Snowy Days

It has been snowing for a week in Istanbul.  

On a sunny day here, traffic is bad, 

on a rainy day, traffic is horrible, 

and on a snowy day, traffic stops. 

If you look carefully (click on the picture to enlarge it)
 you can see people trying to push the stranded cars out of the way (up the hill!!)

Snow chains made of Silly Bands?

Our school has been closed for six consecutive schooldays due to heavy snow and slippery roads.  Luckily we don't have to make up for those days at the end of the school year, because teachers post work on the internet, and we parents get to play teacher.  I have to say that after a week of doing this I am exhausted, and I think all parents will be out this weekend trying to melt the last bit of snow so school can reopen on Monday.  Luckily we have made some new friends who live in walking distance from our house, so after "playing" school most of the day we have trudged over to them to clear our heads and get into a good snowball fight.

Our school's main campus is about 50 km (30 miles) from where we live, and I have heard that out there they have gotten over half a meter of snow (more than 1.5 feet).  It is also much colder out there, so even if it starts raining here in the city center, it might still snow out there.

To get to the school campus you first have to drive on one of the most heavily trafficked highways in Istanbul, and then you exit onto farm roads and through a small village.

Since it doesn't snow that frequently in this area, snow-removing equipment is not something sitting around waiting to be used.  You don't see pick-up trucks here with a snow plow attached, waiting for the first flurry and the biggest paycheck of the year, like we used to see from Halloween to Memorial Day back in New England.

Since people here don't sit around waiting for something to hit, they have to take whatever they have and try to make new use of it when the snow arrives.  I was told that this week people living in the village by the school got stuck, because they didn't have snow plows to clear the roads.  Someone told me they then put the cars onto big front loaders and let the tractors drop them off on the highway!

 We will either find a way, or make one.   Hannibal

The first vehicle has the snow plow, and the second the sand/salt spreader

(picture taken from our bedroom window)

Snow shovels made as the first flurries are falling
(picture taken last winter)

The gate keepers seemed to have a snow-man competition

City Vacation

We just finished our late fall vacation, Kurban Bayram.  The name literarily means "slaughter holiday", and it is kind of the Muslim Thanksgiving.  A lot of people travel over the holidays, but we had planned to stay in Istanbul and get to know new parts of the city.  

We discovered a new indoor playground called Babalu (www.babalu.com.tr), and it was play-heaven for a 10-year old.  A lot of kids' activities in Istanbul are geared towards younger children, but here M. found good trampolines and climbing mazes that he loved.

One of the days we drove across the bridge to Asia, and explored the shores of the Sea of Marmara.  Here for miles and miles there are beautiful walkways, parks and bike paths with a breathtaking view.  Unfortunately it turned out to be difficult to find bikes for rent, but we had a lovely stroll.

Ice exhibition (www.magicice.com.tr):

Sorry Norway, but this was a little disappointing.  It is not right to say that the ice carvings were melting, because it was cold enough in there, but I guess they were evaporating.  The Vikings in the exhibition had very small heads and funny shaped limbs, but who knows, maybe they did look like that back in the day.  I was looking forward to take pictures in the magic light of the 'ice castle', but it wasn't allowed.  I hid the camera in my mitten and stole a few glances.  The exhibition ended with an ice bar furnished by IKEA...

Hamsterball:

I could describe this, but I think the pictures says it all.

10 on the birthday scale

10 Years

It has been 10 years since we became the proud parents of M.

He has reached double digits and has been celebrating for weeks.  

On his actual birthday we flew to Norway, and he was treated like a celebrity by KLM.

We arrived at Istanbul Ataturk Airport at 4am to check in, and were very excited when the operator gave M. a birthday present consisting of passes to the business class lounge.

5am breakfast

Economy class artist

We had a short layover in Amsterdam, and when we got on the second plane, 

the show started.

We had the best KLM crew ever!  

They all came down the aisle singing and dancing "Happy Birthday" and made him a birthday card with a greeting from all the crew members.  They served him a business class breakfast (including Fanta!) while the rest of economy class got a bag of peanuts.

When we landed M. was invited into the cockpit to meet the Captain, and they even had searched the plane to make him a birthday present.  He got a gift bag stuffed with a KLM notepad, pen, chocolate and a couple of bottles of Champagne for mom!

10 POINTS TO KLM 

Thank you!!

A Beach Holiday in Ruins

In August we had a week's vacation, and went to the ancient town of Side.  Located south in Turkey, on the Mediterranean coast, Side was for several thousand years, an important harbor and commercial town. Now it is a small seaside vacation spot with some wonderful ancient ruins to explore and an unhurried place to enjoy sun, good company, sea and history.  Stretching beyond the center of town, you can see resort hotels looming, but they are out of sight and out of mind among the narrow cobblestone streets and stony ruins smack in the center of the town - including an ancient theater and large Agora (market square), which 'protect' the harbor and main beach from further big-resort development.

Apollo Temple:

Triumphal Arch:

The main street in to the old part of town

Roman Amphi Theatre:

View from our hotel: