View from our room...best part of Istanbul

Wanted to post some positive times we had in Istanbul......here are two.....our view from our room at night...spectacular...see all the twinkling lights on the water? They are all ships waiting for permission to pass through the Bosphorous Strait...which connects the Black Sea with the Marmara Sea....tons of ships there 24/7...the other picture is just all the ships during the day time...we loved watching the ships come and go...

My moments in Istanbul

Two Birds with one stone....so to speak.....Istanbul is located between the Marmara Sea and the Black Sea....this is me dipping my toe into the Bosphorus Strait...which is the stretch of water that separates European and Asian sides of Istanbul...so in my mind....I'm thinking that I'm actually dipping my toe into two bodies of water.....since I can see both bodies of water....two more down....there were no beaches...just these big ass rocks I had to climb down....then wait for the tide to wash up and touch my toes....hey...you gotta do what ya gotta do....

Well...we finally made it back to the fish market pier for a big ass beer and xanax...yes, you heard me...will have to fill you in on our experience in person.....

A Few Lessons I Learned Today.......

So...I know everyone at home started school this week.....so let me tell you what lessons I learned today...

International Trade Lesson #1: Don't schedule business meetings the week after Ramadan......So we have been talking with a friend of ours in Amsterdam...who has put us in contact with a guy here....and found out yesterday (YESTERDAY) that all the shops take the week after Ramadan off for vacation. Ramadan is the Muslim's month of fasting...kind of like Lent and Mardi Gras...as we know it....so for the month of August they couldn't eat or drink anything between the hours of something like 4:30 a.m and 9:00pm......for the entire month...well Ramadan ended yesterday...so everything is taking vacation this week...ugh...trying to work around that...but definitely a good lesson learned....Turkey is 99% Muslim....so will keep that in mind for our next visit!

Travel To Turkey Lesson #1: You have to"BUY" a Visa at the airport before you come through customs....no big deal...so here is what I'm getting out of the shake down.....only certain citizens from certain countries have to pay to enter the country (I mean buy a visa :) )....from what I can tell it is those countries using Euros and Dollars......we had stopped at the ATM to get some Turkist Liras so we would be prepared for "whatever"....but they wouldn't take Liras...they only would accept Dollars or Euros....lol....I think they like our Dollars...worth twice as muh as Liras...and of course Euros are worth a bit more....very interesting I thought....that was a bit of a cluster "F" at the customs....for many travelers unaware of this "entry fee"....caused a lot of chaos I thought...with switching lines...and getting back into other lines...trying to figure out how to get out of the "wrong" line...lol.....ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But we are troopers....we came to our room.....and took a nap! We are mentally exhausted! Tomorrow will be another day...oh yeah...then there was the cab ride to the hotel! :)

You know I have been reading some travel blogs on Turkey...and they warn about the "pushy rug salesman"...who want you to come in and have a cup of tea...then try to pressure you into buying their rug!They are very pushy..and make you feel guilty because they have invested so much time into the presentation....so I was ready for it... Well, the restaurant that was recommended to us for supper.....we were hit up as soon as we stepped into the building...then on the way out....so travel blogs....right on......didn't take long...have to be very FIRM!...I think tomorrow I'm just going to tell them that I already bought one...lol...and I can't afford to buy another...they are expensive I think....think that will work? Hope they don't ask me where I purchased it? lol? Yeah, I think I'm going with that story!!!!
Okay, going back to sleep...think we will have a full day ahead of us tomorrow!

Oh, we met a family from Boston at dinner and they have been here for 2 weeks...and have absolutely loved it...they rode in a hot air balloon...took a trip to the Greek Isles....they have loved it...so gives me hope...
The city is beautiful and its right on the sea....I'll send more pics tomorrow!

Landed in Istanbul

Well we made it...haven't had a chance to look around at all...just came from the airport.....and having dinner in a restaurant beside the Blue Mosque...thats the picture of it below...the Sea is just behind it....we were supposed to have a seaview room, but not getting it until tomorrow......someone extended their stay...so will send a pic of our sea view tomorrow....going to get out and explore tomorrow....

Beautiful Crossing....

Made it across.... Such a splendid day!!!!
Overnighting in Amdam....and off to Instanbul tomorrow....
Trying to get acclimated to your weather at home.....today was hottest day of summer here!!! I sweated !!!
Post more tomorrow...

Our little town of New Market

Saw this cute little car on our morning walk to town...there are quaint little cars like this around everywhere.

