Tag Archives: Istanbul

Benim Kızım and Other Cures for Airsickness

Posted on January 21, 2013 by

The general rustling of reading material charges through the airplane. Everyone shifts in their seat, digs through the belongings that should be stowed under the seat. The whole middle section of passengers tries to make noise, if nothing else, to … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogging, Europe, Happiness, Observed, Travel, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Watch Your Step

Posted on September 24, 2012 by

Thank you Lord that I spotted the three little old ladies in their long skirts and head scarves recoiling in horror at the prospect of riding an airport escalator. Made my day. They were in a group of five, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Happiness, Observed, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Inspire Curiosity

Posted on September 17, 2012 by

Men who sell simits–a bagel-pretzel coated in toasted sesame seeds–are almost as ubiquitous in Istanbul as ankle-breakable holes in the sidewalk. Since I often took the same streets, I often passed the same simit salesman. We bonded by blinking at … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Happiness, Inspiration, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Perhaps Today is a Good Day To Begin (Again).

Posted on September 12, 2012 by

I know thousands of people who are waiting for their lives to slow down so they can become an artist. Your life is not going to slow down probably until you’re in the grave.  So you’ve got to find a … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Inspiration, Literature, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Grasping at Grandmas

Posted on September 10, 2012 by

I’d been on a mission: to get old Turkish ladies to like me. I love elderly people, but I wasn’t getting a warm reception when I beamed at the grandmas. I greeted little old ladies leaning out of their windows … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Happiness, Observed, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Postcard for Addyson #1

Posted on September 7, 2012 by

Dear Addy, The two postcards I sent from Turkey took about 6 weeks to reach you. So I thought I’d send an update that would show up in Colorado before I do. Addy is my 5 year old niece, just … Continue reading →

Posted in Dogs, Europe, Happiness, Inspiration, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Manners

Posted on September 5, 2012 by

On the busy road, a taxi driver slows, inspiring a concerto of honking horns behind him. A red soccer ball rolls into traffic. I notice the children, the owners of the ball, a few blocks ahead, peering to see what … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Fitness, Happiness, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

The Joy of Forgetting

Posted on September 3, 2012 by

This morning I took my notebook out for a date at the park. We had a delightful time. I ran a pen dry. While taking notes on what I’ve seen this week, I suddenly started writing a passage in Turkish. … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Happiness, Inspiration, Mischief, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

En Sonunda/Finally

Posted on August 24, 2012 by

Friday in Istanbul and a surprise: The Reason I’m Learning Turkish took the day off so we could hang out. Yay! *Beam!* Still, I like that reading habit you’re rocking these days! You can always read the about how The … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Happiness, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Work Hard, Play Hard

Posted on August 1, 2012 by

A fleet of Domino’s pizza delivery mopeds putter through the tourist crowd by the Hippodrome of Constantinople. The boy drivers nod at each other and roar weak engines on the tracks where chariots once raced, passing the imported Egyptian Obelisk … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Happiness, Mischief, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment