tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802498442123035908Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:41:00 +0000TorontoFringeMilanNorthern IrelandCorkOahuNiceAlamo SquareDublinVolcanoChristmas MarketOuter RichmondDusseldorfMadridSydneyVolcanoes National ParkBerlinKenmareOuter SunsetBidartFilmTradBrusselsGigBig IslandSan DiegoNorth BeachMission DoloresNew Year FestivalOn The RoadRAF2010HalloweenSintraLiverpoolDen HaagNew Year 2011Mission BayRoman RuinsGdyniaUlster Bank Theater FestivalBellagioTenderNobLaurel HeightsKiluaeaRed BullRugbyWalkingNew YorkGdanskWaikikiBernal HeightsRussian HillNoe ValleyCentral RichmondUKTurkeyFlugtagHalf Moon BayHulaEruptionSnowSpainSPWCTallinnWestern AdditionAuschwitzFringe FestivalCulture NightNetherlandsGuinnessEnglandMontereyGuiness StorehouseWroclawSambaKillarneyCity BreakLos AngelesRestaurant ReviewLondonStirlingGlen ParkScotlandShave IceArt GalleryPolandCoffeeEvoraMarseillePrideLeinsterWorld War IITipperaryGeorgian DublinWisconsinAlamedaBloco de DublinMainzGhostBusLower Pacific HeightsSouth BeachBloggerFiestaAlfamaWhiskeySopotBasqueScience GalleryNOPAAnn ArborAbsolut FringeHawaiiSonomaWWIIEdinburghArthur's DaySalt Lake CityDowntownDalkeyBarrio AltaAlliance FrancaiseLet's French 2011KonaFisherman's WharfVacation RentalUnion SquarePearl HarborChemistryIrelandFrench RivieraAntwerpMelbourneToledoCannonballCow HollowIstanbulCarnivalPortugalBelfastFranceCounty KerryAlgarveCambridgeThe HaightKilkenny CatsAustraliaBTWCannesUBTD10FaroHonoluluDublin CastleFinlandFinancial DistrictSOMAParisDucksHelsinkiBuffaloDelftGolden Gate ParkPotrero HillFrankfurtDenverOaklandDolores HeightsRanelaghBray1916 RebellionKilkennyHiloAndolu KavagiRanelagh Arts FestivalPhiladelphiaItalyDun LaoghaireIzmirBaixaMunsterWhere's Wally?Pacific HeightsLisbonNew Years Eve 2010Presidio HeightsRing of KerryWine TastingChinatownWalesSevilleFall FoliageFadoBlogger FiestaEstoniaGlasgowRainbowTaviraWorld RecordSilent Film FestivalBird WatchingSouth San FranciscoLake StreetScience MuseumAvignonFestivalOktoberfestHollandBristolCannonball RunJackson SquareAmsterdamDublin Culture NightJapantownTelegraph HillSand CastlesCologneLake ComoCivic CenterMarinaThe Missioncole valleyHurlingTheatreKilaueaComedy ClubSF - Further AfieldGrand CanalWesterplatteKrakowShakespeareTenderloinBlackrock MarketWicklowInner SunsetDalkey CastleDiamond HeadSultanahmetGalwayMackintoshStreet PerformanceProvenceCastroPresidioOliwaInner RichmondHayes ValleyBelgiumMusicNob HillCritical MassAix-en-ProvenceThames FestivalBazaarWalking TourManchesterCardiffTrad SessionsGermanyTemple BarBelemCatsBonnSan FranciscoDerryBrad PittTrinity CollegeAdelaideFilm FestivalCapturing the local scene one step at a time.http://www.sidewalksafari.com/noreply@blogger.com (Dr. J)Blogger998125sidewalksafari/yfWOhttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802498442123035908.post-7967556798257871481Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:41:00 +00002012-02-16T13:41:00.044-08:00FranceCannesFrench Riviera The beautiful thing about the French Riviera, aside from the gorgeous blue body of water confronting you at every turn, is the number of easily accessible towns to visit.  We took the train from Nice to Cannes, I donned my biggest diva sunglasses, and we set out to explore the city of movie festival fame.   Our first stop was Jean-Luc Pelé for macarons. We followed a star-studded path...http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~3/NYO0lWfBFD4/yes-we-cannes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dr. J)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~4/NYO0lWfBFD4" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.sidewalksafari.com/2012/02/yes-we-cannes.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802498442123035908.post-4013136736783682227Thu, 16 Feb 2012 07:14:00 +00002012-02-15T23:14:00.450-08:00FranceNiceFrench Riviera We rose early after a good night's sleep in our apartment rental in Nice.  We went out in search of a fresh baguette for breakfast. We found a spot just a few blocks away from where we were staying. We returned to the apartment past  frivolous accents... ...and musical sculpture. After a fresh breakfast, we set out for the Old Town and daily food market.  We passed through Place http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~3/Jp7gxVEnZ48/adventures-in-nice.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dr. J)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~4/Jp7gxVEnZ48" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.sidewalksafari.com/2012/02/adventures-in-nice.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802498442123035908.post-3572563798759537094Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:19:00 +00002012-02-14T12:19:00.153-08:00FranceNiceFrench Riviera Our holiday plans included Christmas in Provence and New Years Eve in Nice.  On the day after Christmas, we boarded a train for a three hour ride from Marsille to Nice.  We rented an apartment for the week to help us feel even more like locals.  