Aeden's haircut and later a walk to Armada in the sunshine. What a change from last week!
Aeden's new haircut, complete with hair gel and red color spray. Whoa!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Sunday, March 29
Grocery shopping, naps, cross-stitch, cleaning Lacey's bedroom, looking for the escaped turtle (we found him; he's fine), baths for the kids (complete with nail clipping!), lots of fun stuff. Clipping fingernails and toenails is when it is very obvious that I have three kids: I never in my life thought I'd sit down and clip 60 nails all in a row.
Aeden discovered that it is OK for Maren's American Girl doll to ride in his new toy stroller now, and so he pushed her around much of the day, or parked her near the kitchen balcony door. Does she like the view from that window best?
There was no alcohol sales allowed today due to the elections. The grocery store aisle was literally blocked off with black plastic and packing tape, and little displays of beer and things at the checkout stands were taped up in black plastic. Curious. It reminded me of the giant black plastic sheets that the fraternity houses in Pullman would attach between houses for parties. Gosh alcohol makes some people do bizarre things.
But at least something tasty for dinner: chickpea salad (nohut piyazi), beyaz peynir, lentil soup (mercimek corbasi) with rice, fresh flower (daisy) bread (papatya ekmeki).
Grocery shopping, naps, cross-stitch, cleaning Lacey's bedroom, looking for the escaped turtle (we found him; he's fine), baths for the kids (complete with nail clipping!), lots of fun stuff. Clipping fingernails and toenails is when it is very obvious that I have three kids: I never in my life thought I'd sit down and clip 60 nails all in a row.
Aeden discovered that it is OK for Maren's American Girl doll to ride in his new toy stroller now, and so he pushed her around much of the day, or parked her near the kitchen balcony door. Does she like the view from that window best?
There was no alcohol sales allowed today due to the elections. The grocery store aisle was literally blocked off with black plastic and packing tape, and little displays of beer and things at the checkout stands were taped up in black plastic. Curious. It reminded me of the giant black plastic sheets that the fraternity houses in Pullman would attach between houses for parties. Gosh alcohol makes some people do bizarre things.
But at least something tasty for dinner: chickpea salad (nohut piyazi), beyaz peynir, lentil soup (mercimek corbasi) with rice, fresh flower (daisy) bread (papatya ekmeki).
Saturday, March 28
A family trip to Bilkent to do some shopping, naps, and gourmet dinner of scrambled eggs and toast. Mmm. Nobody is feeling particularly motivated to do much right now.
Except Aeden. He found a cheap little toy stroller at Real today and fell in love. He pushed it around the store, out in the parking lot, screamed when we put it in the trunk of the taxi, brought it into bed with him that night. Yes, I admit it. He picked out a pink one and I swapped it with a green one. I showed him how to put a teddy bear in it...nope doesn't like it. Empty, or with a car is better. But must push it around the apartment or at least have it parked nearby and never out of site!
A family trip to Bilkent to do some shopping, naps, and gourmet dinner of scrambled eggs and toast. Mmm. Nobody is feeling particularly motivated to do much right now.
Except Aeden. He found a cheap little toy stroller at Real today and fell in love. He pushed it around the store, out in the parking lot, screamed when we put it in the trunk of the taxi, brought it into bed with him that night. Yes, I admit it. He picked out a pink one and I swapped it with a green one. I showed him how to put a teddy bear in it...nope doesn't like it. Empty, or with a car is better. But must push it around the apartment or at least have it parked nearby and never out of site!
Friday, March 27
A regular school day for everyone, and a "regular" dinner and movie night at our house with Roseta, Danielle, and Emir. Aeden and Emir had a ball chasing each other around the house (around and around and around the coffee table, pause, oh, then the other way...around and around and around...) and playing with the balls and cars. Aeden was pretty funny to watch with someone closer to his own size over at his very own house!
Emir trying out Brian's horse for a ride
Aeden disassembled Lacey's sticker book...only to reassemble it on Roseta's shirt and face!
We watched Slumdog Millionaire, which the cover touts as a "feel-good movie". I'm not quite sure I know anyone that this is a feel-good movie for...it was much more of a downer for me. I guess it ended on a more positive note, but the vignettes of life in the slums for an orphan kid in India were almost too much to watch. It was a neat idea for a movie though (flashback vignettes about why the main character knows the random answers to win so much on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?) and nicely done.
A regular school day for everyone, and a "regular" dinner and movie night at our house with Roseta, Danielle, and Emir. Aeden and Emir had a ball chasing each other around the house (around and around and around the coffee table, pause, oh, then the other way...around and around and around...) and playing with the balls and cars. Aeden was pretty funny to watch with someone closer to his own size over at his very own house!
We watched Slumdog Millionaire, which the cover touts as a "feel-good movie". I'm not quite sure I know anyone that this is a feel-good movie for...it was much more of a downer for me. I guess it ended on a more positive note, but the vignettes of life in the slums for an orphan kid in India were almost too much to watch. It was a neat idea for a movie though (flashback vignettes about why the main character knows the random answers to win so much on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?) and nicely done.
Thursday, March 26
Brian met Aeden and I at school and we went to lunch and a quick shopping walk in Kizilay. It is so nice to have time to eat and chat with Brian on weekdays without all the kids with us and to show him the things I've noticed along my dolmus route since he rode with me last. It is one of the things I will miss about this year.
We chatted about what we like about Turkey and will miss once we leave (in hopes of enjoying them more while we're still here, too). I have really been enjoying appreciating simple things and how my time here had made me revise my list of things I would bring with me "next time" or on a trip somewhere even more remote. Cinnamon and vanilla, for instance. They have a homey smell and taste and would be well worth the weight and space in packing. I didn't even consider those things to be important and just took them for granted at home.
Maren and I started work on a cross-stitch kit I got for her for her birthday. I'll fall asleep tonight hearing, "Right here, mommy?" over and over, as Maren was very careful to have every stitch in just the right spot. The kit was too cute to resist when I was out birthday shopping for one of the kids' friends a while ago, and I bought it and stashed it away for Maren's birthday. It has two sets (so she's shared one with Lacey), and you stitch the face of a little girl, then pour a plaster of Paris frame and paint the frame to mount the cross-stitch picture. Should keep us busy for a while, too!
Brian met Aeden and I at school and we went to lunch and a quick shopping walk in Kizilay. It is so nice to have time to eat and chat with Brian on weekdays without all the kids with us and to show him the things I've noticed along my dolmus route since he rode with me last. It is one of the things I will miss about this year.
We chatted about what we like about Turkey and will miss once we leave (in hopes of enjoying them more while we're still here, too). I have really been enjoying appreciating simple things and how my time here had made me revise my list of things I would bring with me "next time" or on a trip somewhere even more remote. Cinnamon and vanilla, for instance. They have a homey smell and taste and would be well worth the weight and space in packing. I didn't even consider those things to be important and just took them for granted at home.
Maren and I started work on a cross-stitch kit I got for her for her birthday. I'll fall asleep tonight hearing, "Right here, mommy?" over and over, as Maren was very careful to have every stitch in just the right spot. The kit was too cute to resist when I was out birthday shopping for one of the kids' friends a while ago, and I bought it and stashed it away for Maren's birthday. It has two sets (so she's shared one with Lacey), and you stitch the face of a little girl, then pour a plaster of Paris frame and paint the frame to mount the cross-stitch picture. Should keep us busy for a while, too!
Wednesday, March 25
Now Aeden and Brian aren't feeling well...but they're still going to school so far. Oh, and one of my students is home with the chicken pox. They vaccinize for it here in Turkey, but not in England I learned. I would think that a chance at not dealing with shingles later on in life would be worth a shot as a baby, but I guess that's not how the English feel about it at this point.
