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: