Wow, are we really going to make it to Day 365? Guess we’ll just have to wait and see. So far traveling has been intense at times, but mostly a big, relaxing break from the roller coaster of goodbyes, reunions, preparations, and more goodbyes since the JET Program ended back in July. London was a total blast with Kevin’s friends from study abroad, and our brief stint in Amsterdam was beautiful. more»

After the crazy traffic, overwhelming history and giant size of Istanbul, we were ready for a change of pace. We found it in Selcuk, a city of about 24,000 near the Aegean sea and close to some amazing classical ruins. more»

I had the They Might Be Giants song stuck in my head the whole time we were in Istanbul. We spent six days there in the end, and I think that was enough. The city has such a rich history it is almost overwhelming at times, trying to explore everything and see it all. I think we did a pretty good job of it, as we saw all the major sights plus did some serious exploration on foot. more»

Just behind the Blue Mosque in the Sultanahmet is an incredible place called The Dervish Cafe. It’s an outdoor cafe with an amazing view of the surroundings that serves all kinds of tea, some food, and is a great place to enjoy a nargileh (water pipe). They have all different kinds of flavored tobacco, from apple and strawberry to cappucino. more»

The Blue Mosque is one of the iconic sights in Istanbul. It is in the Sultanahmet, the old Byzantine quarter of the city. It lies across a small park from the much older Hagia Sofia, creating a very impressive sightseeing area. more»