Now Aeden and Brian aren't feeling well...but they're still going to school so far. Oh, and one of my students is home with the chicken pox. They vaccinize for it here in Turkey, but not in England I learned. I would think that a chance at not dealing with shingles later on in life would be worth a shot as a baby, but I guess that's not how the English feel about it at this point.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Friday, March 20
Maren's home sick again, but I'm more sick! Maren is still stiff and sore from her illness earlier in the week so I let her stay home with me since I was going to stay home anyway. I can't turn my head, my neck is so sore and swollen. It's just wonderful. I don't remember being so sick where I could just lay in bed and feel all my joints aching and wishing I would never have to swallow again.
Maren discovered today that the leprechauns snuck some goodies into the trap somehow, without making it look any different from the outside. So they did visit after all! Sticker books, stickers, Skittles, and Swedish Fish made both the girls yell, "Thank you leprechauns!". Aeden got VERY frustrated with the Cars stickers when he tried to drive them instead of just stick them and admire them. :-)
Aeden has added an occasional "thank you" to his vocabulary, and today said, "me" and held his hands to his chest. I think he snuck out a "mo pease" (more please) earlier today to Brian as well.
Phone call tonight at 8:30:
"You teach Saturday young learners English conversation class? You start tomorrow at 1:00 with students. I need native speaker. Maybe you call me back later tonight if your friends can do it? I don't want to cancel class tomorrow, the parents will be upset..."
I really need to vacuum and mop the apartment. Aeden goes and sits in the corner and eats dust bunnies with a huge grin on his face. Whose kid is this anyway? He's not mine when he does that...but he is mine when I ask him to go to bed and he waves, says "byeeee" and trots off to bed with no more comment. He plays or reads in there for a while and then falls asleep. Can't complain about that.
Maren's home sick again, but I'm more sick! Maren is still stiff and sore from her illness earlier in the week so I let her stay home with me since I was going to stay home anyway. I can't turn my head, my neck is so sore and swollen. It's just wonderful. I don't remember being so sick where I could just lay in bed and feel all my joints aching and wishing I would never have to swallow again.
Maren discovered today that the leprechauns snuck some goodies into the trap somehow, without making it look any different from the outside. So they did visit after all! Sticker books, stickers, Skittles, and Swedish Fish made both the girls yell, "Thank you leprechauns!". Aeden got VERY frustrated with the Cars stickers when he tried to drive them instead of just stick them and admire them. :-)
Aeden has added an occasional "thank you" to his vocabulary, and today said, "me" and held his hands to his chest. I think he snuck out a "mo pease" (more please) earlier today to Brian as well.
Phone call tonight at 8:30:
"You teach Saturday young learners English conversation class? You start tomorrow at 1:00 with students. I need native speaker. Maybe you call me back later tonight if your friends can do it? I don't want to cancel class tomorrow, the parents will be upset..."
I really need to vacuum and mop the apartment. Aeden goes and sits in the corner and eats dust bunnies with a huge grin on his face. Whose kid is this anyway? He's not mine when he does that...but he is mine when I ask him to go to bed and he waves, says "byeeee" and trots off to bed with no more comment. He plays or reads in there for a while and then falls asleep. Can't complain about that.
Thursday, March 19
Everyone's off to school today, darnit. Dayquil rescued me for the morning, but I crashed in the afternoon and didn't make it out of bed much for the rest of the day. Aeden doesn't understand that when someone has a fever and doesn't even want to move, he or she does not want him to climb up and bounce on their back or stomach and yell indefinitely. One bounce maybe, but more? No way. But it is so cute how he comes running down the hallway, climbs on the bed, and lays his head on my shoulder and says, "mommy?". How can I stand up to that kind of sweet-talking?
Everyone's off to school today, darnit. Dayquil rescued me for the morning, but I crashed in the afternoon and didn't make it out of bed much for the rest of the day. Aeden doesn't understand that when someone has a fever and doesn't even want to move, he or she does not want him to climb up and bounce on their back or stomach and yell indefinitely. One bounce maybe, but more? No way. But it is so cute how he comes running down the hallway, climbs on the bed, and lays his head on my shoulder and says, "mommy?". How can I stand up to that kind of sweet-talking?
Wednesday, March 18
The leprechauns didn't take the bait in the trap. Hmm. What's up with the leprechauns here in Turkey? Don't they know they're supposed to come and leave a little goodie or two for the nice little girls that left the trap out for them? I guess we have slack leprechauns in these parts. They better get back to work!
Maren wasn't feeling well again this morning, so we stayed home. By the afternoon she had a fever of 102 and was out like a light. What fun it has been sitting around doing nothing. Or not. And now I'm starting to feel sick. Great. I hope Myron and Kaye make it home before they come down with the cold we seem to have passed around here.
The leprechauns didn't take the bait in the trap. Hmm. What's up with the leprechauns here in Turkey? Don't they know they're supposed to come and leave a little goodie or two for the nice little girls that left the trap out for them? I guess we have slack leprechauns in these parts. They better get back to work!
Maren wasn't feeling well again this morning, so we stayed home. By the afternoon she had a fever of 102 and was out like a light. What fun it has been sitting around doing nothing. Or not. And now I'm starting to feel sick. Great. I hope Myron and Kaye make it home before they come down with the cold we seem to have passed around here.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Tuesday, March 17 Happy St. Patrick's Day!
There's a leprechaun trap on my living room floor again. I'm not sure how long we'll have to leave out leprechaun traps in hopes of getting some goodies and maybe, someday, a leprechaun, but this year we're doing it again. Who knew an Oly Bear Preschool activity would be living on in our family for years afterward, let alone in Turkey?
And here's our revolving school projects wall of St. Patrick:
Aeden didn't want to go back to school today. He didn't want to get on the bus and once we had arrived he didn't want to leave the coatroom. But I spied on him later on in the morning and he was sitting at the tables coloring his project just like a big kid. I can't believe it is almost time for him to turn 2 already!
Aeden also gave me quite a scare on the way home today. He reached out at just the right moment from our seat (we were sitting in the first seat behind the back door on the bus) and got his hand caught in the door as it was closing. The door didn't seem to mind that it had a little wrist stuck in its way, and I grabbed Aeden's hand and pulled it out before I even actually realized what was happening. Why on earth would a bus door be set up in a way which could trap a hand so easily?! He's fine, he just wimpered a bit for the rest of the ride, but there isn't even a bruise.
There's a leprechaun trap on my living room floor again. I'm not sure how long we'll have to leave out leprechaun traps in hopes of getting some goodies and maybe, someday, a leprechaun, but this year we're doing it again. Who knew an Oly Bear Preschool activity would be living on in our family for years afterward, let alone in Turkey?
And here's our revolving school projects wall of St. Patrick:
Aeden didn't want to go back to school today. He didn't want to get on the bus and once we had arrived he didn't want to leave the coatroom. But I spied on him later on in the morning and he was sitting at the tables coloring his project just like a big kid. I can't believe it is almost time for him to turn 2 already!
Aeden also gave me quite a scare on the way home today. He reached out at just the right moment from our seat (we were sitting in the first seat behind the back door on the bus) and got his hand caught in the door as it was closing. The door didn't seem to mind that it had a little wrist stuck in its way, and I grabbed Aeden's hand and pulled it out before I even actually realized what was happening. Why on earth would a bus door be set up in a way which could trap a hand so easily?! He's fine, he just wimpered a bit for the rest of the ride, but there isn't even a bruise.
Monday, March 16
I made meatballs today for the turtle. OK, not really meatballs, but I spread out little bits of ground beef onto a plate to freeze and then scraped them into a freezer bag to keep on hand for Yertle. See, Yertle won't eat his turtle food pellets so now we're experimenting with other things. I wandered into an "Akvaryum" store today and showed my scrap of paper with three words from my dictionary, "kaplumbaga yemek" (turtle food) and "solucan?" (worms?). The man grabbed a bag of mealworms and I was all set. Or so I thought. I got them home and Brian pointed out that they are freeze-dried mealworms and not live ones. Another Turkish errand that was full of triumph at the start, but ended in disappointment. And I wonder why we didn't have a turtle earlier?!
