Video Blog: Visiting Kusadasi, Turkey - The House of Virgin Mary, Basilica of St John, and Ephesus

During my Mediterranean cruise, I visited the beach town of Kusadasi in Turkey. There are many places to visit and things to see. The area is beautiful and very modern. I also visited popular destinations, including The House of the Virgin Mary, The Basilica of St John the Apostle, and Ephesus, an ancient city with excavations reporting from classical Greece to the Roman Empire.

Travel opens up so many opportunities to learn, grow oneself, and discover new ways of thinking and being. The video blog below shares a look at the destinations I had the chance to visit.

Captain George Flavel House Tour Experience in Astoria, Oregon

Recently, I toured the Captain George Flavel House in Astoria, Oregon, during my 7 day Coral Princess Cruise. Being my first time in Astoria, I wanted to experience something more historic. Among the many excursions, I decided to visit the Flavel House and have tea and scones. Before this tour, I knew nothing about Captain George Flavel, but I must say, he made a name for himself and left his own legacy in Astoria. He was a man who worked diligently for what he wanted. Captain George Flavel was hungry to achieve his own personal levels of success and that is a great life lesson for us all.

In this YouTube video, I share my experience, while touring the Captain George Flavel House.




My Flavel House Tour Review
To maintain the identity of this home, built in the 1800s, had to have been a huge undertaking. Every detail, from the wooden finishes, to the bed sheets, furniture, and kitchen accessories, must have taken many hours and even years of study to protect and maintain the history within this house. 

The Queen Anne style architecture is very apparent, and each room has its own charm and purpose. When I walked through the doors of this home, I felt like I was stepping back into history. It was an invaluable experience, to learn and see for myself, how an upper-middle class family lived during the 1800s. 

The tour guide was very well educated on the daily living practices of the family. She explained a lot about their lives and how each room served its purpose. The tour guide added a nice touch to the overall tour experience. 

Tea and Scones
The scones, pastries, and hot tea, was a nice addition to the tour experience before actually walking through the home. Everything was served in the dining room area of the home, with a lovely chandelier overhead. The fireplace, tall wooden doors and windows, set the mood for this room. It expressed a sense of style and class. The ladies serving the pastries and tea, were very patient and personable.

Flavel House Gift Shop
After the tour of the home, I went into the Flavel House Gift Shop where there were even more detailed information about Captain George Flavel and his family. There was a video playing in a small room, sharing how George Flavel worked to build his monopoly in Astoria. On the other side of the shop were displays of items to learn more about during this time in the 1800s. 

When I decide to go on vacation to anywhere new, I like to travel off the beaten path. This was one of the those times and I'm glad that I did. 

Olive The Senses #CruiseExcursion Recap 2015 (Vlog)

Selena Thinking Out Loud had the opportunity to learn more about olive oils and balsamic vinegars during the Olive the Senses Princess Cruise Excursion this past September. Located in Victoria, British Columbia, this store, Olive the Senses, is packed with unique style and a tasting experience that will keep you coming back for more. 

Olive the Senses Cruise Excursion Recap
While tasting the different olive oils and balsamic vinegars, I learned that they bottle each of their products right there in-store. Each canister shares in-depth details about what you will expect, if you tasted a particular oil or balsamic. 

Personally, I am an olive oil lover. I cook with it all the time and love the flavor that it brings to my meals. By visiting this store, it has broadened my insights even more. As for balsamic vinegar, I knew some things about it, and mostly use it on salads. However, by trying the Olive the Senses Apricot White Balsamic Vinegar, I learned that not all balsamic is dark. The White Balsamic Vinegar has a pleasantly-sweet, apricot taste, but packs a lot of punch on my salads. It doesn't take a lot, to go a long way in flavor.

Olive the Senses - Liquid Nitrogen Olive Oil Gelato with Vegan Caviar Dessert

While you're tasting their large variety of oils and balsamic, make sure to try their Liquid Nitrogen Olive Oil Gelato with Vegan Caviar. You will be hooked instantly! It comes in a nice tasty shell, very refreshing, and again expands your mind into the power of olive oil and what you can do with it. My particular batch was prepared with an orange-flavored olive oil!

If you want to travel off the beaten path, while in their store, I would recommend browsing their plethora of recipe books. You will have plenty of ideas, when hosting your next dinner party, holiday party, or office potluck. And, don't forget to pick up some of their spreads too. One of my favorites was the Parmesan-Asiago Spread. This spread can be used on vegetables, crackers, or your favorite breads. It has plenty of bold flavors and was definitely made with lots of love! I'm looking forward to purchasing more. To purchase a jar of the Parmesan-Asiago Spread, click here to visit Olive the Senses online store.

Watch the YouTube Recap Vlog for an on-location experience.



Join Olive the Senses and Others to Fight World Hunger
I am very passionate about fighting world hunger. I participated in a dollar a day food challenge a couple of years ago and experienced how it felt to go through one week with limited resources for food. It made me even more grateful for what I have. 

That's why the Eat. Feed. Love. website is so special. 

Every time you purchase a product from EatFeedLove.com, no matter how big or small, they will commit to feeding a person in need. It's that simple. 

So, spread the word and help feed someone in need today!