Some of you may be wondering about my safety over here in Turkey, due to the recent shootings in Istanbul at the US consulate, and the kidnappings of Germans in the far eastern Turkey. I'm sure it's made the US papers. This update is to assure you that we are taking extra safety precautions here in Antalya, (such as not hanging out at American type places like Starbucks for long periods of time, avoiding large tourist crowds, etc). Verna is not too concerned. 3 years ago when there were bombings in Antalya that injured some people, we were made to stay [View Full Entry]

---

---

We left the Grand Sakarya Hotel on Sunday morning and travelled with the U.S. team into Istanbul about 3hrs by bus,It was quite the experience for the bus driver manouvering around the very narrow streets. At one point we came around a corner and were faced with an on coming bus in which the honking and yelling between drivers began, What a show!Once we got to the Hotel we discovered we were not staying in the same hotel as the U.S. team so we had to get taxied to another Best Western right on the Ocean for a great price. What [View Full Entry]

---

---

Hello from Istanbul! What a city! We are leaving tomorrow morning, but we have had 2 very busy days here filled with kebaps, Turkish delight, and a whole lot of bargaining. Its an absolutely beautiful city, packed full of mosques! needless to say, it was all a little bit overwhelming, the men are quite interested in all of us girls, snapping pictures of us from behind, but everyone is really nice and the Turkish people are very hospitable. Doing my duty as a good Jew, I trekked all the way to probably the only synagugue in Istanbul (Turkey is 99.8% muslim). [View Full Entry]

---

---

We crossed the small channel between the Greek island Samos and Turkey Asia Minor in a short time but waiting a long time to get things situated (İ'm using a Turkish keyboard and typing, slowly, with my mouth open. The biggest difference, the i which, apparently İ use a lot...} we crammed on with a large Italian tour group and were ushered off and into an ultra modern port burger king starbucks gummy bears so much to buy we couldn't find the exit but we did and walked to our hotel a re-vamped strong-hold/hotel for merchants on the silk road think [View Full Entry]

---

---

These are some randomly assorted pictures we like of turkey. thanks to everyone who has posted messages, we have tried to include a few of ourselves in this one. We are both camera shy but are putting some on as a sacrifice to friends and family. We are now in India so preparing exciting reports about it here, it has been incredible so far. It has been so different from turkey where everything was so organized and clean and expensive. please enjoy these last photos form turkey!! [View Full Entry]

---

---

Istanbul is an amazing place, The friendliest culture I have encountered so far.. there are literally centuries old mosque's everywhere .. I had an 'experience' at a Turkish bath.. basically naked in only a towel with a huge Turkish guy saying random Turkish words to me while he massaged me.. it was brutal. You can spend hours wondering around the great bazaar.. loud speakers all over the city kick off five times a day for prayer time.. I recommend this place.. it's awesome :) more pics --> [View Full Entry]

---

---

We went out the other night to the restaurant in the park again. We happened in on a family festival happening. I asked the waiter and with a few words he jestered it was the muslim tradition of the coming of manhood for a young man. Other wise known as a circumcision party We were up on a balcony overlooking all what was going on. we must have arrived near the end all the men were seated in another area of the park while all the women and children were up dancing to traditional turkish music and dressed up very nicely. [View Full Entry]

---

---

Hi!!! Sorry i haven't updated in ages, things have been pretty crazy!! After my last entry, we went on a 3 night Greek Island cruise. In addition to the usual relaxing and partying, we visited Kusadasi, which is on the Asian side of Turkey. This is where ancient Ephesus is located, A city that has been excavated for the last 80 years, and isnt expected to be completed for another 100 years. It's one of the largest ancient cities ever found and was truly amazing. In the afternoon we went to Patmos, a Greek Island where the Monastery that St. Paul [View Full Entry]

---

---

We went to Gallipoli today. Wow it was emotional! We went to visit the graves at Ari Burnu, saw Anzac cove and walked in the trenches! i must have cried about 3 times today. We went to the museum and saw lots of different types of guns and grenades, tools, food, uniform etc but what hit me most was the skulls. Until that point there had been just objects belonging to men who had died, that was emotional enoguh but to stand there literally face to face with one of these poor men, with one still having the bullet in the [View Full Entry]

---

---

Ive now just made it to istanbul. 12 hour overnite bus and my bum is killing me. Lots to see and do here, im up now at 4 in the morning to get a good jump on things. i want to get out there before every thing fills with people. On todays agenda is the grand bazaar, blue mosque, and hagia sofia. Also, any others i stumble upon along the way. At this point im just waiting for some hot water to return for my shower, 24 hour hot water my ass! Ive got alot of the road to was off [View Full Entry]

---

---