Maren's not feeling well, so we stayed home today. I think that makes it two whole weeks where I have gone to work for 5 days in a row since starting work in December. Between holidays and sicknesses, I have a horrible attendance record. But I have to say, I am truly appreciating staying home if I'm sick, or staying home to take care of a sick kid and not giving them meds and pushing them out the door to school anyway.
Brian didn't know if I was going to work today or not when he left, so he took a gamble on his way home from school and waited for me, just in case, near the walk of flower sellers between my bus stop and the dolmus stop at Guven Park. He mentioned to me that he was able to casually and successfully get off his bus from school downtown and navigate his was all the way home with only the 5 lira in his pocket because of all the exploring and testing I had already done with the dolmuses, etc. Kaye had mentioned that I was doing so well with the navigating and language and I explained that I only knew my "rut". But I keep working on widening the rut at least!
I've been reading "The Yogurt Man Cometh" by Kevin Revolinski the last two days (a find from the Cepa D&R) and trying to decide if I am enjoying it or not. It is a book describing an American teacher's year teaching English in Ankara. It is probably a good thing we didn't read it before coming! It includes some truths we weren't told: like winter in Ankara rarely includes much snow and is mostly just cold drizzle, students are not well-behaved and seem to look forward more to their 10-minute passing periods of candy eating and basketball shooting than to learning their subjects, and crossing a road as a pedestrian is a gamble with your life. I will admit that the descriptions are right on, and not much seems to have changed since his time here in 1997-98.
This afternoon it snowed a bit more and the flakes were giant puffballs that floated upwards and sideways as much as they falled toward the ground. It is kind of fun to be on the 11th floor looking out on the snow falling everywhere. Aeden noticed the snow out the window and pointed, so I said, "snow". He followed up with a "nooo" version of snow. Again and again. It was pretty cute. Sounds like he'll be adding a lot of new words pretty quick here.
I made meatballs today for the turtle. OK, not really meatballs, but I spread out little bits of ground beef onto a plate to freeze and then scraped them into a freezer bag to keep on hand for Yertle. See, Yertle won't eat his turtle food pellets so now we're experimenting with other things. I wandered into an "Akvaryum" store today and showed my scrap of paper with three words from my dictionary, "kaplumbaga yemek" (turtle food) and "solucan?" (worms?). The man grabbed a bag of mealworms and I was all set. Or so I thought. I got them home and Brian pointed out that they are freeze-dried mealworms and not live ones. Another Turkish errand that was full of triumph at the start, but ended in disappointment. And I wonder why we didn't have a turtle earlier?!
Maren's not feeling well, so we stayed home today. I think that makes it two whole weeks where I have gone to work for 5 days in a row since starting work in December. Between holidays and sicknesses, I have a horrible attendance record. But I have to say, I am truly appreciating staying home if I'm sick, or staying home to take care of a sick kid and not giving them meds and pushing them out the door to school anyway.
Brian didn't know if I was going to work today or not when he left, so he took a gamble on his way home from school and waited for me, just in case, near the walk of flower sellers between my bus stop and the dolmus stop at Guven Park. He mentioned to me that he was able to casually and successfully get off his bus from school downtown and navigate his was all the way home with only the 5 lira in his pocket because of all the exploring and testing I had already done with the dolmuses, etc. Kaye had mentioned that I was doing so well with the navigating and language and I explained that I only knew my "rut". But I keep working on widening the rut at least!
I've been reading "The Yogurt Man Cometh" by Kevin Revolinski the last two days (a find from the Cepa D&R) and trying to decide if I am enjoying it or not. It is a book describing an American teacher's year teaching English in Ankara. It is probably a good thing we didn't read it before coming! It includes some truths we weren't told: like winter in Ankara rarely includes much snow and is mostly just cold drizzle, students are not well-behaved and seem to look forward more to their 10-minute passing periods of candy eating and basketball shooting than to learning their subjects, and crossing a road as a pedestrian is a gamble with your life. I will admit that the descriptions are right on, and not much seems to have changed since his time here in 1997-98.
This afternoon it snowed a bit more and the flakes were giant puffballs that floated upwards and sideways as much as they falled toward the ground. It is kind of fun to be on the 11th floor looking out on the snow falling everywhere. Aeden noticed the snow out the window and pointed, so I said, "snow". He followed up with a "nooo" version of snow. Again and again. It was pretty cute. Sounds like he'll be adding a lot of new words pretty quick here.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Sunday, March 15
Nothing all day, but then a burst of "have to do something today" and a solo trip to Cepa to buy some green hair things for St. Patrick's Day for the girls, to browse the English language books at that D&R Books, to complete the surveillance of Cepa's store offerings (no, nothing more to check out here really), and to do some grocery shopping at the "big Carrefour". I came out to big snowflakes falling again and was cut off from the taxi I was going to climb into by a man with a wife and kid in a stroller following behind him. While I was complaining in my head about standing out in the snow longer with my too heavy grocery bags cutting off the circulation of my fingers, I realized that I really have gotten used to having Aeden with me and assuming I always get the first cab, or the seat on the bus, or whatever. I think my experience here is very much "Turkey with a baby boy" and not so much "Turkey as a solo woman". No complaints, though I do wonder how much "Turkey with a baby girl" is different from my experience.
Nothing all day, but then a burst of "have to do something today" and a solo trip to Cepa to buy some green hair things for St. Patrick's Day for the girls, to browse the English language books at that D&R Books, to complete the surveillance of Cepa's store offerings (no, nothing more to check out here really), and to do some grocery shopping at the "big Carrefour". I came out to big snowflakes falling again and was cut off from the taxi I was going to climb into by a man with a wife and kid in a stroller following behind him. While I was complaining in my head about standing out in the snow longer with my too heavy grocery bags cutting off the circulation of my fingers, I realized that I really have gotten used to having Aeden with me and assuming I always get the first cab, or the seat on the bus, or whatever. I think my experience here is very much "Turkey with a baby boy" and not so much "Turkey as a solo woman". No complaints, though I do wonder how much "Turkey with a baby girl" is different from my experience.
Saturday, March 14
Myron and Kaye's bus from Cappadocia was late...so I gave up and went to sleep, leaving Brian to wait up for them last night. Turns out buses run more on the Turkish time clock than we were expecting, where 5:00 departure is more like 5:30 or 5:45 and 20 minute stops for breaks stretch into an hour.
It started snowing pretty hard about an hour before Kaye and Myron were planning to leave for the airport...but wasn't sticking to the roads at all (or "settling" as I've learned is the British expression instead of sticking)
we sent them on our way with hugs and kisses and had a very empty-feeling apartment. Nothing makes you miss home more than having visitors come and then leave...but it is worth it to have the visitors still. I was surprised by how much of Ankara living I have already started to take for granted: the curbs are not consistent--sometimes no curb at all and sometimes a foot or more--so stepping down to a cab is not to be done blindly, taxi rides are not exciting anymore (I mostly just try to tune out the ride so I am not so scared), and I am not that worried about how I will get somewhere or how I will get home or how I will figure it out...I just will. I missed Kaye and Myron immediately after they left, and then started missing my mom and everyone else I miss when I start feeling down...so it was naptime.
Myron playing cards with the girls while Kaye wrote some words about Turkey:
And the snow from our balcony:
Myron and Kaye's bus from Cappadocia was late...so I gave up and went to sleep, leaving Brian to wait up for them last night. Turns out buses run more on the Turkish time clock than we were expecting, where 5:00 departure is more like 5:30 or 5:45 and 20 minute stops for breaks stretch into an hour.
It started snowing pretty hard about an hour before Kaye and Myron were planning to leave for the airport...but wasn't sticking to the roads at all (or "settling" as I've learned is the British expression instead of sticking)
we sent them on our way with hugs and kisses and had a very empty-feeling apartment. Nothing makes you miss home more than having visitors come and then leave...but it is worth it to have the visitors still. I was surprised by how much of Ankara living I have already started to take for granted: the curbs are not consistent--sometimes no curb at all and sometimes a foot or more--so stepping down to a cab is not to be done blindly, taxi rides are not exciting anymore (I mostly just try to tune out the ride so I am not so scared), and I am not that worried about how I will get somewhere or how I will get home or how I will figure it out...I just will. I missed Kaye and Myron immediately after they left, and then started missing my mom and everyone else I miss when I start feeling down...so it was naptime.
