Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Nicks'd
Stevie was at her grovelly best last night, twirling and sauntering around the stage with the rest of whatever that band is. Beachwood something or other? Looking like a confused bag lady banging her tambourine, wandering from post to post on the stage and leaning on the mic like it was a parking meter. She was everything one could have hoped for. I don’t know if she found me, but I could see her scanning the top row of section 203 out from under her top hat to try to sing directly to me. Oh Stevie, you tried.
Meanwhile, the rest of section 203 looked like a PTA torture session. One middle-aged woman sat rocking in her chair with her knees against her chest for an hour like she just watched the entire cast of Dancing With the Stars get gunned down. Another woman in mom jeans and perhaps no bra repeated a dance move that looked like a cross between an inflatable flailing arm man and a person with their arms tied to the ceiling while they’re whacked with a bamboo stick. I think she may have tried to “pan for gold” during Gold Dust Woman.
Me, I just nodded in thorough approval. Great show indeed, Stevie. Great show indeed.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Didn't do a whole heckuva lot today
Just cruised the Bosphorus Straight, the nautical divider between Europe and Asia, soaking in some sun, remarkable world history, and posh Ottoman water-side neighborhoods. One of the three gave my forearms a royal singe. We then sauntered to old town to the Grand Bazaar, bartering with the human equivalent of motion-detecting garage door lights. Except instead of light, they emit a horrificly-broken record: "hello yes please! hello yes please! you like jeans? yes please! you like new jeans? yes please! hello, yes please! new jeans? yes please! hello, sir? sir? hello, please. yes, please! you like new leather jacket? yes please! hello yes please! more inside please, yes please! hello, please! yes, YES PLEASE HELLO!"
Goddam. Raki, please!
Goddam. Raki, please!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Merhaba, lutfen!
"Hello, please!", which happens to be what one hears constantly while walking past the myriad vendors throughout istanbul. At least people who are clearly not from these parts... Turkish is not an easy language to just pick up for an English-speaker. Or, I would imagine, a French, Spanish or German speaker. It sounds very much like Russian meets Arabic - like this region's Spanglish. One of our waiters, one of the few Istanbulus who speaks decent English, said the best way for English speakers to learn how to say "thank you": "tea sugar and dream". Amazing history and brand new culture experience here.
Few early shots:
Around the "New Mosque" - one of the hundred or so around the city that most starkly stands out from the skyline. It's "new", as in 600 or so years old - and extremely impressive inside. As perhaps expected, everyone must remove their shoes before entering and Jean had to cover her shoulders and head. The women worship behind even where the tourists stand inside, with the men up front.
One of the walkway tunnels under a busy intersection. This is one time when I had second thoughts about the swine flu. Also, it smelled like expired cheese. A sharp, sharp cheese. Fermented in old bowling shoes.
The Haghia Sophia has been around since 537 AD - built by Emperor Justinian after the fall of Rome. It supposedly held pieces of the "true cross" and St Thomas' doubting finger - literally - before the Crusaders plundered it (shocker). Those pricks destroyed so many would-be relics around here, but it still doesn't get old to walk around and see the names of emperors and architecture from when this was the world's City.
We found this sweet patio restaurant overlooking the Haghia Sofia and park, along with the Topkapi Palace (the former center of the Ottoman Empire). Took this during one of the regular calls to prayer. They blast them over speakers from every mosque, so it permeates every bit of the city. It's interesting in that it sounds as it probably did hundreds of years ago, but it's obviously pretty unfamiliar and, well, uneasing.
Few early shots:
Around the "New Mosque" - one of the hundred or so around the city that most starkly stands out from the skyline. It's "new", as in 600 or so years old - and extremely impressive inside. As perhaps expected, everyone must remove their shoes before entering and Jean had to cover her shoulders and head. The women worship behind even where the tourists stand inside, with the men up front.
One of the walkway tunnels under a busy intersection. This is one time when I had second thoughts about the swine flu. Also, it smelled like expired cheese. A sharp, sharp cheese. Fermented in old bowling shoes.
The Haghia Sophia has been around since 537 AD - built by Emperor Justinian after the fall of Rome. It supposedly held pieces of the "true cross" and St Thomas' doubting finger - literally - before the Crusaders plundered it (shocker). Those pricks destroyed so many would-be relics around here, but it still doesn't get old to walk around and see the names of emperors and architecture from when this was the world's City.
We found this sweet patio restaurant overlooking the Haghia Sofia and park, along with the Topkapi Palace (the former center of the Ottoman Empire). Took this during one of the regular calls to prayer. They blast them over speakers from every mosque, so it permeates every bit of the city. It's interesting in that it sounds as it probably did hundreds of years ago, but it's obviously pretty unfamiliar and, well, uneasing.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
off to Istanbul
One city, two continents, 3 names, more history than just about anywhere, Jean, the Bosphorus, cheap rugs, roasted pistachios and good beer. The Maiden Voyage is ready for round two.
Can't wait.
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