Istanbul
The first thing I noticed on our way to the hotel was the distinct odor, a blend of sea brine, sand, and sewage. Yesterday we walked around a bit, near the Sophia Hagia District. People are very friendly here, and many of them speak Hungarian, which is surprising because Hungarian is not a widely spoken language. The food is delicious, especially the spices. Last night I had a beef dish flavored with a cardamom and tarragon sauce. It is Ramadan now, and many people fast.
Today we walked around the grand bazaar because the lines to the mosques were too long. There is so much gem, precious and semi precious stones set in gold and silver. And the rugs, OMG I love the rugs. But my favorite is the traditional clothes, so colorful and ornate.
Something very sad happened. I read on FB today that Zalan, the 2-year old Hungarian little boy with the Ewing's sarcoma died. He has had surgery, been through two chemo sessions and just started radiation therapy when he contracted pneumonia. He was such a fighter, and everything he did in his short life he did it with so much joy. I was hopin, praying that he would make it.
Today we walked around the grand bazaar because the lines to the mosques were too long. There is so much gem, precious and semi precious stones set in gold and silver. And the rugs, OMG I love the rugs. But my favorite is the traditional clothes, so colorful and ornate.
Something very sad happened. I read on FB today that Zalan, the 2-year old Hungarian little boy with the Ewing's sarcoma died. He has had surgery, been through two chemo sessions and just started radiation therapy when he contracted pneumonia. He was such a fighter, and everything he did in his short life he did it with so much joy. I was hopin, praying that he would make it.