Nice Pebbles runs a very professional service and we were super-pleased with our apartment, l'Artiste. We enjoyed colorful views of the town. A http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~3/b2VCvB4Bmkk/hello-nice.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dr. J)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~4/b2VCvB4Bmkk" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.sidewalksafari.com/2012/02/hello-nice.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802498442123035908.post-4644653143379853266Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:15:00 +00002012-02-13T13:15:00.703-08:00FranceMarseille We decided to take the train to Marseille on Christmas Day.  It was basically a choice between going on the holiday or not at all.  We're quite glad we ventured out as Marseille is actually quite a lovely city despite its gritty reputation.  We emerged from the train station and descended the steps in the morning sunshine. The stairs themselves were decorated with classic sculptures. I http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~3/_a3zqIxfCZM/christmas-in-marseille.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dr. J)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~4/_a3zqIxfCZM" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.sidewalksafari.com/2012/02/christmas-in-marseille.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802498442123035908.post-6202658990451668906Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:05:00 +00002012-02-12T13:05:00.526-08:00FranceProvenceAix-en-Provence Any place that boasts a tradition of eating 13 desserts for the holidays is alright in my book.  On Christmas Eve in Provence, locals celebrate with Treize Desserts.  In Aix-en-Provence, there was even a market dedicated to the tradition.   We took some time to explore -- I was giddy just looking at all that sugary awesomeness.  Provençal macarons were my favorite.   They were thicker and http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~3/3PmoW_CKJtA/aix-en-provence-treize-desserts.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dr. J)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~4/3PmoW_CKJtA" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.sidewalksafari.com/2012/02/aix-en-provence-treize-desserts.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802498442123035908.post-1837150814057107230Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:02:00 +00002012-02-11T13:02:00.378-08:00FranceProvenceAix-en-Provence We spent a lazy day in Aix-en-Provence on Christmas Eve; prepping ourselves for the holiday when everything would be closed.  We sat in the lobby of Hotel Cezanne and munched on the nuts and clementines in bowls around the room. We ordered coffee and topped it with colorful packets of sugar. We set out into the Mazarin district of Aix, a neighborhood of grid like but charming residential http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~3/WpI5bzTSJ-U/christmas-eve-in-aix-en-provence.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dr. J)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~4/WpI5bzTSJ-U" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.sidewalksafari.com/2012/02/christmas-eve-in-aix-en-provence.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802498442123035908.post-8904065493826420985Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:12:00 +00002012-02-10T11:12:00.462-08:00FranceAvignon We had a bit of time between the end of the wine tour and our train back to Aix-en-Provence.  We took some time to explore the Avignon Christmas Market. Yum! Macarons! The market also featured a vendor selling some gorgeous teas. I liked the lights strung out above the market like a web of stars. We stopped in the town hall to see the nativity scene complete with copious amounts of http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~3/iWRSKxEATC8/avignon-after-dark.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dr. J)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~4/iWRSKxEATC8" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.sidewalksafari.com/2012/02/avignon-after-dark.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802498442123035908.post-3048993520435604594Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:16:00 +00002012-02-09T11:16:00.082-08:00FranceProvenceAvignon We rose before sunrise and caught a train from Aix-en-Provence to Avignon for a tour of regional vineyards. We took a bus from the TGV high speed train station and were deposited just inside the town wall. We walked toward the tourist office to meet our tour guide.  We discovered a small park just outside and since we were a bit early took the opportunity to explore. We met a 1-eyed black http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~3/_e93UANaMCc/wine-tasting-near-avignon.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dr. J)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~4/_e93UANaMCc" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.sidewalksafari.com/2012/02/wine-tasting-near-avignon.