This is the home of thoroughbred racing...dates back to the 14th century..kind of reminds me of Kentucky a little...something like 4000 to 5000 race horses here...even Shiek Mohammad from Dubai has a huge farm here....there is a "salebarn" here for horses....and the horses sell for in the millions.....lotta money walking around here on four legs.....but very cool...Tom Jones was here last weekend...they have a little concert every weekend...but he was sold out and couldn't get tickets...oh well..

This was our favorite eating place...look at all the beautiful flowers...I'm in heaven....

Trains...Planes...and Automobiles....

Well....in our case....Trains...Planes....and Boats......

Leaving England...taking a train  to Harwich...which is a port side village on the North Sea...still in England....quaint little town.....that's where we are catching the ferry in the morning.....Then taking the slow boat across the English Channel (I think it's still the English Channel) to the Hook of Holland....(it is an all day journey on the boat...like 7 hours....for sure the slow boat...then we'll take a train into Amsterdam..where we'll spend the night...then we'll fly to Istanbul,Turkey on Sunday....be there for one week....wish us luck on our finds.....

This is the little village of Harwich on the North Sea...flowers are incredible

Found all these blackberry bushes while walking along the shore...craziest thing...so of course had to pick some....Bob was freakin' out a bit..."are you sure that's what they are?"...please...who does he think he is talking to? There we go again...something about "taking the girl out of the country..and all"...but I finally convinced him they weren't poison..so he tried them..well...he had like TWO...LOL "oh yea of little faith"...I enjoyed them immensely! LOL

 Then on our way back through town....we found this little pub to waste a few hours in.....had a few games of darts...drank some good COLD beer (yes, cold, finally) and even found a dude working a rubics cube...he was kind enough to let me take a stab at....I used to could do the damn things...and was going to impress Bob......that's what I get for being so cocky...I couldn't remember how to get all the sides...could get on side...but that was it....I finally gave up....maybe I don't have those particular brain cells left from the 80's....hard to imagine I know...

Next stop Istanbul......

See any resemblance????

Well....what do you think? Any one of these guys look like me???? lol

We rode the subway(The Tube) with the Olympic Hungarian Hand Ball Team....they were actually huge...can't really tell it from this pic....but just thought I would snap a pic and examine later!...you  know that mom's family comes from Budapest, Hungary....so we are told....

HONK! HONK! BEEP! BEEP! LOOK OUT.....

Well...not too much excitement today......except....I drove for the first time in England....yes, it does appear that I am sitting on the correct side of the vehicle (it's an american car)....however, I did drive on the wrong side of the road....."To the left....to the left....."....that's been our motto since we arrived.....when Lynn and Chris were here..it took all four of us to drive....one person driving...one navigating...one constantly saying " to the left to the left"....since it is very difficult to go against your instinct of driving on the "wrong" side of the road...especially when you see an oncoming vehicle that you think is in "your" lane and you think you are going to have a head-on collision....then remember...oh yeah, I'm in the other lane...

Anyway......yes, I drove around our little town today....Bob was all...."Oh, shit...are you sure? Are you sure?...."....and I'm like..."please....what makes you think you can do it and I can't?".....lol....(you can hear my attitude from there can't you?) LOL well, so far so good....managed to stay "to the left...to the left"....and made it back home without incident.......tomorrow may be a different story....but today was a huge success!!!!!

USA....USA.....USA.....

Woohoo!!!!!
Now let's see if we can get outta here without getting our asses kicked. Gotta wade through the 'Spaniards' wish us luck!!!!!!!
The boys did good!!!! Gold medals all around!!!! Woo woo!!!! Durant rocks!!!

Look for us at the Olympics....

Well we are back in London trying to catch the finals of the basketball games. We have 3 guys from Oklahoma Thunder playing for the U.S. and one playing for Spain. So Oklahoma is well represented. Someone from Thunder will have a gold medal.
Do u see us there in the stands ????
Lol just kidding.... Cheapest tickets were $3,000. So we took the train to London and found a pub that was showing the finals of basketball. Most pubs were showing stuff that Great Britain is still in.... Finally found one at 3:08. Games started at 3:00. But we are here now. It's halftime. Think we are up by one. Hope we don't get our asses kicked in here. See a lot of Spain's flags. Lol. We'll b careful.
Oh we did see some runners today. .... Just trying to be part of the madness!!!! Luv it!

The Roman Baths in Bath, England

Well....we were pretty wiped out from our jaunt into London yesterday....and no one was too excited about getting up this morning to make the trip across England to visit Bath...home of the Roman Baths...from like 2000 to 3000 years ago...its simply amazing how old everything is...so much history!!!!

The town was much bigger than I expected...but we loved it and so glad we made the trip.....definitely recommend going if you ever get a chance....

