Istanbul, december 26, 2014

welcome to Istanbul, Turkey.  One of my new favorite cities.  I can't put my finger on the exact reason I like it so much.  I just do.
Istanbul has been the seat of government for several empires, Islamic, as well as Christian.  it is hard to walk more than a block without running into a mosque or Christian church, and it is not always easy to tell them apart because as new empires moved in, they changed the faith practiced in the structure, not the structure to the faith.

The Blue Mosque

Hague Sophia.  originally a Mosque,  changed to a Christian church,  now a museum

another view of the Blue Mosque

Hague Sophia at night

turkey is currently dealing with some political fallout.  I do not know the small details but apparently a percentage of the population feel that the current government is stealing money and abusing its power.  lately student have been holding demonstrations against the current president and his team.  on our second night there was a very large demonstration that became uncomfortable close to rioting.  we were in a restaurant not far from a large square that was a main gathering point for students.  we saw a lot of people running back and forth down the street. lots of yelling.  lots of chanting.   the restaurant proprietor insisted all was safe as they moved all their plants and advertisements from sidewalk into the restaurant.  other patrons where curious, but not concerned.  At that point I was not that concerned either.  I did get up and check the restaurant for a back exit for an escape plan if needed.  we continued with our dinner as things got more hectic.  I was facing the front window, so watched as people started dragging wooden desks and other stuff up the street.  a few minutes later there was a large bonfire blazing.  we finished dinner asap, paid, and left the scene.  outside was crowded but calm.  no one threatening anyone.  just a bunch of slogan chanting  down with the establishment kind of stuff.  a lot of people on the sidelines just watching.  we returned to our hotel on a side street a few blocks from the main road.  the noise and crowd continued late into the night, and eventually reached the area of our hotel.  at one point a tear-gas bomb was thrown down our street, and all the students took off running.  we were on the second floor just watching the drama.  interesting evening.  next day all was back to normal.  life as usual for the locals.

students getting some angst out

don't worry, I'm getting her out of there.  jeez, can't even enjoy a good bon-fire any more.

 Istanbul is where the the asian continent meets the european continent.  Not sure if that is a literal or traditional description,  but the west side of the Bosporus waterway (large river) is called "the european side," and a ferry ride across the Bosporus to the east you stand on "the asian side." we spent the majority of time on the european side, but enjoyed  a few ferry rides to asia and back.  the skyline of the city is dotted with large islamic mosques, and other centuries old structures.  it's ancient, and mysterious in the morning mist. I kept expecting james bond to go speeding by chased by the bad guys.

on the way back from Asia

 Istanbul is also home to the "grand bazaar,"  the largest market I have ever visited.  this market was a very cool,  but no longer authentic.  it was clean and well organized, and busy, but catered more to tourists and what they might want to bring home vs.  the locals and their everyday needs.

Corrinne had a sign made for her room

The Whirling Dervishes are a sect of Muslims that believe their dance ( and I am sure other practices that I am unaware of) helps them  become closer to God.  we watched a version of their practice, which consisted of about 45 minutes of whirling around in a circle.  I am uneducated on this spiritual practice. I assume it works for them,  they keep doing it,  and non of them threw-up.

Istanbul is foodie heaven. lots of great restaurants with prices comparable the the US.  A nice change from the frustrating lack of value found in Spain.   We stayed in Istanbul for a week, over the new year and returned to Spain on Jan 3.

Corrinne with her new-years eve shake

News years dinner

Happy 2014,  Corrinne after a few new years eve shakes.  party girl.

Christmas in germany 2013

We flew in to Frankfurt, Germany Monday morning Dec 23, 2014.   At the airport we met up with Cindy's sister Christy, her husband Andrew,  and son & daughter,  Brooks and Alison.  They were coming to Germany to spend two weeks with Andrew's brother John, an Army Sargent stationed in Germany.  What a trooper John was (a pun without trying).  he rented a large van to accommodate all of us,   drove three hours to pick us up at the airport,  then drove us all back (three hours) to the beautiful German town of Rothenburg.  then he stayed up to show us the town.   Rothenburg is a fantastic, preserved, walled (with moat), midieval city.  a fantastic place to be for Christmas.  the whole town was decorated for Christmas, and the first night we joined in the town's christmas market.  then we returned to the B&B where corrinnes cousins introduced her to poker.  she may have been the big winner that night.
we woke Christmas eve and John drove us all to the base he is stationed at, where he is in charge of the team that maintains apache helicopters.  we got an up-close look at these muscle copters.  very interesting, very high tech.
The next day was Christmas,  cold and beautiful in the town of Rothenburg.  we were all hoping to see the town covered in snow, but did not happen.  John made reservations months earlier at a very nice restaurant where we had a four hour lunch and Brooks ended up playing piano in the piano bar while the hired pianist was on his break.  it was a very relaxing day in a beautiful place.
next morning,  up and out, back to frankfurt to catch a flight to Istanbul, turkey.  Huge thank-you to Sargent John Macdonald for handling all the logistics of this visit.  he made the whole thing very easy.

one of the entrances to the old town

another entrance

Brooks & Allie on up, me, Christy, Andrew, John (in green), & CB

Brooks was piloting, Corrinne co-pilot for this flight

They asked my advice about a rotor problem  

CB decided to pilot the next flight.  wicked trigger thumb

Corrinne Marion 10 years old still loves hanging out with the daddy

dec 19, 2013 PARIS

The Christmas holiday started friday 12/19.  we picked corri up from school and headed to paris.  for the next few weeks we will be on the road.  from paris to germany, to turkey, to not sure yet.   corrinne has been jones-ing to see the Eiffel Tower for some time now.  here was her chance.  cindy was able to rent a small apartment with a reasonable view of the tower  so we were able to see it the night we arrived.  very special.  the majority of the first day was spent at the Eiffel Tower.  climbed the stairs about 1/3 the way up and then took an elevator to the top.  fantastic views of the city.  very cold but fab.    that eve we went to see the christmas lights in the shopping district and then back to the tower on time to see the tower light up like a sparkling Christmas tree.  A fine time had by everyone in paris.  The next day i woke up earlier then the ladies and headed to the corner cafe.  I nursed a cappuccino for an hour  while i observed the Cheers-like atmosphere.  the barista knew most of the folks that came in and had their coffee in the works before they sat down  everyone knew everyone.  this is what starbucks was probably aiming for when they started.  later we visited notre dame cathedral where they were in the middle of mass.  the choir was fantastic.  next, off to the arc de triomphe, then strolled down the famous shopping street champs-elysees ,  thru a long Christmas market and ended at the louve.  by that time everyone was tired so it made no sense  to try and conquer the louve.  and the line was very long, even at 4 pm.  seeing the mona-lisa will have to wait for another time.  back to the apartment for a bit of down time, out to look at the tower one last time, then to dinner were cindy claims to have the best salad of her life.  very exciting. up tomorrow @ five am for flight to germany.

at the airport duty shop in Paris, CM's first sighting of the tower

our second sighting of the tower.  this from our bedroom window

when we arrived at the Eiffel Tower park Corrinne saw two college girls doing the Eiffel Tower leap.  what big girls do, she does.

another leap

monkey see

The one and only

at the top very feeeeeeezing

there is a champagne bar at the top.  you are supposed to drink Champagne when you reach the top.  everybody's doing it. some say they don't remember walking down.

Christmas light display at the world famous Lafayette department store

chilly night in Pari

in front of the fabulous Notre Dame Cathedral

arc de triomphe

Corrinne decided the parisian pigeons didn't need kicking

Americans at the Louve