Myron playing cards with the girls while Kaye wrote some words about Turkey:
And the snow from our balcony:
Now that Myron and Kaye have left Turkey we can be sure the paparazi won't interfere with their plans and release their itinerary.
Myron and Kaye's Tour of Turkey
Wednesday, March 4
• 3:10 PM Arrive Ankara. Exchange at least US$200 to have Turkish Lira on hand for taxis, etc. Take Taxi to hotel (about 60 minutes drive; 50 TL fare).
• Get settled at hotel. Apartment for dinner (manti and su boregi).
• HOTEL: Marinem Hotel
Marinem Hotel
Bayindir-2 Sokak No. 35
Kizilay
ANKARA
Tel: 312-431-1083
Thursday, March 5
• Kocatepe Mosque on foot from hotel
• About 1:00 Meet at hotel. Lunch with Brian, Cortney & Aeden at Ekmekci (tavuk and et doner sandwiches and icli kofte) and dolmus ride to apartment to meet girls from their bus. Visit 100 Yil. Pazar and Cagdas grocery store.
• Take-out from Yildiz Aspava for dinner (tavuk sis, doner, kasarli pide, cucumber yogurt soup).
• HOTEL: Marinem Hotel
Friday, March 6
• 9:00 Meet Brian at Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
(Anadolu Medeniyetleri Muzesi)
• After museum, tour castle and Ulus area. Go to Tunali Hilmi D& R Bookstore and Gloria Jean’s for coffee.
• 2:00 Meet Cortney and Aeden at Atakule at the café (mercimek corbasi (lentil soup) and sosusli sandvic (hot dog). (Brian take Aeden home and wait for girls to come home on bus)
• 3:00 Meet Gulin (travel agent) at her office near Atakule to clear up Marinem Hotel room/rate and payment and go over Istanbul/Cappadocia travel and sleep arrangements.
Dokuzonbes Travel Agency
Abdullah Cevdet Sok. No: 37/8
Cankaya
Tel: 0-312-439-5525
• Come to apartment for rest
• 6:30 Dinner with George and Joan Gawrych at Mangal near Tunali
• HOTEL: Marinem Hotel
Saturday, March 7 Hillary Clinton's day in Ankara, too!
• 11:00-12:30 Maren’s Birthday Party at 7 Cadde McDonald’s (Bahcelievler)
• Open presents at apartment after party
• Ethnography Museum (on own)(But it turns out it was closed!)
• 6:30 Movie and dinner at Cortney’s with neighbors (kofte with tomato sauce, yogurt, and hazlama ekmek with mosaic cake for dessert)
• HOTEL: Marinem Hotel
Sunday, March 8
• 10:30 Sunday Mass at Vatican Embassy
• Ataturk’s Mausoleum with Cortney, Aeden, and Maren
• 4:00 Maren’s Birthday Dinner (at Armada Burger King; browse bookstore (Remzi Kitabevi), Pasahbace (Turkish glass), and Kahve Dunyasi (Coffee World) as well)
• HOTEL: Marinem Hotel
Monday, March 9
• 10:45 Meet Brian at gate to TED Ankara Koleji, Golbasi
• 11:30 Take service bus from TED to Preschool with Brian
• 12:15 Meet Cortney & Aeden at International Preschool, No. 102 Resit Galip Caddesi (bright green building at intersection of Resit Galip Caddesi ev Cankaya Caddesi) in Gaziosmanpasa (G.O.P.)
• Wait for word from Gulin on travel arrangements at apartment
• Dinner at Big Chef’s with Cortney and the girls
• Wait for word from Gulin on travel arrangements at apartment
• Wait for word from Gulin on travel arrangements at apartment
• 10:30 Board Overnight Train to Istanbul
Tuesday, March 10
• 8:00 Arrive Istanbul train station. Take Atakoy Ferry to European side of Bosphorous and taxi to Hotel Marble.
Hotel Marble, Siraselviler Cad
No. 41, 80090 Taksim
0-212-252-2448
• 9:30 Tour guide picks up from hotel. A full day tour to visit the aromatic Spice Bazaar (Closed on Sundays) from 1663 with its domed and vaulted shops selling spices and herbs along with a wide variety of commodities, also known as Egyptian Bazaar as it was once endowed with the Cairo imposts. Then proceed to the pier so as to embark the public boat. Sailing through the waterway separating the two continents - Asia and Europe - with a possibility to take pictures of the marble palaces, ancient wooden villas of Ottoman architecture besides modern residentials. During this trip Dolmabahce Palace, Ciragan Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, Bosphorus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridges as well as Rumelian Fortress, historical armament built by the Conqueror in 1452 to control and protect Bosphorus, will be visible from the sea. Leaving the boat and getting into the coach to proceed to a restaurant at the lunch time (Lunch is inclusive only on “regular” tours).Thereafter, cross to the Asian side to visit the Beylerbeyi Palace (Closed on Mondays and Thursdays), the summer residence of the Ottoman Sultans, with its original furniture and magnificent gardens. Then proceed to Camlica Hill (or Nakkastepe) to observe one of the lovely panoramic views of Istanbul. Time permitting, visit Bedesten. Drive back to the hotel (L).
• Dinner on own
• HOTEL: Hotel Marble
Wednesday, March 11
• Breakfast at hotel
• 9:30 Tour guide picks up from hotel. A full day tour with St. Sophia, one of the greatest marvels of architecture constructed as a basilica in 536 by Emperor Justinian (Closed on Mondays; replaced with a visit to the Kariye Museum - St. Savior in Chora); Blue Mosque, facing Hagia Sophia, famous with its more than 20.000 blue Iznik tiles and unique with its 6 minarets, built in the name of Sultan Ahmet in the 17th century, one of the best examples of classical Turkish art; Hippodrome, the scene of Byzantine chariot races, athletic events, victory celebrations, and political activities of the old city where one can also see today the “Obelisk of Theodosius” from Egypt, “Serpentine Column” from Delphi, the “German Fountain of Wilhelm II” and the “Colossus”. After the visit to Grand Covered Bazaar (Closed on Sundays), the most attractive shopping center in the world with nearly 4000 shops, time for lunch. In the afternoon, proceed to Topkapi Palace - Harem section is excluded - (Closed on Tuesdays; replaced with a visit to the Archaeological Museum), built in 1468 by Mehmet the Conqueror, the imperial residence of Ottoman sultans housing the souvenirs of 600 years and exhibiting imperial treasury, Chinese porcelains, weapons, calligraphy section, etc. The last visit will be to the Suleymaniye Mosque, masterpiece of Sinan, the chief architect of the Ottoman Empire, built in the name of the Sultan Suleyman, the Magnificent, during the 16th. century, considered as the best amongst the imperial mosques. Return to the hotel or the pier (L).
• Dinner on own
• HOTEL: Hotel Marble
Thursday, March 12
• 6:00 Transfer to airport leaves from hotel
• 8:45 THY Flight: Istanbul to Kayseri
• Arrive in Kayseri Airport in the morning. Guide to meet at airport. Drive to Cappadocia and visit Ortahisar and Soganli Village, an interesting valley with around 150 churches some of which are in good condition. Includes lunch and dinner.
• HOTEL: Dinler Hotel
Dinler Hotel Urgup
Mehmet Dinler Bulvarı
50400 Urgup / Nevshehir
Tel: 0-384-341-3030
Friday, March 13
• Breakfast at the hotel
• Full Day Private Cappadocia Tour: Visit the Pigeon Valley near Uchisar; then proceed to the Open Air Museum in Goreme through Avcilar Valley and visit the early Christian churches decorated with unique frescoes depicting various scenes from the Bible. Lunch in a restaurant and then visit Kaymakli Underground City, the place early Christians hid from persecutors. Pasabagi in Zelve region and Avanos with shopping facilities for the world-wide famous handicrafts. Transfer to Nevsehir bus terminal for the bus to Ankara, including breakfast and lunch.
