The Museums The Paseo del Arte Pass (€30.50) gets you into three major museums quickly, although we did not encounter big lines. It is good for a year. Let me know if you’re going to Madrid, I have two of them. Spoiler Alert: There is a No Photos policy in all of these museums, which […]
Travels in Madrid- The Food
Naturally, we we planned to eat well, and made a reservation before we left Berkeley for 10:45pm at Astor, a delicious effort by a Spanish woman and her Argentinian husband, with a Peruvian chef who introduced them to a variety of Peruvian cuisine that includes Japanese and Chinese influences. Our menu: a beet hummus, cod […]
Travels in Madrid
Sept 18-21, 2019 Our days in Madrid have been filled with long walks along many narrow streets, wearing our eyeballs thin at the museums, and eating. We’ve been staying in a 4th floor apartment (a good workout) in the Letras neighborhood, where many illustrious writers have hung out(Cervantes, Lope de Vega, Góngora, y otros.) These […]
Back in the swing
A few days of wistful, with weather to match-grey and foggy. Our internal clocks have adjusted, as have our appetites. Regular routines, like laundry and shopping, and work have assumed their place. The other day, however, I opened the spice bags, added a touch of Aleppo pepper to the lamb/rice meatballs, and then I removed […]
The last morning
October 10 This morning, another beautiful day dawns, clear and crisp. The weather has definitely turned. Crowded on the rooftop, we say our farewells to the city we all swear we shall revisit. The sun winks on the water, polishes the gold of the Sultanahmet Mosque, silhouettes the Galata Tower, as, off in the distance, […]
Istanbul #2- the last days
October 4-9, Istanbul Friday night was the most riotous of the entire tour. Nineteen of us made our way to Taksim Square, the heart of Istanbul hipness and Youth Central. Among the 18 million people living in the metropolis, it seemed like a million of them were there that night, streaming along the pedestrian spine […]
Mardin
October 3 On the plane from Izmir to Mardin, where temperatures promise to be in the 90’s, and dry. The flight instructional video was very effective, as it featured child actors in all parts, including pilot. Hysterical (although we Americans were the only ones laughing), with some subtexts: children are the future, children are really […]
Afyon, thermal waters, Sirince
September 30 From Afyon, a three hour bus ride to Pamukkale, where some went to bathe in the medicinal waters, and others went to view the ruins of Hierapolis. The waters were warm and soothing. One can see why the site was chosen by the Greeks: thermal baths, atop a mountain of brillant white calcium […]
Balloons, Konya and more
September 29 An early rise for the balloon ride. Great experience to see the landscape from that perspective, and to see the extent of settlement in the rocks. Larry, who ordinarily does not like heights, enjoyed himself thoroughly. Larry, intrepid Dore Stein Peppers drying Goreme Valley vineyards “Love Valley” Larry on terra firma Konya: a […]