September 2009
50 posts
Fin
That’s all folks! Capped off the trip by having dinner with my lovely travel companions and watched lovely whirling dervishes! It was amazing! It’s been a packed trip, eventful, fun and full of new experiences! See you all stateside! I will use my time righting jetlag by uploading copious amounts of photos for your viewing pleasure.
Last night here!
Topkapi palace was inbelievable! We saw John’s arm, Moses’ rod and Muhammad’s beard hair! Tonight=whirling dervishes, dinner and pack. Sleep is a maybe- we have to be at the airport at 4 am!
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on...”
– Buddha (via kari-shma)
Yes please
1am - had dinner and a few drinks on Istikal street (open air mall, for lack of a better term). Last day in istanbul! Topkapi Palace, last minute shopping and attempting to pack half of Turkey is the order of the day tomorrow!
thebarstoolromantic:
“ I am sending you postcards from a place where I am not. We’re not tourists, we’re travelers a tourist is someone who thinks about going home the moment they arrive whereas a traveler might not come back at all.”
Paul Bowles, The Sheltering Sky
(as found on 2 or 3 Things I Know)
Eventful day
We hit the spice market first thing this morning. I found the Elma sosu (sour apple reduction sauce) that was used in our cooking class. The pet section was kind of gross (buckets of leeches), cute (tiny turtles) and depressing (cats and dogs most likely from mills).
We headed up to suleyman’s mosque and also stopped in to the New mosque. Then we headed back up a street that has some rock...
“Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”
– W. Clement Stone (via kari-shma)
nightmarebrunette:
When In Rome — The Promise
Spice market
Today, we head out to the spice market. Worthy of note: the pet & plant section!
“wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.”
– anthony j. d’angelo (via starlightandpoison)
“Love is rarer than genius itself. And friendship is rarer than love.”
– Charles Peguy (via kari-shma)
Venturing over to Asia
Today we may head over to the Asian side of Istanbul. Kinda depends on the energy level of the group. We tied one on last night and are feeling kinda lazy and slow.
“in a world full of audio visual marvels, may words matter to you and be full of...”
– godfrey smith (via starlightandpoison)
Total indulgence
Jean and I hit up a hamam this morning. It was pretty fantastic. A woman who may have smoked many cigarettes and may not have access to dental care scrubbed, massaged and washed my entire body. I have not been washed like that by another person since I was an infant. It’s necessary to leave your modesty at the door, for sure. I do wonder why America does not have bathhouses. I think we...
“Give a man a fire and he’s warm for the day. But set fire to him and he’s warm...”
– Terry Pratchett, Discworld (via pie0) (via quote-book)
“The worst thing one can do is not to try, to be aware of what one wants and not...”
– David Viscott (via brokenmachine) (via quote-book)
Back
Just arrived back in Istanbul. Even though we are in such a fantastic city on a Saturday night, we are calling it quits at 10pm- long and tiring day!! The Mediterranean sun and the stunning beauty of Ephesus drained us entirely!
Ephesian adventures
Walked along a path that cleopatra and Marc Anthony walked. Got chased by a barking stray dog.
Cooking class
In Kusadasi, sitting in the lounge sipping tea, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, getting ready for Turkish cooking class and fresh food shopping.
I am getting ready to be disconnected for four days as we meander up the Mediterranean. Pictures prove difficult to upload on Turkish wifi, sorry no images thus far!
Smoked a hookah, drinking a gin and tonic that is affordable (not in Istanbul!) and loving every minute!!
Living the life
Just got back from walking thru Roman ruins to get to the beach. I am now sitting in a hammock under a lime tree. Pictures to follow, barring Tumblr cooperates.
In Turkey, having a blast!
Hi everyone! All is well in the Cradle of Civilization! I will post pictures as soon as I get the hang of using an unfamiliar laptop- a Mac no less. Tomorrow we are headed to the coast for five days of fun in the sun! More later!
Personal Imports →
Richard (one of my travel partners) has launched a shopping blog for interesting and unique finds hand selected from Turkey! Please check it out.
“It is a curious thing, the death of a loved one. We all know that our time in...”
– Lemony Snicket (via worldofpossibility) (via quote-book)
I know that my focus of this blog was travel. But death is a journey as well. And it is put so beautifully, I had to reblog.
“Forget about all the reasons why something may not work. You only need to find...”
– Dr. Robert Anthony (via julie911) (via quote-book)
Joseph Lostrangio~ 9/11 remembrance
Joseph Lostrangio
Joseph was 48 years old. He was a lawyer working on the 79th floor of the World Trade Center. He made a home in Langhorne, PA with his family. This is just a mere glimpse into the life of this person, set to be a reminder to never forget that day eight years ago.
This previous tribute to Joseph is quite informative and wonderfully...
“Extraordinary things are always hiding in places people never think to look”
– Jodi Picoult (via borgomani) (via quote-book)
Keep Searching!!
Flooding in Istanbul →
Aegean Journey Tour →
(hint: click the title to go directly to the Aegean Journeys site!)
I was just sharing my itinerary for the tour that will occur in the middle of our stay in Turkey. As my family read the blurbs, I got very excited. It happens every time I read about the amazing places that I will soon be seeing! This link takes you to the full tour. We will only participate in a portion, joining the group in...
1 tag
“You know, the ancient Egyptians had a beautiful belief about death. When their...”
– The Bucket List (via julie911) http://quote-book.tumblr.com/ 