When we first started our blog in 2005 it was a small, online diary of sorts, a way for family and friends to keep up with our whereabouts. We had no idea what we were getting ourselves in to!  We enjoyed telling the stories and sharing the photos of our life on the road so much, we started to put more and more time and effort into the blog’s development.

During these years, we were working in the field of mobile/experiential marketing, traveling around the US promoting brands and products for various clients. In between contracts we took trips to places like Hawaii, Venezuela, Tahiti and the Caribbean, documenting as we went on the blog. This trend was solidified when we departed for our first extended international trip in 2008-09. On our next adventure in 2011-12, we got better at posting regularly and keeping track of what we spent. Earlier this year, we moved from a WordPress.com blog to the self-hosted variety, where we have much more control, but needed to learn a ton more about design, navigation, themes SEO and the like.

In honor of the continued evolution and development of turtlestravel.com, we felt it was time to have our very own logo.  With the time, effort and talent of our good friend Rachel Lekherzak, we are happy to say our new logo is ready to be revealed!

Obviously, we wanted our logo to be a turtle. The turtle is traditionally a symbol of wisdom and longevity, steadfastness and tranquility. Playing a role in folklore and spiritual beliefs that span the world, the turtle is truly multi-cultural.  In the Far East it is a creature that united heaven and earth.  To Native Americans it is a symbol of fertility and the powers of female energies.  According to Hindu beliefs, the weight of the world is borne by four elephants standing on the back of a turtle.

We both have a strong affinity for the sea, so it’s the sea turtle that draws us the most. On land, this turtle appears to be slow and clumsy. In his own element he is graceful and serene.  The turtle is a born traveler, setting out on its own right away to meet every challenge in order to explore the world!  Many sea turtles migrate great distances through the oceans. The slow pace of the turtle is reflected in our travel style.  We like to take our time and really explore a destination rather than rushing through and checking of must-sees.  The turtle is a careful observer, and a truly wise soul.  On a personal note, I have always seen the turtle withdrawing into its shell is an amazing self-defense mechanism I have a tendency toward myself.

On the turtle’s back, we wanted to include a wave or a spiral. We’ve always liked the koru, a common symbol in New Zealand and Oceania symbolizing growth, strength and peace, as well as new life. The spiral shape conveys a feeling of perpetual motion, while the inner coil curving back on itself shows a return to the point of origin.

The color and feel of the design and font are weathered and well-traveled. We love how Rachel was able to capture exactly what we felt in her work.  We are eternally grateful!  If you’re interested in reaching her for help with design projects, she can be contacted through her website, DesigningMinds or by email at rachel ‘at’ designingmind.net.

Hope you all enjoy the new logo and are able to identify with it as much as we do!