• 5:00 Bus back to Ankara
• HOTEL: Cortney’s Family Zoo
Saturday, March 14
• 1:00PM taxi to Ankara airport (Esenboga Havalimani) for flight to Munich/Prague
• 4:00PM flight
March 14-20 Prague
March 20 back to Seattle
Myron and Kaye's Tour of Turkey
Wednesday, March 4
• 3:10 PM Arrive Ankara. Exchange at least US$200 to have Turkish Lira on hand for taxis, etc. Take Taxi to hotel (about 60 minutes drive; 50 TL fare).
• Get settled at hotel. Apartment for dinner (manti and su boregi).
• HOTEL: Marinem Hotel
Marinem Hotel
Bayindir-2 Sokak No. 35
Kizilay
ANKARA
Tel: 312-431-1083
Thursday, March 5
• Kocatepe Mosque on foot from hotel
• About 1:00 Meet at hotel. Lunch with Brian, Cortney & Aeden at Ekmekci (tavuk and et doner sandwiches and icli kofte) and dolmus ride to apartment to meet girls from their bus. Visit 100 Yil. Pazar and Cagdas grocery store.
• Take-out from Yildiz Aspava for dinner (tavuk sis, doner, kasarli pide, cucumber yogurt soup).
• HOTEL: Marinem Hotel
Friday, March 6
• 9:00 Meet Brian at Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
(Anadolu Medeniyetleri Muzesi)
• After museum, tour castle and Ulus area. Go to Tunali Hilmi D& R Bookstore and Gloria Jean’s for coffee.
• 2:00 Meet Cortney and Aeden at Atakule at the café (mercimek corbasi (lentil soup) and sosusli sandvic (hot dog). (Brian take Aeden home and wait for girls to come home on bus)
• 3:00 Meet Gulin (travel agent) at her office near Atakule to clear up Marinem Hotel room/rate and payment and go over Istanbul/Cappadocia travel and sleep arrangements.
Dokuzonbes Travel Agency
Abdullah Cevdet Sok. No: 37/8
Cankaya
Tel: 0-312-439-5525
• Come to apartment for rest
• 6:30 Dinner with George and Joan Gawrych at Mangal near Tunali
• HOTEL: Marinem Hotel
Saturday, March 7 Hillary Clinton's day in Ankara, too!
• 11:00-12:30 Maren’s Birthday Party at 7 Cadde McDonald’s (Bahcelievler)
• Open presents at apartment after party
• Ethnography Museum (on own)(But it turns out it was closed!)
• 6:30 Movie and dinner at Cortney’s with neighbors (kofte with tomato sauce, yogurt, and hazlama ekmek with mosaic cake for dessert)
• HOTEL: Marinem Hotel
Sunday, March 8
• 10:30 Sunday Mass at Vatican Embassy
• Ataturk’s Mausoleum with Cortney, Aeden, and Maren
• 4:00 Maren’s Birthday Dinner (at Armada Burger King; browse bookstore (Remzi Kitabevi), Pasahbace (Turkish glass), and Kahve Dunyasi (Coffee World) as well)
• HOTEL: Marinem Hotel
Monday, March 9
• 10:45 Meet Brian at gate to TED Ankara Koleji, Golbasi
• 11:30 Take service bus from TED to Preschool with Brian
• 12:15 Meet Cortney & Aeden at International Preschool, No. 102 Resit Galip Caddesi (bright green building at intersection of Resit Galip Caddesi ev Cankaya Caddesi) in Gaziosmanpasa (G.O.P.)
• Wait for word from Gulin on travel arrangements at apartment
• Dinner at Big Chef’s with Cortney and the girls
• Wait for word from Gulin on travel arrangements at apartment
• Wait for word from Gulin on travel arrangements at apartment
• 10:30 Board Overnight Train to Istanbul
Tuesday, March 10
• 8:00 Arrive Istanbul train station. Take Atakoy Ferry to European side of Bosphorous and taxi to Hotel Marble.
Hotel Marble, Siraselviler Cad
No. 41, 80090 Taksim
0-212-252-2448
• 9:30 Tour guide picks up from hotel. A full day tour to visit the aromatic Spice Bazaar (Closed on Sundays) from 1663 with its domed and vaulted shops selling spices and herbs along with a wide variety of commodities, also known as Egyptian Bazaar as it was once endowed with the Cairo imposts. Then proceed to the pier so as to embark the public boat. Sailing through the waterway separating the two continents - Asia and Europe - with a possibility to take pictures of the marble palaces, ancient wooden villas of Ottoman architecture besides modern residentials. During this trip Dolmabahce Palace, Ciragan Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, Bosphorus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridges as well as Rumelian Fortress, historical armament built by the Conqueror in 1452 to control and protect Bosphorus, will be visible from the sea. Leaving the boat and getting into the coach to proceed to a restaurant at the lunch time (Lunch is inclusive only on “regular” tours).Thereafter, cross to the Asian side to visit the Beylerbeyi Palace (Closed on Mondays and Thursdays), the summer residence of the Ottoman Sultans, with its original furniture and magnificent gardens. Then proceed to Camlica Hill (or Nakkastepe) to observe one of the lovely panoramic views of Istanbul. Time permitting, visit Bedesten. Drive back to the hotel (L).
• Dinner on own
• HOTEL: Hotel Marble
Wednesday, March 11
• Breakfast at hotel
• 9:30 Tour guide picks up from hotel. A full day tour with St. Sophia, one of the greatest marvels of architecture constructed as a basilica in 536 by Emperor Justinian (Closed on Mondays; replaced with a visit to the Kariye Museum - St. Savior in Chora); Blue Mosque, facing Hagia Sophia, famous with its more than 20.000 blue Iznik tiles and unique with its 6 minarets, built in the name of Sultan Ahmet in the 17th century, one of the best examples of classical Turkish art; Hippodrome, the scene of Byzantine chariot races, athletic events, victory celebrations, and political activities of the old city where one can also see today the “Obelisk of Theodosius” from Egypt, “Serpentine Column” from Delphi, the “German Fountain of Wilhelm II” and the “Colossus”. After the visit to Grand Covered Bazaar (Closed on Sundays), the most attractive shopping center in the world with nearly 4000 shops, time for lunch. In the afternoon, proceed to Topkapi Palace - Harem section is excluded - (Closed on Tuesdays; replaced with a visit to the Archaeological Museum), built in 1468 by Mehmet the Conqueror, the imperial residence of Ottoman sultans housing the souvenirs of 600 years and exhibiting imperial treasury, Chinese porcelains, weapons, calligraphy section, etc. The last visit will be to the Suleymaniye Mosque, masterpiece of Sinan, the chief architect of the Ottoman Empire, built in the name of the Sultan Suleyman, the Magnificent, during the 16th. century, considered as the best amongst the imperial mosques. Return to the hotel or the pier (L).
• Dinner on own
• HOTEL: Hotel Marble
Thursday, March 12
• 6:00 Transfer to airport leaves from hotel
• 8:45 THY Flight: Istanbul to Kayseri
• Arrive in Kayseri Airport in the morning. Guide to meet at airport. Drive to Cappadocia and visit Ortahisar and Soganli Village, an interesting valley with around 150 churches some of which are in good condition. Includes lunch and dinner.
• HOTEL: Dinler Hotel
Dinler Hotel Urgup
Mehmet Dinler Bulvarı
50400 Urgup / Nevshehir
Tel: 0-384-341-3030
Friday, March 13
• Breakfast at the hotel
• Full Day Private Cappadocia Tour: Visit the Pigeon Valley near Uchisar; then proceed to the Open Air Museum in Goreme through Avcilar Valley and visit the early Christian churches decorated with unique frescoes depicting various scenes from the Bible. Lunch in a restaurant and then visit Kaymakli Underground City, the place early Christians hid from persecutors. Pasabagi in Zelve region and Avanos with shopping facilities for the world-wide famous handicrafts. Transfer to Nevsehir bus terminal for the bus to Ankara, including breakfast and lunch.
