15 March 2012 11:48 MDT (19:48 local) After a short rest, I walked to the grand bazaar. It reminded me of the vendors at balloon fiesta only if they covered the entire field and under a roof. The area I found myself in was jewelry with a few scattered purses. I got incredibly turned around in the bazaar and when exited north east. This confused me and it took quite a while and finding myself at the new mosque before getting my bearings. Oh, and it was snowing. After getting back to beyazit, I looked a while for the nargile cafe but to no avail. That's okay, I have a hunch the Palestinians in east Jerusalem will hook me up. Finally, I stopped at the hamam. First, I paid and received my cleaning mitten and wash ... read more

15 March 2012 6:35 MDT (14:35 local) What an amazing day so far. Breakfast was fine, I tried the little hotdogs and yellow juice for the first time ( mango?) Then, it turned out my room didn't have any hot water, which was bad because I had already trimmed my beard. Anyway, I made my travel arrangements to the airport, visited the blue mosque, visited Topkapi palace (most amazing place I may have ever been- tile so beautiful it made me appreciate tile, the biggest gemstones I've seen outside the smithsonian, and of course the head of John the Baptist), ate corn and chestnuts from vendor ( chestnuts yummier than expected, corn less so), went to the Byzentine cistern which reminded me of Carlsbad- really big underground chamber. And to think the city had several (many?) ... read more

15 March 2012 23:25 MDT (7:25 local) This is an abridgment of last nights posting. I can fill in gaps when I get home. Spinach pastry, spice bazaar, Asia, cemetery, car ferry, lunch, walls, church, pedestrian street, lots of walking. Today is last day in Istanbul. Let's see how much I can fit in. Lobo game tonight.... read more

I just lost over an hours worth of typing- sorry, I don't know if I can keep doing this.... read more

13 March 2012 23:00 MDT (3/14 7:00 local) First, thoughts from this morning. The bears needed a receiver and have for the last 92 years, but Brandon Marshall is too unstable for my comfort. I work with people with borderline personality disorder regularly and I couldn't imagine they are great teammates. Maybe the locker room is veteran and can absorb it, but last year we had a drug kingpin on the team and that went unpoliced (until of course it did)- Im still waiting for the other shoe to drop from that. At least he came cheaply. The Jason Campbell signing is brilliant. Go bears! Now, let's see if I can rewrite what I lost last night: I woke up early ~4 , but that means I got about twelve hours of sleep and am close ... read more

Just lost a half hour's worth of writing. going to eat now maybe try again when I get back.... read more

12 March 2012 04:55 MDT (12:55 local) I had a very rough night last night. No sleep at all - but I am caught up on Doctor Who. Breakfast was yummy. One of the breakfast breads is a roll with hot dog pieces on it. I am noticing that a characteristic of Turkish food is to randomly include a jalapeño or its equivalent. Pretty much the same breakfast as yesterday. I had more fruit and less cheese. I really like the apricots. After breakfast, I went on a walk. I started out north hoping to catch a ferry to eyup. I was stopped three different times by people trying to sell me an umbrella. I became very cross ( Sisy would say pissy). It was misting. I had a very hard time making it to the ... read more

11 March 2012 4:50 MDT (12:50 local) A major reason I came on this trip was to see Hagia Sofia. I had huge expectations, and they were largely met. The dome itself was less than expected (little decoration, windows more understated than pictures suggest, easy to forget how old it is). The mosaics were more than expected. They were largely not on the ceiling, but on the walls of the upper gallery. I tend not to appreciate mosaics, but these transcended my tastes to wow me. The stone work was exquisite. The history was understated but there: "this was where the empress would stand during mass" "this is where the roman emperors and empresses were crowned". I think it is now my third favorite place I have ever been behind Sistine Chapel and John Brown's fort. ... read more

11 March 2012 2:05 MDT (10:05 local) I think the states "sprang ahead" . Hopefully my math is right. Last night, I took a walk along the hippodrome. Everything is very pretty lit up. I had a fish sandwich on the dock. I had a Turkish beer ( yummy). And successfully got my way out of an elaborate overcharging scheme. I think I have a good " I'm about to kick your ass face". Anyway, I came back ( still get lost. There really aren't street signs as such) and went to sleep. Woke up twice. Once at half time once with ten seconds left. Go lobos! I tried to record the game so maybe I'll get to listen to it in its entirety. Breakfast was a buffet with many cheeses, breads, fruits, and olives. I ... read more

10 March 2012 9:12 MST (18:12 local) First the flight: Drank visne (call to prayer time!!!!!!!!!! Sorry for the interruption! It was my very first one- shorter than I would have guessed) as my first beverage. Pretty name (s has the curly-q so it sounds like Vishne). Tastes like cranberry. Maybe Sisy likes it as baby name. Dinner was chicken and yummy couscous and salad and cheesecake. Watched 4 Doctor Who episodes and listened to a lot of music. They gave everyone a gift bag with sleep mask, ear plugs, socks, and toothpaste. I used an airplane toilet for the first time. Not much different from the train. Didn't get to see northern lights. Didn't get to sleep. Breakfast was eggs, potato, fruit, spinach, tomato, and cheese. Flight was ten hours. Landed. I love how international ... read more