Off to change our senator here in Louisiana

Vote Charlie Melancon to replace Vitter in November!!!!!! Let's DO IT!!!!!!

It's time to go home--Oh no!!!!!!!!!

This is my final images from Istanbul. I will probably have a show this winter and will let you know when that comes about. I want to thanks my host, Salih who is pictured with his mother who was also great to me. The other pictures are of the bazaar, a wonderful produce market-I wish we had some, some men who were buying and selling stocks in the middle of the bazaar, and a photo of the Bosphorus which flows through the middle of Istanbul joining the Black Sea to the Mediterranean and dividing Europe from Asia. Pretty impressive. Good Bye Istanbul.

Back in the City and then home

New York doesn't have anything on Istanbul. We visited several sections of the city from the Madison Ave of Istanbul to the artsy section complete with a museum of modern art. It is truly a large and wonderful city. It has it's problems as any large city will have but the reality is that Turkey is very important to both the East and the West.
The picture with mostly blue is a famous place for night life including belly dancers and lots of music. We had another great dinner here feasting upon an assortment of fish and of course lots of wonderful vegetables. When they talk about a Mediterriane diet, this is what they're talking about. We found it all over Turkey and was happy to find it in the city also. I have an image of a proud produce market owner above so you will see what I mean.
We stayed at a little hotel right in the middle of the old city. We were within walking distance of the Sultan's old palace-the picture is from inside the harem. The Cathedral of Sophia which was build over two churches in the 560 and was changed to a mosque under the Ottomans is not used for either now but still retains the hugeness of an early Byzantine accomplishments.
The men in the last image are entering the Blue Mosque which is a working mosque and a beautiful example of Islamic art with beautiful tile everywhere. The area is also interesting because these places attract tourists from middle east countries as well as Europeans and Americans. Head covering for women was varied and pronounced. The Arab women had berk-as of black covering almost everything, Africans had brighter colors in their dress, and Turkish women seemed to be having a discussion about their responsibilities to Islam. They wore everything from black head coverings with a long coat covering their already log dress to girls who used the traditional colorful scarf tied in a snappy and attractive way under their chins to women who dressed in a western fashion.

Last stop on the caravan route

The first picture is of a caravan stop that dates back to 1200. They are built like forts and have open centers where the caravan traders would stop, be admitted, and show there good to the merchants who occupied the booths to the left. We when on through the door at the other end and ended up in a room that had many arches and domes. We saw a ceremony of the Whirling Dervish who are a sect of the Sufie's. I couldn't take pictures during the ceremony but have some art to bring home and have been referred to a BBC program about the Sufies in northern Pakistan.
The other pictures are of an early morning balloon ride in Cappadonia where you can see the surreal landscape and our shadow on the side of one of the formations as our wild and great Spanish balloon driver took the balloon down into valleys. We loved every minute of it, even Bob.
We're in Istanbul now and have seen a few things but will post them tomorrow night. We're happy. Good night.

From Kas to Cappadocia

We drove all day yesterday, got lost a bunch of times and arrived at Pashahan Hotel around 11 p.m. We were lucky , we had no reservations, to find such a great hotel. I have included some pictures of the hotel both inside and out. We drove around and made a quick survey of various sites. This place is amazing. I have plenty of pictures and can assure you that the various cone formations have been inhabited by monks and early christians, to Greeks, Ottomans, and now us. We are staying in a cave room and it's really cool. We're sleeping with blankets and there is a heater on. We're going to stay here tonight and tomorrow night. We are going on a baloon ride in the morning at 5 a.m. and going to see a ceremony by the Sufie Whirling Durvish tomorrow night. There is also a city built underground that has goes down six or more floors. We'll visit a couple of floors tomorrow. Bob is holding up pretty well. He is asleep in anticipation of the baloon ride early tomorrow. Neither of us are morning people. We are having a wonderful time and I'm in the alcove to the left of the big bed sitting on turkish pillows and using this great wi fi. I'll report after the balloon ride. Good night all.

Last night in Kas, BooHoo

We are in Kas and leaving tomorrow for inland. The are some images from the trip so far. Some are at ruins and some are of the villa where we are staying here in Kas. I can truly say that staying here has been wonderful. I went diving this morning and came back for lunch then went down to the water and had a wonderful swim. I took a nap on a rock tht had some great shade and custains on it then when to the village for some great food. Life is good. Bob loves it.

I'm going diving in the Med today. Wonderful !!!!! Wonderful.!!!!!!!!

We are in Kas and everything is beautiful. Will Post pictures tonight.