• 5:00 Bus back to Ankara
• HOTEL: Cortney’s Family Zoo
Saturday, March 14
• 1:00PM taxi to Ankara airport (Esenboga Havalimani) for flight to Munich/Prague
• 4:00PM flight
March 14-20 Prague
March 20 back to Seattle
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Words from Kaye, March 14, 2009 Ankara
Visiting the Wright Family was certainly the Right thing to do! Not only are they an incredibly enchanting family, they are living in an awesome country.
Impressions of Turkey--lots of men dressed in black, and I mean thousands crowded along the streets. Few women, except in shopping areas and then mostly with other women. All Turks we dealt with were very kind and helpful, often going out of their way to help us.
Let's discuss the traffic in the three areas we visited. Disney should visit Ankara and ride in a yellow cab for a harrowing ride with a skillful and adept driver. Where in the states we use the lines in the road to indicate where to drive, in Ankara the lines are often used to straddle with the tires on either side! What's more, a 3 lane road can contain 7 or possibly even 8 cars, no problem! And they drive at breakneck speed! Very exciting and I think it has a real possibility at Disneyland!
Now in Istanbul they speak of rush hour traffic yet the drivers seem to drive with decorum and even caution. Some of the very old roads twist up steep hills barely wide enough for a car, much less a bus, but it seems to work. No hair-raising rides in Istanbul but many sights that awed the eyes.
Now in Cappadocia, this time of year, few cars, few buses and no taxis! Leisurely pace although the drivers did need to be aware of dogs in the road, carts pulled by donkeys and large trucks hauling concrete blocks.
We are so thankful that Cortney, Brian, Lacey, Maren, and Aeden invited us to visit. We celebrated pretty Maren's sixth birthday and that was a joy. Lacey has grown into a lovely young lady* and Aeden is a busy, gorgeous nearly two-year-old who enchants everyone! We loved meeting Cortney and Brian's friends. One couple told us about Mass at the Vatican Embassy Church which we really enjoyed. Brian's school is huge, many buildings and a nice campus on top of a hill. Cortney's school is tucked into a corner of a busy area and bright and cheerful and inviting to pre-schoolers.
*in school plays and showed us her "clogging".
One more note of interest--buffet breakfast in hotels always includes 6 to 8 varieties of olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, other unidentifed objects, hard boiled eggs and wonderful, fabulous bread! (We might call it French or Italian but it is Turkish.)
Visiting the Wright Family was certainly the Right thing to do! Not only are they an incredibly enchanting family, they are living in an awesome country.
Impressions of Turkey--lots of men dressed in black, and I mean thousands crowded along the streets. Few women, except in shopping areas and then mostly with other women. All Turks we dealt with were very kind and helpful, often going out of their way to help us.
Let's discuss the traffic in the three areas we visited. Disney should visit Ankara and ride in a yellow cab for a harrowing ride with a skillful and adept driver. Where in the states we use the lines in the road to indicate where to drive, in Ankara the lines are often used to straddle with the tires on either side! What's more, a 3 lane road can contain 7 or possibly even 8 cars, no problem! And they drive at breakneck speed! Very exciting and I think it has a real possibility at Disneyland!
Now in Istanbul they speak of rush hour traffic yet the drivers seem to drive with decorum and even caution. Some of the very old roads twist up steep hills barely wide enough for a car, much less a bus, but it seems to work. No hair-raising rides in Istanbul but many sights that awed the eyes.
Now in Cappadocia, this time of year, few cars, few buses and no taxis! Leisurely pace although the drivers did need to be aware of dogs in the road, carts pulled by donkeys and large trucks hauling concrete blocks.
We are so thankful that Cortney, Brian, Lacey, Maren, and Aeden invited us to visit. We celebrated pretty Maren's sixth birthday and that was a joy. Lacey has grown into a lovely young lady* and Aeden is a busy, gorgeous nearly two-year-old who enchants everyone! We loved meeting Cortney and Brian's friends. One couple told us about Mass at the Vatican Embassy Church which we really enjoyed. Brian's school is huge, many buildings and a nice campus on top of a hill. Cortney's school is tucked into a corner of a busy area and bright and cheerful and inviting to pre-schoolers.
*in school plays and showed us her "clogging".
One more note of interest--buffet breakfast in hotels always includes 6 to 8 varieties of olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, other unidentifed objects, hard boiled eggs and wonderful, fabulous bread! (We might call it French or Italian but it is Turkish.)
School Pictures, December 2008
Lacey and Maren were at school with Aeden and me on picture day...how handy!
International Preschool and Kindergarten, 2008-2009 Front Row on the right is the side of Aeden's head...only kid not looking at the camera!
Ms. Newcomer's Kindergarten Class, 2008-2009
Back Row: Megan (USA), Minyoung, Blake (USA), Rae Yoon, Eli (USA), Maren (Washington State, USA)
Front Row: Olivia, Virginia (California, USA), Asiyah, Eylul (Turkey), Satomi (Japan), Emma (Kentucky, USA), Ms. Newcomer
Ms. Sneed's Third Grade Class, 2008-2009
Back Row: Omar (Jordan), Lacey (Washington State, USA), Petek (Canada/Turkey), Mazdack (Iran), Alon (Nigeria), Mikah (North Carolina, USA), Rania (India/Turkey), Yasmin (Turkey), Minato (Japan), Salisu (Saudi Arabia), Isaac (USA)
Front Row: Ms. Sneed (Texas, USA), Annie (Kentucky, USA), Aisha (Saudi Arabia), Talita (South Africa), Julia (Brazil), Nergiz (Kazakhstan/Turkey), Cherry (South Korea), John (South Korea)
Back Row: Megan (USA), Minyoung, Blake (USA), Rae Yoon, Eli (USA), Maren (Washington State, USA)
Front Row: Olivia, Virginia (California, USA), Asiyah, Eylul (Turkey), Satomi (Japan), Emma (Kentucky, USA), Ms. Newcomer
Back Row: Omar (Jordan), Lacey (Washington State, USA), Petek (Canada/Turkey), Mazdack (Iran), Alon (Nigeria), Mikah (North Carolina, USA), Rania (India/Turkey), Yasmin (Turkey), Minato (Japan), Salisu (Saudi Arabia), Isaac (USA)
Front Row: Ms. Sneed (Texas, USA), Annie (Kentucky, USA), Aisha (Saudi Arabia), Talita (South Africa), Julia (Brazil), Nergiz (Kazakhstan/Turkey), Cherry (South Korea), John (South Korea)
Friday, March 13, 2009
Friday, March 13
Today was "St. Patrick's Day" at the preschool and boy was there a lot of green!
Lacey had a big day today with another edition of Reader's Theatre at school. She starred as the Cheetah in "The Cheetah and the Sloth". She brought the video camera to school so we captured it...now just have to wrestle it online to share it. She did an awesome job with her part and gave it LOTS of enthusiasm.
We received a valentine's package from Aunt Paige today, and Maren's birthday present from Grandma Teri. The post office is finally playing catch up with our stuff!
Confirmed Reserved Seats for Dave Matthews Band at the Gorge in September!! It is too weird to think about that time coming around again already, but DMB is never a bad thing :-) They're touring in Europe in July...hmm...Portugal show anyone?
We tried out the new restaurant, Shisha, on the corner near our house for dinner and it was great except now we stink like smoke. Tables and tables of water pipe smokers.
Kaye and Myron toured Cappadocia today and are on a bus back to Ankara to stay with us for the night before heading off to Prague tomorrow. I've never made such a tiny little bed for two people (our fold-out couch). Sorry guys!
Today was "St. Patrick's Day" at the preschool and boy was there a lot of green!
