Monthly Archives: July 2014

A visitor could spend a week in Istanbul and never leave Sultanahmet (and I’m sure many do). Fearing yet another sales pitch about buying a rug or taking a Bosphorus tour, we ventured beyond the tourist area. Come for the architecture, stay … Continue reading →

I’m following James Bond around Istanbul again. In true Her Majesty’s Secret Service fashion, I’ve given Karen the slip and descended into the shadows… beyond the prying eyes of the masses… into hidden subterranean caverns. Caverns that have a cafe and gift … Continue reading →

May 14, 2014 All right, this feels like cheating. I’m used to slogging miles from site to site while on vacation. Finally arriving at the museum/palace/ruin is like coming upon an oasis in the desert. Helps us burn off that tasty … Continue reading →

May 12, 2014 Istanbul is huge. Sprawling. One of the biggest cities in the world. Looking at a map back in Milwaukee, it was hard to envision the scale of the place. Which is why I was surprised to discover that our … Continue reading →

Sadly, it required an aunt to die. My Aunt Meg was a traveler herself, having worked as a travel agent for many years. She passed away this January, and while attending her funeral I reconnected with cousins I hadn’t seen … Continue reading →