On our last full day in Turkey, we took a long hike to Taksim, which is the contemporary heart of Istanbul just as Fatih (the neighborhood we've been staying in) is the historic heart. First we walked across the Galata Bridge, pausing to admire the really cool tour boats that were somewhat like gondolas but … Continue reading Saying Görüşürüz to Turkey
Category: Europe
In and Around Istanbul
With several days to spend in and around Istanbul, we decided that we'd like to venture outside the city and see a bit of the rest of Turkey on at least one occasion. And being nearly surrounded by water, with numerous boats at our disposal, the best option seemed to be taking a marine excursion … Continue reading In and Around Istanbul
Legends of Istanbul
Although Turkey had always been a must-see for us, we'd hoped to justify the layover by arranging a volunteer position through WorkAway. We did, but it canceled on us. So we arranged another one. And it canceled on us too. That left us without a gig, but with plans to come to Istanbul anyway. And … Continue reading Legends of Istanbul
Istanbul Birthday Weekend
Istanbul is the only city on the planet that straddles two continents. Most of this sprawling megalopolis of 15 million souls is situated in Asia. But there's also a chunk of it across the Bosphorous Strait, in Europe. That chunk is where most of the historical points of interest are located, and it's where we … Continue reading Istanbul Birthday Weekend
Bouncing into Barcelona
Our flight from Morocco into Barcelona was quite unprecedented. Not just because we'd never been there before. And not just because along the way we had the unprecedented sensation of flying over Gibraltar. But because our landing itself was unlike any we'd experienced before. Leaving Morocco, flying over the Rock of Gibraltar Our aircraft was … Continue reading Bouncing into Barcelona
Making Memories in Madrid
On Monday at about noon, we touched down in Madrid after flying across the ocean from Bogota. It was our first time in Europe in 6 years, and the first time that either of us ever had been to Spain. The first order of business, of course, was to acquire a few euros for pocket … Continue reading Making Memories in Madrid
Going Coastal – 13 Unique Seaside Adventures
We have been meeting sea-anemones, condors, crabs, sea lions and seals. It brings back fond memories of some of our other coastal excursions and adventures, all over the U.S. and elsewhere.
Traveling for the sake of Family History
This post was prompted by a #TTOT discussion on Twitter on 2/26 about taking trips to trace your family history. This is a subject near and dear to us, especially for Kimberly, who was adopted as an infant and has done extensive research to find her birth family. But let's begin with the instigating incident. … Continue reading Traveling for the sake of Family History