Lacey had a big day today with another edition of Reader's Theatre at school. She starred as the Cheetah in "The Cheetah and the Sloth". She brought the video camera to school so we captured it...now just have to wrestle it online to share it. She did an awesome job with her part and gave it LOTS of enthusiasm.
We received a valentine's package from Aunt Paige today, and Maren's birthday present from Grandma Teri. The post office is finally playing catch up with our stuff!
Confirmed Reserved Seats for Dave Matthews Band at the Gorge in September!! It is too weird to think about that time coming around again already, but DMB is never a bad thing :-) They're touring in Europe in July...hmm...Portugal show anyone?
We tried out the new restaurant, Shisha, on the corner near our house for dinner and it was great except now we stink like smoke. Tables and tables of water pipe smokers.
Kaye and Myron toured Cappadocia today and are on a bus back to Ankara to stay with us for the night before heading off to Prague tomorrow. I've never made such a tiny little bed for two people (our fold-out couch). Sorry guys!
Thursday, March 12
Brian met us at school to travel home with us, and I have to admit it is nice to have him to chat with on the ride home. Aeden was completely sacked out, and we came home and Brian and I sacked out as well. Catch-up sleep I guess.
I finished reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusack today. Haunting and compelling much like The Kite Runner was, only this one was set in Nazi Germany and was narrated by Death.
Kaye and Myron flew to Kayseri this morning and were met by a guide to tour Cappadocia today.
Brian met us at school to travel home with us, and I have to admit it is nice to have him to chat with on the ride home. Aeden was completely sacked out, and we came home and Brian and I sacked out as well. Catch-up sleep I guess.
I finished reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusack today. Haunting and compelling much like The Kite Runner was, only this one was set in Nazi Germany and was narrated by Death.
Kaye and Myron flew to Kayseri this morning and were met by a guide to tour Cappadocia today.
Wednesday, March 11
We need groceries! Stopped at Migros on the way home from school and pissed off by interrupting his bus-ride nap. He made sure to remind us of it every 10 or 15 minutes the whole evening, whining and being grumpy.
Lacey's taps have arrived and were glued onto her shoes for clogging. She now can make a lot of noise while she's practicing her clogging moves!
I went to a lecture this evening by George Gawrych at the Turkish American Association with Becky. He was speaking on Samseddin Sami, an Ottoman author from the late 1800's/early 1900's who took many opportunities to express his beliefs about feminism and support of more equal treatment of women. It was very fascinating to hear of the different characters of that time and overwhelming to see a roll-call of important women in Ottoman history...when we're taught that women are simply veiled and left at home.
Kaye and Myron are on a full day tour of Istanbul today.
We need groceries! Stopped at Migros on the way home from school and pissed off by interrupting his bus-ride nap. He made sure to remind us of it every 10 or 15 minutes the whole evening, whining and being grumpy.
Lacey's taps have arrived and were glued onto her shoes for clogging. She now can make a lot of noise while she's practicing her clogging moves!
I went to a lecture this evening by George Gawrych at the Turkish American Association with Becky. He was speaking on Samseddin Sami, an Ottoman author from the late 1800's/early 1900's who took many opportunities to express his beliefs about feminism and support of more equal treatment of women. It was very fascinating to hear of the different characters of that time and overwhelming to see a roll-call of important women in Ottoman history...when we're taught that women are simply veiled and left at home.
Kaye and Myron are on a full day tour of Istanbul today.
Tuesday, March 10
Back to the normal routine.
Kaye and Myron are on a full day tour of Istanbul today.
An early morning shot of Aeden still sleeping...proving he's our son with his feet hanging out of the bed. Besides being hard as a rock, our bed here has a solid footboard, which makes it difficult for us to sleep in the preferred position hanging one's feet off the end. Oh, will our bed be nice to be home to in July!
Back to the normal routine.
Kaye and Myron are on a full day tour of Istanbul today.
An early morning shot of Aeden still sleeping...proving he's our son with his feet hanging out of the bed. Besides being hard as a rock, our bed here has a solid footboard, which makes it difficult for us to sleep in the preferred position hanging one's feet off the end. Oh, will our bed be nice to be home to in July!
Monday, March 9
Today was book day at the preschool and we were supposed to attend wearing a costume of a favorite book character. I put Maren's Dr. Seuss hat (made at school for their party on his birthday) to good use, and dressed Aeden in his polka-dot pajamas, stuck on Maren's birthday headband of pompoms, and pinned on a "Thing 1" sign. Voila!
Kaye and Myron met Brian out at his school, and then traveled with Brian to my school for a visit. We headed back to the apartment for lunch and reviewed the itinerary from the travel agent that had finally arrived in my email box, and then sat around waiting for details and confirmation from the travel agent. I took a nap...still nothing. We went out to dinner at Big Chef's (a non-Turkish menu for a break), got back, still no word, for a train that was supposed to be leaving at 10:30 that night. Finally at 8:00 she showed up at the apartment with the train tickets and details for the rest of the week. Whew!
Today was book day at the preschool and we were supposed to attend wearing a costume of a favorite book character. I put Maren's Dr. Seuss hat (made at school for their party on his birthday) to good use, and dressed Aeden in his polka-dot pajamas, stuck on Maren's birthday headband of pompoms, and pinned on a "Thing 1" sign. Voila!
Kaye and Myron met Brian out at his school, and then traveled with Brian to my school for a visit. We headed back to the apartment for lunch and reviewed the itinerary from the travel agent that had finally arrived in my email box, and then sat around waiting for details and confirmation from the travel agent. I took a nap...still nothing. We went out to dinner at Big Chef's (a non-Turkish menu for a break), got back, still no word, for a train that was supposed to be leaving at 10:30 that night. Finally at 8:00 she showed up at the apartment with the train tickets and details for the rest of the week. Whew!
Sunday, March 8
Happy Birthday Maren!
I woke up and wrapped presents for Maren that we hadn't opened earlier...from Brian and me, Lacey, Grandma Teri and Grandpa Mike, Yauna, Garrett, and the kids, etc. I arranged them on the coffee table and then called Maren down, almost Christmas morning-style. From upstairs she yelled, "Oh, do I have another present to open?". I said yes, and she said, "Lacey, come on, I have another present to open." She came downstairs and looked around and said, "Mommy, where is my present?" I told her to look a little more closely and then she saw the pile. And a huge grin creeped onto her face.
Lacey only stormed out of the room once, recovered, and then joined us again. Maren got her first American Girl doll and Lacey had to step out when she realized what it was. But all is OK, now they each have one to play with, and they can share clothes back and forth. THANK YOU Uncle Greg and Aunt Jenn for your help getting the doll for Maren, and Kaye and Myron for bringing her all the way here!
Myron and Kaye visited the Vatican Embassy for Sunday Mass, and then Maren, Aeden, and I met them at Ataturk's Mausoleum to squeeze in some tourist sites for the day.
Later on we all met at Armada at Burger King (Maren's birthday dinner request...since we'd had McDonald's the previous day) and to browse the bookstore and introduce a nice coffee and chocolate shop, Kahve Dunyasi. We chatted online with Papa Don and Grandma Evie for birthday wishes to Maren, and then when Grandma Teri called at 7:30 Maren was already asleep! We had a very tired out little 6-year-old.
By the way, we still hadn't heard back from the travel agent who was going to email in "two hours" on Friday. No stress.
Happy Birthday Maren!
I woke up and wrapped presents for Maren that we hadn't opened earlier...from Brian and me, Lacey, Grandma Teri and Grandpa Mike, Yauna, Garrett, and the kids, etc. I arranged them on the coffee table and then called Maren down, almost Christmas morning-style. From upstairs she yelled, "Oh, do I have another present to open?". I said yes, and she said, "Lacey, come on, I have another present to open." She came downstairs and looked around and said, "Mommy, where is my present?" I told her to look a little more closely and then she saw the pile. And a huge grin creeped onto her face.
