The countdown is on to what has become over the years my favorite holiday: Thanksgiving. I mean, how do you not love a holiday dedicated to food and family and friends and football?!?!? Of course, it is all too easy to go overboard and completely stress yourself out: how to prep the turkey, how to … Continue reading Sunday Comics: Cooking a Turkey
Before I launch into Birthday Trip #2, I did want to take a moment to pay homage to ANZAC Day. Today marks the 100th Anniversary of this very bloody battle, where the “winner” lost over 80,000 men and the “loser” gained a sense of self-independence. One of my friends was able to make the trek this year … Continue reading Healing
Well, Turkey and Greece are, for all intents and purposes of that specific trip, done. Of course, I could continue to write ad nauseum about the trip, but I need to move on because I have other great things to share and well, I need to leave some hope that I will return to both places … Continue reading Hungover.
Built between 1460-1478 for Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, Topkapı Palace is definitely one of the crown jewels of Istanbul’s glory. The sprawling grounds have amazing views of the city, but with every amenity available inside, there would have been no reason to leave the grounds! Sultan Mehmed spared no expense in building his dream home–complete … Continue reading The Palace of Sultans
Well, it certainly would not be a trip to Istanbul if you didn’t go to the bazaars! Yes, there are numerous bazaars in Instanbul. Bazaar literally means market and there are many to be found. We went to the two most famous: Kapalı Çarşı and Mısır Çarşısı. The Kapalı Çarşı, or Grand Bazaar, was just that: GRAND. It … Continue reading Amazingly Bazaar
Also known as the Blue Mosque, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque was built from 1609-1616. While seven years may seem like a long time, when you arrive and realize how enormous and intricate it is, you’ll be impressed that it only took seven years! In fact, it makes the neighboring Hagia Sophia look tiny in comparison. … Continue reading The Sultan Ahmed Mosque
Just kidding! I mean, I could easily do it AND provide you with at least 3 pictures per day…but I shall refrain, simply because well, there is a great big world out there to explore! Our first day in Istanbul was all ours. So once we got to the hotel and unpacked our things, we grabbed … Continue reading Istanbul, Part 1 of 78.
I’m not sure why, but I’m having a hard time writing about Istanbul. If I have to be perfectly honest, I think it’s a combination of several things. Such as (thanks for asking!) being scared I’m going to miss something, as well as trying to figure out how to cull down all my photos (I’m … Continue reading Istanbul, An Introduction.
Today Pergamon is known for the extensive amount of ancient ruins still in tact high on the mountain above the modern day Turkish city of Bergama. In its prime, however, it was known for its great library, considered to be second only to the Library of Alexandria, and its Asclepeion, which was considered to be the … Continue reading Pergamon
The Epicurious Texan 