From here to there and back again

While we were in Istanbul the only time that we had available for ourselves
(when we weren't working) was in the evening, which doesn't always make
for the best picture opportunities. When we return in February I am making sure
that we have at least a day or two to visit the spice market and the
bazaar. This trip was too busy to fit it in, but there will be a next time!

I slept for 12 hours straight the other night and could have slept more if I wasn't doing a mini marathon run with the kids the next day. To say I was tired is an understatement. I am not usually one to sleep in much less sleep more than 7/8 hours a night, so I must really have needed some sleep. I think between jet lag, being up late working/eating and early morning call to prayer, that is broadcast via loudspeaker throughout the city at 6am, I didn't get quite the usually amount I am used to and it made for a very unhappy Shannon. Almost caught up now...just in time for the next phase of the whirlwind trip. It involves a ferry, an island and a moor. Plus I believe that rain is guaranteed so bring on the Hunters!

Scenes from a Turkish Restaurant

Around 7pm all the stores in the old town of Istanbul start moving to the streets. It becomes a night market, open late and carrying the latest and greatest knock offs of every type. While business goes on during the day, it seems that the evening time is when the everyone really starts to do business since the sun has gone down and the heat of the day starts moving into a decidedly more comfortable number.

Along with the merchandise venders you also will find people on the streets that are trying to get you into their restaurant. Being hungry and after reviewing a few options we decided on the one, that according to the brochure the gentleman had was set in an old courtyard. Delighted that we were interested he has us follow him down steps and through two blocks of an indoor bazaar (Which was a feast for the eyes. So many crystals and knock off crap I didn't even know where to look first). After starting to think we were being lead down a path to our destruction we came upon the courtyard, exactly as pictured in the brochure. Not described or pictured was the lack of lighting, the Twin Peaks theme playing in the background and the largest piece of fluffy flat bread I have ever seen in person. Totally set the mood just right for a random spot in the middle of old town.

The good news was that dinner was delicious (kabob), but it was the dessert that was the most fascinating. The dessert menu consists of a series of blurry pictures with Turkish words next to them, so I need the waiters help in deciding what to order. To help me he brought over two of the items in person (chocolate and vanilla pudding??? I don't know exactly what they were, but it was something in a round tin, one brown and one white) and then he proceeded to say that I should not order either of those items.  What I should do is order round thing in a tin number 3, that had cheese in it. I pointed out one other item asking what it was, but he told me that tin #3 was the best. With a recommendation like that how could I do anything but go with 3.

When it arrived it looked like it had a fried crust and smelled like cinnamon, I dove right in. I have no idea what it exactly was, but the best way I can describe it is that it was a mild mozzarella like cheese, dipped in shredded wheat (the cereal), coated with cinnamon sugar and fried. As you may be able to imagine it was glorious. After I demolished it I realized I should have taken a picture. Hopefully they will have the same item at the restaurant we go to tonight. Regardless they will for sure have lots of traditional dancing there. Should be fun!

Constantinople

We are headed out in the road again, this time to Istanbul, Turkey, where there is sure to be a few things to see and explore. I was reading up on the city the other night and learned a few new things about the gateway between the east and west. I only did this so that I am not the one in our group that doesn't know the significance of the Topkapi Palace (click to get some knowledge). No one wants to be that guy.

This all leads me to the title of my post. While I was packing my bags yesterday this song was playing on loop in my brain. To attempt to rid myself of the song I listened to it on You Tube. That didn't work so I thought i would share it with you.

It sure is catchy.

Bodie

Bodie, CA

Heading up to Tahoe this past week we decided to take the 395 (instead I-5), which got me all excited for adventure! I went to the map and declared that we could go to Death Valley in July, AWESOME! Then the BF pointed out that DV was still 100 miles off the route. Total bummer. Since that was out I then decided that we needed to visit a ghost town. It is total gold rush country and there has to be something to check out. So I looked up 'ghost town route 395' and up popped Bodie, CA, old, deserted, big and creepy. Well that is definitely a place that I need to check out. Old, deserted, big and creepy is right up my alley.

