Sassafrass

Thanks Stu, things look pretty much the same. I think our room was a bit more fancied up, but the little reception room looks the same, now with an office space, desk, etc. Wish I had taken pictures because I don't remember the exact arrangement with the piano. He has also made several terraces outside with walls around them, several sets of steps going up and down outside and some inside. The dining area is very nice with tables also set out on the terrace, still with the same ambience.

Love those pictures of the carts! Don't know when you went, but I think it is probably becoming more touristy everyday, so you should be very glad you went when you did. Your pics make me want to go back anyway.

Hi-jacking the thread just for a bit, sorry, but have a question for Stu. I like your style, so want to know what, for you, has been the most interesting, exotic place you have been?

tower

Ah, sassafrass, exotique is it...I would have to say Morocco, Turkey, the Amazon and Malaysia, roughly in that order, but quite interchangeable among all four...they're that close.

However, "exotic" in a broad sense, means different things to different travelers. Distinctive regions of China, Japan, and Israel would fit somewhere in the category. My back deck, overlooking Benedict Canyon and the hills of Hollywood, on a cooling summer's eve with a glass of wine, ain't bad either.
stu

Sassafrass

Thanks Stu,
I wanted to go to both Turkey and Morocco for a while, finally convinced DH to go to Turkey and it is now his favorite country, so it is looking better for Morocco.

When I was young and saw movies of the Amazon, I wanted to go. Now I have developed an irrational fear/dislike of spiders and it seems they are plentiful in the Amazon. Have to fight that phobia.

Your back deck does sound lovely.

tower

http://picasaweb.google.com/stuarttower/Morocco#

sass...here are some scanned Morocco pics for you, c.1997, pre-digital. You can enlarge by hitting magnifying glass icon and moving the pic round. I'm in the process of scanning many of my pre-digital pics...fun but time consuming. I hope to at least graduate from two and three to a page back to one. Morocco is exciting in every way...great food choices.
stu

tower

with the right guide, the insects, including swarms of mosquitos, can be neutralized. We took the usual cream and spray preparations to defend against mosquitos..never used it! I'll probably have he scanned Amazon pics in a week or so. You can write me at rozstu1 at aol dot com

callalilli2

Thanks, Stu. i appreciate your input (as always). we have decided on Cappadocia.. but now checking flights.. am i missing something? for weekend travel in Sept - $553 pp! is there a better way to travel from Istanbul to Cappadocia? yikes!

otherchelebi

You are probably checking through intermediaries.

Check directly on airline websites, THY and Pegasus.

Sassafrass

Our flights RT from Istanbul to Cappadocia were around $100.00. That was from Ataturk to Nevsehir and I booked directly with Turkish Air.

callalilli2

thank you Otherchelebi and Sassafrass.. i freaked myself out .. you are right. found some good fares.

tower

https://picasaweb.google.com/stuarttower/BrazilAmazon#

OK, Sassafrass looks like this thread has petered out...so no longer guilty of felonious hijacking...but as promised here are the Brazilian Amazon pics to give you an idea, bug free! These are scanned from 1994...great little adventure.Chile, Argentina and southern Brazil were also part of this month-long independent trip. Our home was a major victim of the '94 quake here in California, so we escaped to SoAmerica while it was being rebuilt.
stu

Sassafrass

Stu, your pictures are wonderful.

That really was an adventure. Twenty or so years ago, I think I would have gone to the Amazon without any thought about it. Age plus health issues, and I am much less adventurous. I can deal with most bugs, even snakes - it is spiders I don't like.

We have friends who moved to Chile a couple years ago, and we thought we would get there before they came back and did not - went to Israel and Turkey instead. Now, it looks as if they are going to Malaysia, and if they do, we will definitely visit them there.

Right now, Morocco is a serious contender for the next trip.

Here in Baltimore, last year, we felt the quake that hit the East Coast - first time in this area to actually feel it. From the sound, I thought my washing machine had gone crazy, then the shaking started and my little GD said, "Nana, the floor is dancing." Funny, it didn't seem scary after she said that. Many years ago, I was in California during one and did not find I liked it very much. You Californians are brave souls.

rattravlers

I am freaking out right now because my daughter advises me that she is making a day trip to Gaziantep (flying) tomorrow for work...traveling with 2 other young women...its proximinity to Syria & not knowing anything about this area has me beside myself with worry....anyone with current info?

otherchelebi

Nothing to worry about in gaziantep. rest assured.

Great kebap at Imam cagdas, especially ali nazik and pistachio kebaps. The special baklava of Imamm cagdas also tremendous and the "katmer" of Orkide patisserie shop. She can read my reviews on trip advisor. and trip report on Fodors.

she should not drink tap water and put ice in her drinks.

i hope she gets a chance to visit the Zeugma museum.

rattravlers

Thank you...she's there now but will be returning to Istanbul on an evening flight...not sure how much free time she will have. Again thank you for the insight.

bardo1

rattravlers,

Did you make any decisions on what how you'll spend your time during your visit to your daughters next week? Stay in Istanbul for the week? Side trip?