Sunday, September 23, 2018

What happened to the blog?


It seems the travel blog is on hold while we are doing some travel. Seriously, in the last few weeks we’ve been moving fast and encountering stories faster than they can be told.

Since leaving London at the end of August we’ve spent four days in Prague, five in Vienna, three in Goreme in Cappadocia, Turkey (where we had a hot air balloon ride! ! !), two in Konya , a couple near Ephesus , had a tour of Troy and Pergamon, and one of Gallipoli. Now we’re in Istanbul for six days. From here we fly to Split, Croatia, and a peaceful month in that quiet city on the gorgeous Dalmatian Coast.

Then, maybe, we’ll get caught up.

So, greetings from Turkey! We are staying in a family-run pension located near the Hagia Sophia museum and the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. We arrived late at night (that trip has its own story) and found our way up to the rooftop terrace. OMG, there we were, with the Blue Mosque, illuminated, not far in one direction and Hagia Sophia not far in the other. And there, looking south across the Bosporus, we saw the twinkling lights of Asia. Oh, it’s Istanbul, of course, because for over a millennium Constantinople, now called Istanbul, has been the crossroads between East and West. But we’re in Europe, and that part is in Asia!

We have really, really enjoyed Turkey. Incredibly friendly people, amazing landscapes, cradle-of-civilization type ancient ruins – and currently, an excellent exchange rate — make it a great place to be. Oh, and the food! Amazing variety and always fresh. Cucumbers and tomatoes for breakfast? Yes, and olives, bread, homemade fruit jam, and fresh yogurt. Eggs. And every place we’ve stayed included breakfast with the room. It’s a life I can get used too!

So for now here are a few photos to keep things going until next week, when we can stop being tourists and have some time to sort out and catch up.
 
Hot-air balloons at dawn, viewed from our guesthouse on our first morning in Goreme, Cappadocia

View from our balloon -- fantastic!


Some ruin at Ephesus

The Celcius Library, poster ruin for Ephesus. Pretty fabulous!

Seeing the whirling dervishes in Konya, where Rumi lived, taught, and died, was an unforgettable experience
Across the Bosphorus: here's lookin' at you, Asia!
The Blue Mosque in Istanbul
Hagia Sophia museum, nighttime

The spice market: just a taste, a soupçon, of the color and bustle of that market!

Next up: Split, Croatia (and lots of catching up!)

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