A Very Central Asian Holiday

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A picture is worth a thousand words, so please allow me to share many...much love!

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Photos

War Is Over
My gleeful students after their awesome performance of "Happy Xmas" at the university party. One day, I will upload the video and bring joy to all.

I Go Back to December Allll the Time
Christmas Eve-Eve was spent with these very cool (and very younger than me) people, sitting on this couch next to this radiator singing Taylor Swift songs.

Home of King Place
Christmas Eve was at this very old palace on the outskirts of Dushanbe. We couldn't figure out how to tell the taxi driver where to go, so my friend Javid said "place of house of king?" It worked.

...and a pensive camel
You'd never know that 2 days later I would be a mess because a freakish snowstorm cancelled my flight to Turkey...

Workers of the World, Unite!
...is what this old Soviet flag says.

Christmas Dinner
It's called Qurutob, and it is Christmas colors! And very delicious.

This Guy
But I DID make it to Turkey, thank the Lord, and so did someone from far far away, lucky me.

Underground Cistern
Very coolly lit underground Byzantine water-storing place.

Fish!
Fishermen on the Galata Bridge in Istanbul...I was so happy to eat fish.

Whirling Dervishes
They were whirling in a train station, so probs not the most religious of experiences for them, but it sure was cool for all us spectators.

My Favorite Thing...
...about Topkapi Palace was the beautiful tiles covering everything.

For Mary...
A picture of Florence Nightingale at the Turkish bath I went to. She went there too!

For Annie...
It's everywhere!

Magical...Column?
In the Hagia Sofia...supposedly you stick your finger in and make a wish? Nevermind.

Comments

[Ma]

Amazing! Makes me think "Speak friend, and enter..."

[Ma]

Wow! A true historic relic!

[Ma]

um...hate to beat the LOTR thing to death, but I'm thinking the great hall of the dwarves?? ;)

[Mary]

Tay Tay!
I can't believe you titled a picture after a Taylor Swift song. Good for you! And good for Flo! She is the coolest. I forgot to ask you about the Turkish baths but I'm glad you got to go get toasty warm. I miss Istanbul! And you!

[annie]

a turkish gap! who would have thought??
everything looks so beautiful including you!!