We took a tour around the Roman Baths...evidently everyone used to bath in public baths such as these...no indoor  plumbing yet..maybe....The water comes from under the ground and travels something like 25miles...then up through some faults...and they created these natural hot baths....the Romans lined the baths with lead to keep the  baths warm....so we couldn't get in Roman Baths.....you know....lead poisoning and all.....

So we booked our own two-hour public bath in a spa around the corner.....quite lovely....the first spa was on rooftop of the building and was pretty huge.....looked more like a pool that was heated....and we could see all the surrounding rooftops...and caught sight of a hot air balloon...very nice...then we spent some time in the saunas...there were four to choose from...and each was infused with different oils....like lemongrass, lotus, eucalyptus....and something else....had a nice time here...was so beautiful...the flowers around town were incredible...

You...know...another body of water...(this one forbidden of course)...makes me want to do it more... lol....so had to just pretend to be dipping my toe....but we did drink some of the water......just to say we did....it was clean and comes from under the ground... 

Stonehenge....or bust.....

We took a trip to the other side of England and were able to take a detour to check out what the fuss was all about in a field they call "Stonehenge".....well I think they call the rocks stonehenge....but I guess you know that already....
Stonehenge has been there for something like 5000 years...unbelievable....still a mystery why they are there...and there are several theories...my favorite is that it was used as a calendar....makes sense to me.....

Thought we'd jazz it up a bit....or we are just excited to be here......that too shall remain a mystery.....

On our Way to Stonehenge...

They date it back to something 2000 or 3000 BC....I'll let you know more when we get there....

Also going to the Roman Baths in Bath today.....ahhhhhh we need some R&R and pampering after our day in London yesterday!

Ahhhhhh London.....

I have so many pictures to post...I don't know where to start.....or where to quit... hmmmmm.....WOW...London was just incredible....and pictures just don't do it justice....WOW...if ever you get a chance.....you must go....

The London Tower Bridge

Buckingham Palace.....really beautiful...the gardens and the gates were my favorite....and check out the cool taxis....so cute                                                                                                 

The London Eye...

                                         The Parliament Building

DeAnna....Answer Your Phone......!!!!!!

We were thinking about you and decided to give you a ring.....

Our 'Could Be Anywhere' pic

Hey Tina this is our 'could be Anywhere' pic. Guess where we are? Woohoo. We made it!!!!!
With the help of this young man you see us posing with.
We met him on the train to London this morning. He owns the security company that is providing the security for the venues. He offered to get us to the Olympic Stadium. Woohoo. Sometimes we just get lucky!

Now This is Art....

You'll have to click on the picture to enlarge it....but this is a cool clock fountain on the pier.....On the hour...it does something...but we are there at 15 after.....and check out the guys.....their pants drop and they pee..."says they are watering the flowers"....it was such a shock...made it even funnier.....just thought I would show you the art culture we got today.....lol

Dipping our Toes in the North Sea

Woooo was a bit chilly....but you know that's my thing....dipping my toe into as many bodies of water as I can before I die.....can add one more to my list....

We are being dorks....

A Little Road Trip to the Coast.....

We visited the North Sea today....very very cool part of the east coast of England in a little town called Southwold...established in the 15th century....had a working light house, a cool pier...and quaint little seaside town.....was a good day...now off to London in the A.M.....for real this time...think we're gonna go to Bath and Stonehenge on Wednesday...Bath has the Roman Baths there... and of course you know what Stonehenge is....maybe we'll see some famous people tomorrow in London...or at least get in on some Olympic festivities.....

 

On the Road Again.......

Well....we are on the move again......On our way to London this morning....very very early......all bright eyed and bushy-tailed....maybe we'll get to be part of the Olympic experience...

We're actually staying just outside of London near Cambridge in Newmarket...which is the home of horseracing..... (just a little side note)

Think we will be touring London either tomorrow or the next......and see if we can experience the Olympics up close and personal.....

It has been kind of rainy and cloudy....but of course we are NOT complaining...after hearing about the temps at home.....

How YOUUUUUU Doin?

We were picking up our luggage that some friends of ours were storing in Amsterdam and can you believe who walked right up to us and started talking to our friend.....

It's Joey.....from Friends......Well he is our Moroccan Joey anyway.....He was dead on his twin....what do you think?

The Jetson's Hotel

Straight from the Jetsons....check out hotel we stayed in last night....we just left Prague and stopping over in Amsterdam to pick up our luggage...then off to London in the morning....so we just stayed at an airport hotel so we didn't have to lug our luggage around everywhere....
We stumbled upon the coolest hotel ever....if you ever see a CitizenM hotel at an airport, you should definitely stay there....They have them in all the major cities in Europe and supposed to have one in New York by end of the year...okay...let me show you some pictures...