We LOVE Bananas!

Now watch what happens when you take it away. :)

Passport size pictures

I recently had to take some passport type pictures of Neva. I had a great time trying to get her in a neutral expression and sitting still. I thought it would be easier than the first time we tried this...just a little easier but not much.

I'm not too sure what happened to her hair in the following shots...

Crazy Thursdays

***This story not recommended for Grandma L*** :)

Weekends here are Friday and Saturday. This means that everyone goes crazy when they are driving home Thursdays after work. These are usually the days where I say things like,

"oh look, there is a Porshe SUV racing another Porshe SUV who is also racing a Mercedes, all at top speeds." 

or 

"I didn't know Hyundais could drive that fast."

or

"Bruce, I saw this beautiful car but I don't know what it was because it passed me at lightning speed."

and of course

"Bruce, I saw this man racing down the road in a candy pink SUV with his dish dash flapping out the window"

This past Thursday I had another exceptional experience on the road.  I was driving home on a main highway type road and moved out to the passing lane to overtake a slow truck.  As I was overtaking this truck a large SUV came up behind me. This SUV wasn't there the second before, which gives you an idea of how fast they were driving. They were honking their horn and flashing their lights - a common thing done here to say "GET OUT OF MY WAY." 

Fortunately the slow truck moved one lane over so that I could get out of the fast lane (phew) - I hate being in the passing lane anyway and usually avoid it.

BUT, just as I started to change to my right lane a blankety blank Nissan 350Z that was driving behind the truck sped up to pass me on the right side. This gave me no where to go because as the nissan was passing me on my right, the impatient SUV was already overtaking me on the left.... 3 cars, 2 lanes with me in the middle straddling the white dots.  I calmly said things like:

"Shoot, darn it, lord love a duck." You know, the usual phrases when driving in the UAE. 

Fortunately everything turned out okay and I was able to get far far away from that passing lane. 

Happy weekend and belated Easter. 

p.s. this weekend we saw a Land Rover that looked like it had been plated in gold. A little over the top I think. will attach picture soon. 

Driving Around

Last Turkey post....

These pictures were taken on our day trips out of Kusadasi.

Touring in style

Temple of Apollo

The travertines at Pamukkale

There is supposed to be WAY more water in these things. 

Hierapolis

If you want more information about Turkey, go to  http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com

Ephesus

Ephesus is said to be the best preserved Roman city in the Mediterranean. We had such a great afternoon wandering around and seeing the sights. It rained off and on throughout the day but we still had a great time.  Bruce had a great day with the camera and he got some amazing shots. 

Curetes Street

The Odeon - small theater 
Statue was erected in honour of a woman doctor who did great service to her country - Byzantine Period (Keskin, 2008 - guide book). 

I was photographed a lot....well maybe Neva was photographed a lot. 

Library of Celsus (Beginning of 2nd Cent. AD)

After Ephesus we went to the house of St. Mary. People come from all over the world to visit this holy site. 

Kusadasi

We left Istanbul and flew to Izmir where we rented a car and drove to a place on the Agean Sea called Kusadasi.  When we arrived at our hotel we were shown to the room at the top (4th floor) right corner of the hotel. We weren't really shocked as we call it the "Bruce factor" where every hotel we stay in he always gets the room furthest from the elevator. However, this hotel gave us this room thinking that it would be the quietest for Neva (so sweet) and it had a stunning view. We were lucky to catch quite a few amazing sunsets. 

The rental car. We got a great deal on this thing...seriously. Not sure why no one else wanted it.

Shots around the hotel during one of our many epic sunsets.

Views from our hotel room. Looking left. 

Looking right.

Istanbul

These picutres are not in any particular order. Blogspot doesn't seem to want to make it easy for me to edit. Anyone have any tips? Please email if you do. 

Turkey was amazing. Totally amazing. It was the perfect holiday to do with a child. They LOVE children. We were given the royal treatment wherever we went. It is a really, really neat place with lots to see and do. I would go back in a second. 

The weather was perfect. Lowest was 8 and highest was 20. Lots of green and flowers and trees. Perfect. 

Grand Bazaar
Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia)

Our little traveller in her cozies

Blue Mosque

Bosphorous Tour with the Wrigs Clan

Playing on the fun equipment they have in the parks

Neva was loved. This man wanted to give her some cheese. 

Spice Market

View from our apartment. Thanks for giving us the info and showing us around Mellie!