco dancers, café-lined plazas, white hillside villages, and soaring cathedrals. Beyond these traditional associations, this modern country offers top-notch art museums, inventive cuisine, and exciting nightlife. From the Pyrenees to the coast, its landscapes and varied cultures are worth exploring. Especially enticing is the national insistence on enjoying everyday pleasures. The Spanish live life to its fullest whether they are strolling in the park, pausing for a siesta, lingering over lunch, or dancing until dawn.

Braised Chicken - Pollo Estofado

This chicken dish is served with rice cooked with green peppers and paprika.

Makes 4 servings.
Prep Time: 30 min.
Cook Time: 1 1/2 hr.

Ingredients:
1 chicken weighing about 2 - 1/4 lb, in pieces
Salt
Pepper
5 oz streaky bacon
3 tbsp oil
1/2 onion
1 tbsp flour
1 cup white wine
Water or stock
Short grained Spanish Rice, such as Bomba or Calasparra
3 tbsp olive oil
1/2 onion
2 green peppers
1 tsp paprika 
7 oz rice
1 pint stock or water
Salt
Pepper

Preparation:
Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Brown in oil in an earthenware dish together with the diced bacon. Add the chopped onion and, before it browns, sprinkle with flour and brown lightly. Pour over the wine and cook over a gentle heat until reduced to half. Pour hot stock or water over the chicken until it is almost covered; cover the pan and leave to simmer for 45 minutes.

Rice: Heat the oil in a pan and gently fry the chopped onion and peppers for about 15 minutes until soft. Add the paprika, making sure it does not burn, then add the rice and stir. Pour the water or stock over the rice and vegetables and cook for 10 minutes over a high heat, then turn the heat down and cook for a further 7 minutes. Check the seasoning and leave to stand uncovered for a few minutes. Serve the chicken in its sauce alongside the rice. The best peppers for this dish are long, narrow ones because they are softer and have very thin skin.

If you have a taste for culinary travel, let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you plan your next vacation and all of your other reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com