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802498442123035908.post-7757997494054519574Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:57:00 +00002012-02-08T23:57:00.098-08:00FranceProvenceAix-en-Provence Aix-en-Provence featured a lovely Christmas market on Cours Mirabeau. There was a wide assortment of gifts and treats on offer. My favorite stall at the Aix Christmas market was this cotton candy (aka candy floss) stand.  They had a ton of different flavors.  The end product was bigger than this kid's head! The leafy fountains in the area looked even cooler by day. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~3/PrEr8nWTA_A/aix-en-provence-christmas-market.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dr. J)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~4/PrEr8nWTA_A" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.sidewalksafari.com/2012/02/aix-en-provence-christmas-market.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802498442123035908.post-5060995430341411488Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:45:00 +00002012-02-08T10:45:00.990-08:00FranceProvenceAix-en-Provence Fountains, food, and fun...those are the 3 Fs that characterize Aix-en-Provence.  We spotted a sweets shop across the street from Hotel Cezanne and were lured in by the window displays. Leonard Parli specialises in calissons (little footballs made from candied fruit and ground almonds). In addition, they sold a variety of chocolates and candied fruits. Continuing on into town, we stopped http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~3/eZUZVhfbpJM/aix-en-provence-fountains-food-and-fun.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dr. J)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~4/eZUZVhfbpJM" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.sidewalksafari.com/2012/02/aix-en-provence-fountains-food-and-fun.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802498442123035908.post-5191941860743216994Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:04:00 +00002012-02-07T11:04:00.060-08:00FranceProvenceAix-en-Provence If you're looking for a fabulous holiday getaway, the South of France is tough to beat.  We spent almost two weeks in this fair part of Europe soaking up the sun and indulging in excellent food and wine over Christmas.   We arrived in Marseille airport and took a 45 minute bus ride to Aix-en-Provence. After dropping off our bags, we wandered into town.  We admired Aix' famous fountains decked http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~3/df1CXXd3aik/aix-en-provence-arrival-after-dark.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dr. J)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~4/df1CXXd3aik" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.sidewalksafari.com/2012/01/aix-en-provence-arrival-after-dark.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802498442123035908.post-1350764667647110333Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:51:00 +00002012-02-06T04:51:00.809-08:00TurkeyIzmir Sadly, our visit to Turkey was quickly coming to a close.  We returned from Ephesus to Basmane Gar in Izmir. We indulged in one final fresh squeezed glass of pomegranate juice in the shadow of the Park Hotel. We dined on our favorites one final time -- Çorbası (lentil soup) and lamb shish. We awoke the next morning and found ourselves in what seemed like paradise -- The Turkish http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~3/h2HXzvTusuw/izmir-final-dinner-and-early-morning.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dr. J)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~4/h2HXzvTusuw" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.sidewalksafari.com/2012/02/izmir-final-dinner-and-early-morning.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802498442123035908.post-752746904837399710Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:51:00 +00002012-02-05T04:51:00.381-08:00Turkey We caught a cab back into Selçuk and alighted in front of this reclining sculpture near the Ephesus Museum. A crumbling sarcophagus sat near the entrance. The Ephesus Museum houses many of the more delicate artifacts from the excavation. We were impressed by the array of sculptures and statues that we saw. We walked outside to a flower lined courtyard. Workshops and demonstrationhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~3/zVrcKjaM9Hw/ephesus-museum-and-lunch.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dr. J)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~4/zVrcKjaM9Hw" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.sidewalksafari.com/2012/02/ephesus-museum-and-lunch.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802498442123035908.post-474026721009920927Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:51:00 +00002012-02-04T04:51:00.434-08:00TurkeyRoman Ruins We hired a taxi to take us to the upper entrance to Ephesus, a remarkably preserved Greek and subsequently Roman city situated in modern day Turkey.  We were impressed by dramatic theatres and applauded as a tourist took a turn singing opera on the ancient stage. We passed remnants of columns along a once grand thoroughfare. We could see the famous library at Ephesus in the distance. Thehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~3/ZkmVSlaGL3c/turkish-antiquities-ephesus.