Bye, bye, Grandpa

Since we were back a late from Ephesus, it was a slow morning Sunday. Grandpa spent a good part of the day gathering his things. I drove down to town to the internet café to send off an email for him and find a hotel room in Istanbul. I ended up getting him a great deal ($65, including taxes and breakfast) just off Sultanahmet Square at the Hotel Nena which has gotten great reviews from both people on the internet and people we have met. After that, Grandpa couldn't avoid it any longer: we dragged him to the hamam. He still insisted on washing himself, but the boys got the full-body giggle scrub. They came out to the waiting and refreshment area in their towels, so I got a picture (btw- lots of people came out to this area in their towels, so this was not embarrassing). Nanny and Kate stayed at the hamam for the full-works massage and I drove Grandpa to the airport.

At the hamam

The trip to the airport was uneventful and Grandpa got safely on the airplane, I believe.

Almost Turkish

When I got back, everyone was sitting on the front steps of the hamam eating ice cream. They spent their extra time doing a little shopping in Bodrum for my wedding anniversary (tomorrow-- 13 years). Too bad their Dad won't be here to help open the gift. They also got a backgammon set so they could play the game we think is called Tauvla at home.

If something more significant than dinner happens, I'll update later, but I think it will be a quiet night.

This is the traditional fig basket

Food tableau

One of our dinner plates