I just returned from a trip to a place that I can't seem to let go of, and ALL THINGS TURKEY are calling to me. This is when I reached out to one of our Wandering Educators, Emily Johnson, who lives in Istanbul (lucky!) for some Istanbul goodness. Even more luck: Emily's our new Istanbul Editor, and will share more as time unwinds (yay!).

Emily notes:

Last week, Turkish Airlines flew two dozen of us White House Travel Bloggers to Turkey – and what a life-changing experience it was! Turkish Airlines’ slogan is Widen Your World – and our visit did just that.

Krish V. Krishnan’s debut book, Rambles into Sacred Realms, about his travels over three decades, complete with artwork from a wide array of media, is a joy to behold on many levels. Not only does this author capture one’s attention with harrowing adventure and breathtaking resolve, but he enhances the experience with a markedly fresh perspective. Krishnan knows his world, and shares it. Providing the reader with just enough historical reference, he winds his stories around corners and through time, allowing for both knowledge and introspection.

What do you look for in the perfect travel purse? For me, I like high quality leather, beautiful craftsmanship, eco-friendly materials, plenty of space to haul things (I'm a mom!), and zippers - the more the merrier, to deter trouble. So for my recent trip to Turkey with Turkish Airlines, I was so pleased to work with the renowned British company Maxwell Scott Bags to review a travel handbag.

During Spring Break 2015, I traveled to Los Angeles from Chicago to spend some time with my adult daughter, Katie.  Katie is an actress and a writer, surviving in the City of Angels by relentlessly promoting herself, auditioning, working at a bookstore, and adding odd jobs when needed. She lives in a tiny room in a rented home near LAX, and so I needed to make arrangements to sleep in other quarters.  I took to the web and booked a room via AirBnb for the first time.

Texas history does not begin with its declaration of independence from Mexico 1836. Long before this revolt, indigenous people and Hispanic settlers lived in the vast region called New Spain. Spain’s conquest of Mexico in 1519 continued until Mexico declared independence from Spain in 1810. Then, what was known as Tejas to the inhabitants, became part of Mexico.

Spain’s European blood was not only spilled in the bloody conquest of Mexico but mixed with Mexico’s indigenous tribes, resulting in a people called mestizos. Mexicans are inheritors of this extraordinary human fusion.

I've just returned from an extraordinary trip to Turkey with the White House Travel Bloggers, courtesy of Turkish Airlines (never-ending thank yous!).