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dr. J)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~4/ZkmVSlaGL3c" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.sidewalksafari.com/2012/02/turkish-antiquities-ephesus.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802498442123035908.post-954300916761141183Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:50:00 +00002012-02-03T04:50:00.207-08:00Turkey For our last full day in Turkey, we set our sights on Ephesus.  We boarded a train in Izmir bound for Selçuk. We passed Atatürk, the father of modern Turkey, emerging from the hillside in larger than life glory. We debarked in Selçuk and were immediately confronted by the remains of a Roman aqueduct. We wound our way through town past the Sifa Baharat 'Spicy Shop'.  Sounds good to me..http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~3/2jFyaw-SGoI/journey-to-selcuk.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dr. J)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~4/2jFyaw-SGoI" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.sidewalksafari.com/2012/02/journey-to-selcuk.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802498442123035908.post-9059578440238476953Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:50:00 +00002012-02-02T04:50:00.595-08:00TurkeyIzmir Back in Izmir, we were on the prowl for dinner.  However, we decided to have dessert first at Tuğba.  The array of treats was dizzying. We opted for some roasted chickpeas and a variety of Turkish delight. In return, we were offered a free Turkish coffee.  We settled in to enjoy our caffeine fix. We made our way purposely to the waterfront to Balık Pişiricisi Veli Usta.  Known, for fish http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~3/DmGv3xS-ibk/izmir-seafood-and-sweets.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dr. J)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~4/DmGv3xS-ibk" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.sidewalksafari.com/2012/02/izmir-seafood-and-sweets.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802498442123035908.post-1131316450982585555Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:50:00 +00002012-02-01T04:50:00.129-08:00Turkey Our lunch stop at Sağlam Restaurant on the return from Pergamon to Izmir proved to be informative and entertaining.  We were treated to a plate of assorted mezzes. We opted for lamb kebab... ...and pide... For dessert, we were given a sample of fruit and honey drenched pastry. The best part of the meal was the Turkish coffee. We drained our glass and then upended the cup into the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~3/uUcr_9Ys5dI/pergamon-lunch-and-fortune-telling.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dr. J)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~4/uUcr_9Ys5dI" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.sidewalksafari.com/2012/02/pergamon-lunch-and-fortune-telling.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802498442123035908.post-284790782192199600Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:49:00 +00002012-01-31T04:49:00.038-08:00TurkeyRoman Ruins Izmir is surrounded by sights of historical significance.  We hired a local tour guide to drive us to Pergamon to see the ancient ruins.  We were intrigued to see the ruins in their natural habitat.  We'd previously seen a good portion of the temple in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin.  Sinan picked us up at our hotel and drove us out to the ruins for a private tour. We walked among the ruins ofhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~3/-lfrcvFwIZM/turkish-antiquities-pergamon.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dr. J)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~4/-lfrcvFwIZM" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.sidewalksafari.com/2012/01/turkish-antiquities-pergamon.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802498442123035908.post-7240567983519303915Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:49:00 +00002012-01-30T04:49:00.764-08:00TurkeyIzmir Cafes and bars line the seaside promenade in Izmir.  We stopped at a promising looking place for beer, some pistachios, and a game of backgammon. The sun slowly set over the horizon in one of the most relaxing afternoons I've spent in recent memory. As the sun disappeared over the horizon we got up and headed back toward town. We passed through bustling streets showcasing more wedding http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~3/1wFnmV5c3kE/izmir-sea-sunset-and-backgammon.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dr. J)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~4/1wFnmV5c3kE" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.sidewalksafari.com/2012/01/izmir-sea-sunset-and-backgammon.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802498442123035908.post-6551990235297735688Sun, 29 Jan 2012 12:48:00 +00002012-01-29T04:48:00.358-08:00TurkeyIzmir Izmir sits along the Aegean Sea.  