At the lounge in Istanbul, I met a shy little girl named Lula. I politely asked her master if I could visit with her and he gladly obliged. While I was petting her, I pulled back some of her white hair hanging over her face so she could see me, but then realized she only had one eye. One very large eye. Her master said she lost the other one in a fight with a cat. She was very quiet and obedient, and waited patiently and a little apprehensively while her master stepped out for a quick smoke. Below is a picture of the little beauty.

On the way to work in the mornings, we like to stop at a Starbucks on the Bosphorus and have coffee. This particular Starbucks has four levels to sit out and view the water and passing boats. Very comfortable.

We stopped on the way to Istanbul and had lunch.  Even before ordering our food, this is what was brought out for us.  The little bucket is yogurt.  Eating that is what makes you immune from the bacteria you will pick up in the country.

Here are a few pics taken at night from the hotel in Istanbul …

… followed with the sunrise.

I will sincerely miss this incredible country as well as those who live here.  But as with every country we go to, they will reveal their beauty and its people will share their love.  … and we will welcome it all like a refreshing drink of water on the desert.

Keep kicking butt.  D.

It’s been very busy since we got behind during the holidays, so now a bit of catching up.

One of the Guard Supervisors at the Embassy is a good friend of ours and invited us to dinner the day after New Years.  He had been bragging about his wife’s cooking, so I called him up on it.  His name is Burack and his lovely wife is Funda.  I mentioned Burack before with his southern English he has mastered.  He learned it many years ago working on construction sites with Contractors from Louisiana and Texas.  Sometimes when he talks to me, he will stand with his feet slightly apart and his hand on his over-sized belt buckle.  So, below are pics of the incredible food we ate!  The fist one is a “bread crusty” thing full of rice. (don’t know how else to describe it.)

Then all the rest!

Below is Burack and Funda, then me and the little one.

Along with me and Terese, there was another guard from the Embassy and a gentleman who works in the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

We finished the evening off with chestnuts.

That next day, Sunday, I headed to Adana for a week.  On the way, we pass by an inert volcano which happen to have a beautiful cloud formation on it.  Then is a picture of the city from my hotel window.

One day last week, I headed further east to another city to do a little bit of work and had to take a few pics of the food we ate at lunch.  That particular city is well known for its food and I have to agree.

The picture below is a kind of a salad soup.  I never would have thought it was any good, but with just the right amount of spices, it was amazing!

Okay.  Heading off to Istanbul tomorrow.  Kick butt.  D.

Me and the damn cat had an interesting one-sided conversation.  Click here to get to it.

In our travels we see incredible countries that are historical and welcoming; yet people are what makes this World great.  Without people, the World may be beautiful but boring.

So, let’s talk about a few of them.  These are the good people who come to our office twice a week to clean.

Nadjia – During the Halloween celebrations at the Embassy, she posed near some of the decorations so a friend could photograph her.  So, I pulled my phone out to take some also.  The one below is her with Camal.  Then with her and Yousef.  These images  perfectly portray her innocence and love of Life.  Only a very few times have I seen her quiet, which was usually because she was tired or feeling ill.  She works 5 days a week at the Embassy, and the weekends cleaning other places, plus finding time going to school to learn English.  If you ask me, she is more a success than a great many people in the States.  Even among some of the arrogant American Foreign Service officers.

As I told you before how she learned the term, “See you later, alligator.”  Followed with her learning the response, “After while, crocodile.”  Recently, she learned to say, “Okey Dokey.”  Except her rendition is “Oinky Doinky.”

Camal – Camal is quiet and friendly, yet I see where Nadjia irritates him at times, because she is so light-hearted while he is serious.  She sings while she works and he mutters to her in Turkish.  She just smiles and continues singing.  Once Camal noticed I had cigars in a box on my desk, he asked for a couple for him and his friends.  I obliged.  The next Monday, he told me they were too strong and he didn’t want anymore.  But I still offer to him at times.

Yousef – As Camal moved on to other cleaning jobs, Yousef took his place.  Very quiet and extremely polite.  He always smiles at me and I greet him whenever I see him.  “Günaydın, Yousef Bey.” (Good Morning, Yousef, Sir.)

One of finest Turkish men I have met, is Fekrit Calim.  He is the father of one of our Turkish Technicians, Aydin.  Often when we go to Istanbul or Adana to work, he will come with us as they have relatives all over.  He is one of those people who you want to stand when they arrive. He’s only 11 years older than me, but I show him the respect that is given for the revered elderly.  Below is him sitting with Aydin.

I gave him the excuse of my mother being 900 years old and loves the pictures I send.  He was delighted to oblige.  The man speaks excellent English.  Started learning it as a kid while  working with the Intelligence agencies, cleaning their barracks.  He has a good assortment of stories to tell.

About a month ago, one of the cats on the Embassy grounds scratch a kid, thus prompting calls for their ouster. (cats, not the kids)  Most likely, the kid had it coming, because the cats maybe a little leery of us, but they are non-threatening.  Below is a image I thought was worth posting.  Management said to quit feeding the feral cats.  As a friend said, they obviously do not know the meaning of feral.

Terese went with me to work on the G20 Summit down in Antalya and on the way back, we decided to stop and purchase some potatoes and onions from one of the many roadside vendors.  We purchase a bag each for a total of 30 TL, which is about $10.50.  Split it up and gave some to Serkan and Allison.

Okay.  Times up.  But currently, I am having an interesting conversation with the Damn Cat and hope to share it soon.  Until then, kick butt.  D.

Last night two events took place that required my attendance. Savas Uyar, one of my Turkish security techs married a pretty Ukrainian girl, named Vita; and at the same time the 2015 Marine Ball was commencing. So, I attended the wedding first, which as with all Turkish weddings, is a simple process. The bride and groom enter the Nikay Salonu, (Wedding Hall) and sit at an elaborate table with the female facilitator and the two witnesses.  The facilitator speaks a few minutes to the audience, causing a bit of laughter, so I laugh along with them not knowing what was said. Then she asks the bride something who responds, Evete (yes). Then realizing she needed to speak louder, Vita leaned into the microphone and again, with a little more voice, Evete!

Then it was Savas’ turn. The facilitator asked him something and he leaned toward the mike and stated, very loudly, EVETE!! And everyone erupts in applause! At this point, the Facilitator has Savas and Vita sign a large book, and then passes it on to the witnesses to sign. Afterwards, the facilitator turns to Vita and tells her something unusual to an American wedding. I was sitting next to a very interesting gentleman I have met several times, who speaks incredibly good English. He leaned over to me and said, the facilitator told Vita, that her last name has been changed and she is now Vita Uyar.

This was the second Turkish wedding I have attended and found it interesting that during the whole process, from entrance to the concluding processional, there are several people moving about taking pictures, even close-ups, sometimes just a foot away from the couple.

After the ceremony, the couple stands outside the chapel and the hand-shaking and congratulations take place. This is followed by cake, singing, dancing and yes, drinking.   … and all is right with the world!

This was the 240^th Marine Ball and the fourth we have had the pleasure of attending. I didn’t get but a very few pics of it, since I just mostly sat and visited with the people at our table.  But below is a picture of one of the Marines who was the Master of Ceremony, and one of the several dishes provided.

Not much to show on this one.  I was tired and just wanting to sit, relax and watch the people.  We will discuss more later.  Until then, kick butt.   D.