Suite Home Istiklal Istanbul

... jazz in Turkey. Yes, I was right to feel the presence of Dizzy because he was the first one to bring it here. 1956 with that great band with Melba Liston on that famous tour. Has anyone written a book about that tour yet? He heard the trumpet player Muffy Falay who became world famous because of Dizzy's support. He left here and went to Sweden and now lives out in the country in Turkey.

Then Seda interviewed me about Dexter and put together a two part radio ...

... everywhere, and you have no clue where they might go. The metro has only ONE line, instead they use ferries over the bosporus, busses, trams and taxis.. That all makes it a very busy city, and i am sure, that there IS no law about driving rules :D

In the evening we went to a friend of Lisya, who invited plenty people for a special event. He called it the Ossy-Award (because his name ...

... closed for midday prayers.

Across the Hippodrome was the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art, where most of Sultan Ahmet and Hagia Sophia's treasure wound up. The works in there displayed the finest craftsmanship in carpets and calligraphy. We were treated at the end of our museum visit to another fine view of the Blue Mosque.

Finally in the afternoon we walked down Istiklal Caddesi in Beyoglu. Istiklal Caddesi is Istanbul's trendy ...

... beautiful designs all hand made in pure wool, silk and cotton. Good explanation of the value and process but even the second hand ones started at EUR 1,000 for 6x10 ouch. So no didnt buy one. We went a little way into the ancient bazaaar and tried to keep to the main area it was a rabbit warren and you easily became disorientated. Found a few bargins it would be rude not to bring back something from Turkey !! Deb

... has heard a beginner violinist or bagpiper can relate.  anyway, all these guys are professional players and on par with the rest of the musicians involved.  it just depends on which one agrees to a per hour session rate in my price range.  although i'm sure other gigs are paying more, our all-star cast is (fortunately) beginning to take on its own gravitational pull.  will try to upload some of the pictures from today's session with this post.  wordup,-pa

... with everybody from Europe to the Middle East, America to Asia. One of the reasons why this could be is because it shares something in common with them all, it can relate to each country in different ways and that connection can be the basis for a stable relationship. I will be interested to see how Turkey progresses in the 21st century and what role it incurs on the international stage.

... in their late 40's, one in their fifties, and two in their mid-sixties. These age groups are usually less interested in saving a few dollars by camping in dust bowls, and having to prepare a meal for ten or so people after a hard day's travelling. One thing we did notice was that at least half the people were repeat customers, and although they had some negative comments about their trips, they kept coming back. Maybe we'll be one of those!

... the British: "Oh wow, how amazing! It`s incredible!", and the Polish: "O k...., ja pier...., ale zaje....!!" ["Oh f...., oh my f....n` lord, how f....n` neat!']. That exactly was our reaction when we saw the Sultanabad, which is also called the Blue Mosque. We were so amazed that we started swearing. Yet after a little while we noticed that the mosque in front of the Blue Mosque is the Ayasofia - the Hagia Sofia. A sultan had built a palace in front of a ...

Yesterday I started out at a government office where it seemed that it would be completely impossible for me to get a Turkish passport or even Turkish citizenship...which I already had. But after a very interesting day, I got a passport and will attempt to get a Syrian visa through that today. Also went on a ferry to tour some islands yesterday. Lots ...

Arrived in Istanbul via overnight train from Ankara yesterday. Rode the ferry to our hotel and the view was fantastic. Stood at the front of the ferry watching as the city revealed itself and could feel the energy pouring into me! Off to Princes Islands today...will write more later... The Prince's Islands were great. One of my tourmates and I took the ferry and got off at the third Island so that we could hang out at the pool for ...