It was the strangest thing to walk through this dirt road town thinking that 10,000 people at one time called this place home. As you walk through the town it feels like everyone just got up one day and took off. There are books still left at the desk and beds still made up expecting their owners to show up at bedtime. Give or take an inch or two of dust. I mean really who leaves a casket behind? Weird stuff. I love this kind of thing though and Bodie has a history worth it's weight in gold. When the story of the fire bell, "which tolled the ages of the deceased when they were buried, rang often and long", you know this place has a a legit ghost or 30. If you ever happen to be in this area, Bodie, CA is totally worth the 13 miles off the main route and the $7 per person entry. You can spend hours in there and still not see everything there is to view. Best ghost town to date!

Drink anyone? I am sure they have an excellent wine.

It truly was a beautiful place in the summer...in the shade.

It's like everyone just got up and left at the same time. 

Bullet holes in the sign.

There are some jars and tins I would love to have!!

Surprisingly a lot of houses have held up over the years.

According to the history the morgue was a very busy place.

La Note Bleue

Today is our last full day here in Monaco. Tomorrow we head out across the way to Nice for a few days for a real mini break. No work is the goal, but we shall see where that ends up! Today day started with crepes for breakfast and a walk along the water. This afternoon we will be sipping cocktails and staring out at the harbor trying to figure out how to be friends with the guy that owns the boat. Then tonight we are headed to La Note Bleue for dinner and music and I am so excited to check it out. In between there will be a little work, but trying so hard to not make it too much and just enjoy the day.

Because your floors need fashion too!

Hello!! Can I bother you for a ride?

I love ornate churches

Walk-a-bout

While on my walk today in Monte Carlo I witnessed chic in every sense of the word from the ladies walking along the street, lunching at café's and of course smoking their French cigarettes and drinking rosé. Not everyone I saw possessed this, but there were so many that did that I almost felt a little out of place. Almost, I did have my new shoes on so at least my shoes were chic. After my walk I grabbed a coffee at a harbor side café and watched the yachts come and go in the harbor. There was one so big I thought it was a mini cruise ship. Silly me, I should know better. This place makes Newport Beach look like the slums. Now if only I had the 6.5 million for that one bedroom apartment I saw for sale on my walk I could stay here. Hmmm...I think I best stick to my 8 euro coffee and call that my splurge.

Bring your comfy shoes, everything is up!

View up the hill from the hotel

Garden in the middle of the city

Not a mini cruise ship

Emerald City

Best door stop ever.

When I was young the Wizard of Oz came on once a year on TV sometime between my birthday and Easter. This was back in the pre-digital, pre-DVD and pre-VCR & Beta days (unless of course you were a millionaire which we weren't) so you didn't have the luxury of watching whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted (and if you were a millionaire in the way early 80's you were probably stuck watching The Sound of Music and M*A*S*H since not much else was released yet). The wait for it to be on TV was huge for me since it was (and still is) one of my favorite films. To this day I still think the scene where she opens the house door into Munchkin land, transitioning from black and white to a brilliant color filled world, is magical.

This is my first trip back to my Emerald City since officially having a new home in SoCal and while I love California, I miss Seattle. Nothing beats flying into SeaTac and seeing the lush green trees, lakes, mountains and the Puget Sound glistening from above. Yesterday was simply an amazing day to arrive because the sun was shining bright and the air had a hint of warmth in it. Days like these are the days that make it hard to live elsewhere, but I must remember that they are few and sometimes way to far between. However today I will take what I can get and enjoy my own little magical moment in the Emerald City.

The Wanderer

After running around the last few days I decided to give the grandparents a break and ventured out on my own in the greater Mesa, AZ area. I had noticed in our previous outings that there was all kinds of metal art by the roads and other unusual things that definitely needed a closer look. Somehow I had forgotten that the southwest is full of roadside stands, forgotten buildings and treasure trove of thrift stores. While I kept my wallet in check (so very hard to do) a gentleman with a hook for an arm tried to convince me to purchase the metal horse below for a steal at $1350 (if you notice it has $1600 on it). I politely declined his generous offer and instead tried to get him to pose with the horse. He declined. After moving on from ‘Hook’ I nearly took out a pedestrian trying to pull into what has got to be one of the last DQ stands in America. Inside and out this, fully open and operational, place is stuck in a time warp and had to be photographed to be believed. I had no idea these still existed, but it was fun to find. After I had completed my exploring I arrived back at the house just in time to catch the spectacular sunset. The colors in the sky were just amazing, vibrant and beautiful. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Love this pig. She is the mascot of a BBQ joint.

$1600 yeah right.

No tables, but 2 people working.

Pinks, purples and yellows. Pretty.