Yesterday I had the opportunity to volunteer as a native speaker for an English conversation class at the Turkish American Association in Ankara. It was more of an informal gathering of Turkish women who simply want to practice their English skills. I enjoyed the class. I am told that sometimes they discuss current issues and... Continue Reading →
Beypazari
A couple of months ago, we visited a town called Beypazari, about 100km west of Ankara. Beypazari happens to be the town where own of my favorite bottled sparkling mineral water comes from. So I thought we were going to see the natural springs. But that never happened. Beypazari is also a tourist town, full... Continue Reading →
Eurasia Marathon – More Pics
For those of you who enjoyed my post about the Eurasia Marathon adventure, here are some more pics from the race! My husband ran the 8k which coincided with the marathon, running from Asia to Europe over the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul. My husband exceeded his personal best time in the fun run!!! Others took up to... Continue Reading →
The Istanbul Marathon – Quite an Adventure!
I'm back in Ankara after 3 weeks of visiting family and friends in Philadelphia and West Chester PA. When I first arrived in Ankara 6 months ago, I felt right at home. When I returned to the States, it felt like I had never left. Strangely though, halfway through my third week of vacation, I... Continue Reading →
It’s Never Easy
Being on vacation is never easy. There's always more to do than expected and much less rest than there should be. In my case, the lack of easiness is multiplied many times. I'm back at mom's - who now has two of my siblings living with her and two teenagers! Still, it's a lot less... Continue Reading →
Traveling Again . . .
So I hit the road running - back to the USA for a few weeks. The trip was overall very easy. I flew from Ankara to Munich, Munich to Philadelphia. The Ankara airport is new, modern, and relatively simple to get through. I am an experienced traveller and very used to delays, security checks, etc. ... Continue Reading →
Ramazan and Kayseri
The month of Ramazan (Ramadan) will be ending next week. Ramazan is the ninth month of the Islamic calender, a time for fasting and special prayer. During the month, muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. They ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves... Continue Reading →
Side Part I
My one day trip to Side was so amazing and beautiful that I haven't been able to write a post on it. I just have too many pictures that I love, and not enough time to do it full justice. Therefore, I have decided to break that day down into multiple posts. Side, pronounced See-day,... Continue Reading →
Club Ali Bey, Manavgat
My husband and I finally went on our honeymoon, almost one year and five months after our wedding. His brother gave us a vacation at Club Ali Bey, just outside of Manavgat, in the Antalya region. Club Ali Bey is perfectly situated on the Mediterranean Sea. The resort is known for its tennis courts. Of... Continue Reading →
The Road to Manavgat
We just returned from our week’s vacation to the Mediterranean Coast. I am not sure what I enjoyed the most. Was it the beautiful turquoise shores? The Waterfalls of Manavgat? The non-stop buffets of the resort? The breath-taking ancient ruins? I just can’t pick a favorite. So why don’t we start at the beginning. The road... Continue Reading →
Adventures in Ankara 