We walked through the Izmir Bazaar toward the seaside promenade. We passed a small and lovely mosque sitting close to the shore. Passing through the palm-lined square, we ran a gauntlet of pigeons. We walked down a sail covered passageway and arrived at the shore. We sat among the rocks and admired the peaceful view. The promenade seemed to go on forhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~3/8P8Y9M5q6SE/izmir-seaside-walk.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dr. J)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~4/8P8Y9M5q6SE" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.sidewalksafari.com/2012/01/izmir-seaside-walk.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802498442123035908.post-8634721197514412908Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:48:00 +00002012-01-28T04:48:00.068-08:00TurkeyIzmir We walked from the Izmir Bazaar past a petite mosque in search of the Agora, part of the ancient city of Smyrna.   We found it but unfortunately we'd come around from the wrong side.  This section of the ruined Roman marketplace was surrounded by barbed wire. After consulting our map, we worked our way around the perimeter to the entrance.  For just 3 TL, we were treated to marvels of the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~3/NAnGV1oAbuA/izmir-agora.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dr. J)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~4/NAnGV1oAbuA" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.sidewalksafari.com/2012/01/izmir-agora.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802498442123035908.post-1362095808926048721Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:48:00 +00002012-01-27T04:48:00.123-08:00TurkeyIzmir We spent our first morning in Izmir getting our bearings with a stroll around town.  The sprawling outdoor market featured giant baskets of fruits and nuts... ...well dressed mannequins... and roasting chickpeas. We even spotted the ubiquitous 'evil eye' (the blue and white glass emblem dangling on the back of this truck). We were tempted by tasty honey and nut filled treats. We http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~3/IoASL8fIqf8/izmir-bazaar.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dr. J)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~4/IoASL8fIqf8" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.sidewalksafari.com/2012/01/izmir-bazaar.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802498442123035908.post-7865682031787584727Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:47:00 +00002012-01-26T04:47:00.062-08:00TurkeyIzmir As the sun set, we caught our flight from Istanbul to Izmir and touched down after dark. We checked in at the Park Hotel and learned that we had been upgraded to the honeymoon suite! I could tell I was going to like Izmir :-) http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~3/rqyi5_2-KZA/flight-to-izmir.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dr. J)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~4/rqyi5_2-KZA" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.sidewalksafari.com/2012/01/flight-to-izmir.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802498442123035908.post-3910622582480001107Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:47:00 +00002012-01-25T04:47:00.714-08:00SultanahmetTurkeyIstanbul One the last day of our brief visit to Istanbul, we walked from our hotel to the shore of the Sea of Marmara. We could see cargo ships shuttling goods to and fro in the distance. Walking through the back roads of Sultanahmet, we discovered a fitness oasis.  We took a few minutes to play around with the free, public exercise machines. We continued on to Topkapi Palace, the last remaining http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~3/lKljI2H5xps/istanbul-sea-of-marmara-and-topkap.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dr. J)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~4/lKljI2H5xps" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.sidewalksafari.com/2012/01/istanbul-sea-of-marmara-and-topkap.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2802498442123035908.post-2139856158960950667Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:47:00 +00002012-01-24T04:47:00.962-08:00TurkeyIstanbul In the afternoon, we took the tram to Istanbul's Taksim Square and set our sights on Nişantaşı and Levent.  When we travel, I like to read books set in the place we're visiting to give an added dimension to the streets as we stroll.  At the time of this Sidewalk Safari, I was reading Istanbul by Orhan Pamuk.  He lived in Nişantaşı for a time.  The book is essentially a melancholy memoir of the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~3/V4BRBd4yq20/istanbul-nisantas-and-levent.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dr. J)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sidewalksafari/yfWO/~4/V4BRBd4yq20" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.sidewalksafari.com/2012/01/istanbul-nisantas-and-levent.html