Dust Goes Back to Turkey

 

For two months I was in Turkey for work. It has been more than 10 years since we lived here, and it was great to get back. The only thing that I missed with Lady Hiva and the Muggles. 

I spent the weeks in Ankara and accidentally went to Istanbul every weekend. Haha. I guess I did not need much excuse to go back to Istanbul. It is an amazing city. Full of energy, history, nature, and art. I loved being there. I would walk and walk and walk. 

One of the weekends I was there was REALLY rainy. It made it hard to explore, but I just bought an umbrella and got my shoes wet! haha. It did make the hills slippery on top of the steep. If you have been in Istanbul you know how those steep hills and winding streets build your stamina and calves. 

I was trying so hard to convince Lady Hiva and the Muggles to come visit for spring break. I would send photos of them to entice them. One of them was this photo of cheesecake. I was hoping it would work. 

The old US Consulate that is now a fancy hotel. 

There are so many museums in Istanbul. That makes sense when you think of the thousands of years that this city has been a center of culture, trade, and power. It was hard to choose which to visit. One of them that I wanted to try was the Pera Museum. It has one of my favorite Turkish paintings. The Turtle Sultan. I love the vibrant colors. 

We loved seeing the Simitci (Simit sellers) and the chestnut sellers around the city. I also sent these photos to Lady Hiva these photos because she loves both of them too! Still hoping she will come visit. 

I loved seeing that there is a Traitors Turkiye! We have watched all of the US, UK, Australia, and NZ. 

We loved to see the strawberries. It was something we loved about Turkey when we lived here. They are so fresh and delicious. 

The Spice Bazaar looks the same as it did. 

I sent photos of rock shops hoping to convince the Muggles it was a good idea to come visit. 

The Grand Bazaar is one the best in the world. It is really touristy. It is something that now we have traveled the world, we realize we can get the same things for cheaper elsewhere. 

I liked wandering the winding streets behind the bazaars that sell items that non-tourist buy. I would stop and bargain even if I did not need anything. I just wanted to see what I could get them to buy down.

I went to many mosques...many, many mosques. All of them had ancient cemeteries (another thing I sent photos to Lady Hiva as we always go visit cemeteries whenever we go to a new city. One of them I saw the was tomb of Sulimanye the Great. That was a really cool to see. 

I went shopping. I was so tempted to buy more suits. I love Turkish tailoring. I did, however, purchase a few overcoats =. 

It was so great to meet with friends from all over the world.  the are such great people. 

I was able to meet up with some of my old staff from Istanbul. I love these people. They are such great people. We worked hard together and had so much fun. 

It was Tulip Season in Turkey. As Tulips came through the Ottoman Empire to Europe, Istanbul is an iconic place for tulips, and tulip history. 

One of the cathedrals in Istanbul. I had to stop and go in. 

Galata Tower. Such an icon of Istanbul. 

Ankara had a few places to visit that were fun to see too.