Hanging with some great colleagues at Duden Beach in Anatalya Turkey...a nice slow day of conversations and not too many planned activities.

Lunch at a very cool grotto in Anatalya.  Fish was incredibly fresh.

Lunch....I love food.

Old town, Anatalya Turkey

Mediterranean boat ride.

Coastline from boat, Anatalya, Med Sea, Turkey

My trusted, loyal camera of the last 5 years (waterproof, fall-off-motorcycle-proof, never failed) finally bit the dust today as I dove into the Mediterranean Sea and the waterproof compartment came open.  Fortunately I was able to dry the photo card in the sun and save the last photos this good friend would capture.  Another camera, another chapter.

Fresh fish, great food, greater people.

The end of destroying a fine plate of local fish.  That is Anil Ali, our host, in the background.

Another incredible dinner at the home of a local resident.  They outdid themselves with food and courtesy, almost....just almost as great as the recent dinner hosted by Dr. Kate and family for the Russian guests back on good old Trevanion.  Fun to be on both sides of these events, at home and overseas.

The reason it is called Mediterranean Blue and why nothing else on earth looks like it.

Ahhhh, a fine day soaking in the Mediterranean.

I thought this was interesting.  It is Friday (Prayer day in Islam, like Sunday in Christianity) and followers are fairly observant, even in a market area with the retail led lights blinking.  I was both impressed with the adherence and intrigued by the lights.  Not any different that commercial world I live in, but new and interesting to me.

More food, more great spicy food.  Ahhh

Dr. C, Gediz University visit.

Friday is prayer day (like the Christian Sunday) and it is very respectful, though I could not help but notice the flashing retails signs that keep soliciting right during prayers.  No different that the tv adds that run during religious shows, but interesting nonetheless.

I like food and to me this is the perfect light breakfast, serves at Gediz University.

Arts and Sciences, Gediz University, Izmir.  Good visit.

No question I like US flag best, but I like all flags flying proudly in the wind, Turkey no exception.

Back out on the Aegean Sea.

Aegean Sea, crossing into center city. Izmir, Turkey

Dinner at the home of Faruk.  A true feast, we were the family's first ever American guests and we were treated like royalty.

Dr. Caryl Sheffield giving a lecture at the 2000 year old amphitheater at Ephesus

Ruins at Ephesus, Ismir, Turkey

Colleagues Nihat, Sandra, Terri

Ephesus Turkey

2000 year old latrine at Ephesus.  Slaves were used to sit on the seats and keep them warm for the patrons in the winter.

Home of Virgin Mary high on a mountain top in Ephesus, pretty cool place.  Discovered in 1891 and visited by 6 popes.

Found a few hours to wander the streets today.  The people I meet in Istanbul are fascinating and friendly.

Fatih University overlooking Marmara Sea

Street in Istanbul, lots to see, lots to eat.

My favorite travel companions, Caryl and Jim

Hanging at the sea in some 6 Lira ($3 dollar) sunglasses because I lost mine already.

Another cool mosque

Dr. Tunc, physicist and new friend and Fatih University.

Another great day Following the Comet in Istanbul.  We met with some great faculty at Fatih University today and learned a lot about higher ed in Turkey.  There was, of course, a great lunch involved with kabobs, rice, vegetables, lentil soup (yum) and lots of bread.  Our adventure to the Jewish museums was derailed since it was a holiday we did not know about, but undeterred I found free hours to do my favorite thing and walk the streets and sample foods and watch people and be watched by people.  Istanbul really is the crossroads of the middle east.  The people are extremely friendly and the food is fantastic.  Tonight we took a flight to the coastal city of Izmir and tomorrow we will explore this town, visit Ephesus (birth place of Mary) and have dinner with local families.  Food is a constant theme and that is fine by me.

Another short video of the really cool call to prayer, this time outside of a Mosque.

Call to Prayer at Grand Bazaar, Istanbul.

This was very cool as the 3pm call to prayer took place as I was entering the Grand Bazaar.  There are, as most everyone knows, 5 calls to prayer a day.  What I did not know is that they are always done live, by people, not recordings.  It is powerful, to me.

Hagia Sophia (was a Christian Church, then an Islamic Mosque, now a museum as a compromise)

Istanbul on the Marmara Sea

Me and Dr. Jim hangin

Hagia Sophia

Always time for a tea

Blue Mosque

Keeping us safe

Blue Mosque

Another killer lunch, this one was donner kabobs

Badass looking gyro meat laced with peppers

Dr. C and I rocking out our required respectful gear to go into Blue Mosque

Pistachio laced pastries galore.

Entrance to Grand Bazaar

A full day of touring and walking and taking in the culture.  We started at the Hagia Sophia which is an incredible example, one of millions, of people fighting over the same turf, this time Muslims and Christians.  The place was eventually converted into a museum by the state to keep peace.  Then after several stops for tea and pastries we visited the Blue Mosque which is alive an active and full of people in prayer.  It was very civil and very respectful, other than I had to wear a blue skirt to get in.  

The afternoon landed us in the Grand Bazaar which is like the Strip District in Pittsburgh, times 4,000 stores and so much bargaining and haggling that I could not see straight.  I think I bought a few gifts, but I cannot really remember.  I did have another tea.

Istanbul is huge and cultured and clean and sophisticated and polite and a wonderful place.  As normal I explore most of the culture by eating....I go to visit the churches because they are cool enough and are, of course always on the tour.  Another huge dinner tonight of meats and breads and I am wonderfully tired.  A perfect day, almost.

A favorite theme, the Agean Sea, and everything named for it.

Arriving at Istanbul over the Black Sea.

First night hotel, total luxury.

We are here to visit 3 universities.  I am taking a stab that this is one of them.

Jim and Caryl enjoying some killer spicy bean wraps.

First night dinner with Nihat, Mahmat, Odese, Caryl, Jim, me, Terry and Sandra and a big giant flatbread with meats.

Ah, apparently every dinner ends with a Turkish tea.

Day 1, arrived in Istanbul after long and comfortable layovers in Toronto and Munich.  Time stands still in travel time and I love it.  Met up with the 6 other faculty members today and it is going to be a great adventure.  Istanbul is huge, 20 million people huge, and it is still on of the crossroads cities on earth.  Long travel days, and looking forward to sleep but all in and immersing.  Almost perfect start.