It seems that lately I am always biting off more than I can chew, but I think it is symptomatic of birthday season (or actually, of Baki's birthday, which never seems to end). Baki had a semester break, so we went up to Istanbul for a few days so the boys could see their grandmother …
Tag: Istanbul
Istanbul Rising
Dear Dad, In Gezi Park, just a five minute walk from your old house in Cihangir, something incredible is happening. It's been occupied by peaceful protesters who gathered there to prevent the park being bulldozed to build a shopping mall. There is a tent city there now, and the park is festooned with posters, art, …
Gold medal slob
I remember when I gave my notice at work before moving to Antalya, I mentioned in passing to my boss that I was hoping to learn how to spin wool. He commented that I ought to have plenty of time for that, living in the middle of nowhere. As it turns out, although I did …
Sowing the seeds
10 years ago, I was a fledgling English teacher, and Ali was a tour guide and translator. One of the highlights of our year was the Istanbul Film Festival (which is going on now) because we worked on subtitles and got passes that let us in to any movie. I still remember the thrill of …
Little old me
Some of the best ideas are the ones that make us rethink our own. While I was in Istanbul at the end of January, I indulged in one of life's greater pleasures and visited a bookstore. They had a whole table of the Penguin Great Ideas series, and I hovered over it for a good …