Lacey only stormed out of the room once, recovered, and then joined us again. Maren got her first American Girl doll and Lacey had to step out when she realized what it was. But all is OK, now they each have one to play with, and they can share clothes back and forth. THANK YOU Uncle Greg and Aunt Jenn for your help getting the doll for Maren, and Kaye and Myron for bringing her all the way here!
Myron and Kaye visited the Vatican Embassy for Sunday Mass, and then Maren, Aeden, and I met them at Ataturk's Mausoleum to squeeze in some tourist sites for the day.
Later on we all met at Armada at Burger King (Maren's birthday dinner request...since we'd had McDonald's the previous day) and to browse the bookstore and introduce a nice coffee and chocolate shop, Kahve Dunyasi. We chatted online with Papa Don and Grandma Evie for birthday wishes to Maren, and then when Grandma Teri called at 7:30 Maren was already asleep! We had a very tired out little 6-year-old.
By the way, we still hadn't heard back from the travel agent who was going to email in "two hours" on Friday. No stress.
Saturday, March 7
Birthday Party day! Maren's birthday party was today at McDonald's from 11:00 to 12:30. She had a few friends from school come, as well as her lovely siblings and family, to make a party-worthy gang. Pictures will probably do better than words, except just realize that there is music blasting in the party room the whole time, and two McD's staffers working with the kids while the moms and dads (and great great uncles and aunts) sit outside the party room sipping coffee and tea. Nice way to have a party! :-)
We came home with a few gifts to open, including a live turtle from Eylul. Hmm. We'll see how it goes...Maren was very gracious and I could tell she wanted to ask if she had any other presents to open, but she held her tongue and started playing with what she had received. I was proud of her.
Then it was time for mommy's nap. Zzzz. Then it was time to get things ready for dinner at our apartment. I made a new record and went to Migros in a cab for only 3.38 TL, grabbed the groceries, and returned for 4.40 TL, all in 28 minutes. My previous record had been 4 TL for a ride, never anything less. Clear traffic and a crazy driver will get you under 4 though I guess! Maren and I started to prepare dinner, and all was looking good. We made 2 kilos of kofte (meatballs), a nice big cucumber and tomato salad, and a mosaic cake for dessert. She's a pretty good little helper in the kitchen.
Roseta, Tim and his girls, Paul and his girls, Myron, and Kaye all made it over for dinner and a movie. We watched Kung Fu Panda on the big screen and shared the movie with the kids...it was pretty fun to watch it again with people that haven't seen it dozens of times already!
Birthday Party day! Maren's birthday party was today at McDonald's from 11:00 to 12:30. She had a few friends from school come, as well as her lovely siblings and family, to make a party-worthy gang. Pictures will probably do better than words, except just realize that there is music blasting in the party room the whole time, and two McD's staffers working with the kids while the moms and dads (and great great uncles and aunts) sit outside the party room sipping coffee and tea. Nice way to have a party! :-)
We came home with a few gifts to open, including a live turtle from Eylul. Hmm. We'll see how it goes...Maren was very gracious and I could tell she wanted to ask if she had any other presents to open, but she held her tongue and started playing with what she had received. I was proud of her.
Then it was time for mommy's nap. Zzzz. Then it was time to get things ready for dinner at our apartment. I made a new record and went to Migros in a cab for only 3.38 TL, grabbed the groceries, and returned for 4.40 TL, all in 28 minutes. My previous record had been 4 TL for a ride, never anything less. Clear traffic and a crazy driver will get you under 4 though I guess! Maren and I started to prepare dinner, and all was looking good. We made 2 kilos of kofte (meatballs), a nice big cucumber and tomato salad, and a mosaic cake for dessert. She's a pretty good little helper in the kitchen.
Roseta, Tim and his girls, Paul and his girls, Myron, and Kaye all made it over for dinner and a movie. We watched Kung Fu Panda on the big screen and shared the movie with the kids...it was pretty fun to watch it again with people that haven't seen it dozens of times already!
Friday, March 6
Today was cupcake day at school for Maren's birthday...baked last night and frosted this morning before school (with Nutella!) Maren adorned them with some sprinkles and fancy new M&M's that Myron and Kaye brought us ("M" is for Maren after all!). And she left some unfrosted since all her friends don't like Nutella. Thoughtful, eh?
Brian the tour guide met Kaye and Myron at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in the morning, and then included the Ankara Castle and a little walking tour of the shopping areas around the castle and in Ulus. Aeden and I were to meet them at 2:00 at Atakule for a snack, but I had too much time to kill...so we rode our bus past the usual stop just to see where it would go. 1 1/2 hours later I arrived at Atakule after touring neighborhoods in Ankara that I hadn't seen yet, all for my 1.70 TL busfare!
We met up with Kaye, Myron, and Brian to some lunch and then sent Brian and Aeden off home and Kaye, Myron, and I set off to the travel agent's office to clear up plans for the rest of their time in Turkey. I think Myron and Kaye were quite skeptical of where I was taking them as we wound our way into a residential apartment building and walked up two flights of stairs, but once inside the office was very modern and things seemed under control.
She concocted a plan to squeeze Istanbul and Cappadocia tours into 4 days and it all sounded perfect, we would just have to wait a few hours for pricing to come in and confirm the plan by email.
We headed back to the apartment for a little snooze before dinner...at Mangal Restaurant off of Tunali Hilmi with George and Joan Gawrych. After wading through evening traffic in two taxis to get there, Aeden was grumpy and Maren was whiny, but we managed to have a lovely dinner with George and Joan and they swapped stories with Kaye and Myron too. We headed off in taxis back to our apartment and Kaye and Myron back to their hotel, and I'm sure all collapsed into bed straight away.
Kaye studying a Mother Goddess sculpture at the museum
Kaye and some school girls at the museum...can you hear their giggles?
They quizzed Kaye with all the questions in English that they could think of and posed for lots of pictures.
Another museum piece...haven't looked up its name/details!
Myron studying one of the few informational placards in the museum
Kaye listening to a woman tell her all about her background and how her home was wrecked back in the 1950's when they were reworking the Castle area and how the artifacts in the museum were essentially ransacked from other locations when Ataturk made the order that the museum required x number of pieces by y date. Hmm. Unintended consequences it sounds like.
Today was cupcake day at school for Maren's birthday...baked last night and frosted this morning before school (with Nutella!) Maren adorned them with some sprinkles and fancy new M&M's that Myron and Kaye brought us ("M" is for Maren after all!). And she left some unfrosted since all her friends don't like Nutella. Thoughtful, eh?
Brian the tour guide met Kaye and Myron at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in the morning, and then included the Ankara Castle and a little walking tour of the shopping areas around the castle and in Ulus. Aeden and I were to meet them at 2:00 at Atakule for a snack, but I had too much time to kill...so we rode our bus past the usual stop just to see where it would go. 1 1/2 hours later I arrived at Atakule after touring neighborhoods in Ankara that I hadn't seen yet, all for my 1.70 TL busfare!
We met up with Kaye, Myron, and Brian to some lunch and then sent Brian and Aeden off home and Kaye, Myron, and I set off to the travel agent's office to clear up plans for the rest of their time in Turkey. I think Myron and Kaye were quite skeptical of where I was taking them as we wound our way into a residential apartment building and walked up two flights of stairs, but once inside the office was very modern and things seemed under control.
She concocted a plan to squeeze Istanbul and Cappadocia tours into 4 days and it all sounded perfect, we would just have to wait a few hours for pricing to come in and confirm the plan by email.
We headed back to the apartment for a little snooze before dinner...at Mangal Restaurant off of Tunali Hilmi with George and Joan Gawrych. After wading through evening traffic in two taxis to get there, Aeden was grumpy and Maren was whiny, but we managed to have a lovely dinner with George and Joan and they swapped stories with Kaye and Myron too. We headed off in taxis back to our apartment and Kaye and Myron back to their hotel, and I'm sure all collapsed into bed straight away.
They quizzed Kaye with all the questions in English that they could think of and posed for lots of pictures.
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