I just finished reading the autobiography of Harpo Marx.  I would have placed this on Page Two under the I’ve Always Hated Book Reports but it is such a long read, I placed it by itself.  Look on the left under Page Two and click on Harpo Speaks!

The Marines.

These are good guys.  I’ve yet to meet one I did not like, and I’ve met many that I liked very well.

Less than 1% of the US population is in the Military, and 6% of the Military are Marines. Take that a bit further and I am told only 1% of the Marines work in the coveted roll of the Marine Security Guard Force at Embassies around the World.

The US has a consulate in Adana Turkey, where a detachment of Marines were installed for protection.  Before everything was set up for them, the Marines sent in a special group to watch until it’s ready for the “normal” group to come in.  This group had some acronym which basically stood for a special team for the initial entry into harmful areas.  Even though the Consulate did not require such a sophisticated group, they had to send them because of the attack at the US Embassy in Ankara on February 1st, 2013 which took the precious life of a Turkish guard.  This initial force had older and more seasoned Marines.  They take their job very serious.  As I stated years ago in writing, if you ask them a question and the answer is No, there is no way that answer will change.  No pleading, begging or bribery will get the answer changed.  And they are extremely polite in telling you, No.

I spent several weeks working in that location and got to know several of them personally.  They initially called me sir, as I did them; but over several weeks of joking around with them and seeing they indeed do have normal personalities, if there is ever such a thing, we resorted to first names.

I spent a few years in Afghanistan many moons ago and my first encounter with the Military, was when I stepped off a wore-out bus at a US base in Karshi, Uzbekistan.  It was the end of four long flights and a very fast bus ride through the streets of the city driven by a guy with only one good eye.  I stretched and looked up at the wet gray sky, then glanced to my right and notice a 30 cal machine gun pointed at me from an opening in a wall of Hescos – basically big cardboard boxes filled with dirt that will stop a rocket.

I jumped a bit, likely drawing a smile if not a chuckle from the eyes behind the weapon.  But it was a stark awaking of the magnitude of where I was.

Since then, I have developed an acute friendship with the Military, a tight bond with a few.  These are good guys.  Yes, there are some personnel that are not good to be around and I met a few in Afghanistan, but for the most part I find they have more common sense than many people on the street.

A few months ago, a good friend of ours invited the Marines to her apartment for a BBQ, and invited us.

I personally have become good friends with their boss – referred to as the “gunny”.  He describes himself as “An American by birth and Texan by the grace of God.”  So I explained to him that my mother likes Marines and would like a photo of them.  He replied, “Absolutely.” and spoke some command and the next thing I knew, we were standing for a photograph.  The picture is not very good but will work.

The man in shorts is the gunny and the dog is a bit crazy as most dogs are.  One thing about Marines, they may be tough, ornery and walk around with Popeye muscles, but they appreciate the value of “mother”.

This post is for you MotherDear.  Love D.

A few more pictures of the city.  Below is posted several I took last week when I had to make a quick trip to Istanbul again.  These were taken of the Bosporus Strait from the 15th floor balcony of the hotel.  In one of the pictures you will see what appears as beads which are just the reflection in a window.

Istanbul is the only city in the world that sits on two continents.  What you see across the Strait in these pictures is Asia.  Where I was on my side, is Europe.

   And a few views of the surounding area.

Later, D.

I‘ve written a little before about this vibrant city.  It has an incredibly rich history and is listed at the 5th largest tourist spot in the World.  With a population of 14.1 million, it is the fifth largest city in the world by population.  Wikipedia states: Istanbul is a transcontinental city, straddling the Bosphorus—one of the world’s busiest waterways—in northwestern Turkey, between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. Its commercial and historical centre lies in Europe, while a third of its population lives in Asia.

I have been to Istanbul about a half dozen times and fell in love with it right away, and I see it as a tempting place to retire.  On our way to work in the mornings to the Consulate from the hotel, we travel along the water’s edge and see many people jogging, threading themselves through the men fishing on the docks.  We always stop for coffee at a Starbucks which I am told, with its three levels facing the water, it was voted as the Starbucks with the most beautiful view.  Haven’t been to too many of the Stores, but I can see how it is so well liked.

Archeologist found evidence of life as far back as 7000-6000 BC in that area.  Again, Wikipedia: The same location was the site of a Phoenician trading post at the beginning of the 1st millennium BC as well as the town of Chalcedon, which was established around 680 BC…

However, the history of Istanbul generally begins around 660 BC, when Greek settlers from Megara established Byzantium on the European side of the Bosphorus.

As with all ancient cities, there were conquerors. The city experienced a brief period of Persian rule at the turn of the 5th century BC, but the Greeks recaptured it during the Greco-Persian Wars.

Byzantium then continued as part of the Athenian League and its successor, the Second Athenian Empire, before ultimately gaining independence in 355 BC. Long allied with the Romans, Byzantium officially became a part of the Roman Empire in 73 AD.

Constantine the Great, the ruler of the Roman Empire in 324 AD., converted the region to Christianity and changed the City’s name from Byzantium to Nea Roma (New Rome), but people began to call it Constantinople.

During the Middle Ages, the great city was the largest and wealthiest on the European Continent and at times the largest in the World.  In the 14th Century, the Ottoman Turks slowly took over the region, and after an eight-week siege, the City fell.  Sultan Mehmed II declared it the new capital of the Ottoman Empire, and the famous Hagia Sophia cathedral was converted into an imperial mosque.

Throughout the life of the City, it served as the capital of four empires: the Roman Empire (330–395), the Byzantine Empire (395–1204 and 1261–1453), the Latin Empire (1204–1261), and the Ottoman Empire (1453–1922)

I could continue with much more history of this beautiful city, but I’m running out of ink.  But it was after the first World War, that British, French, and Italian occupied Istanbul.  The final Ottoman sultan, Mehmed VI, was exiled in November 1922; the following year, the occupation of Istanbul ended with the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne and the recognition of the Republic of Turkey, declared by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

Today, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is known as the Father of Modern Turkey and is revered all through the country.  Every shop you go in, you will notice pictures of him.  On many buildings, you will see his image inside and out.

The last time I was there, I took these pictures of the Bosphorus Strait.  I find it comforting to sit and watch the ships traverse through it.  In the bottom image, you can see the Hagia Sophia and the famous Blue Mosque sitting on the peninsula to the right. This is a city rich in so many ways.  Its history is as complex as the Jerusalem’s, and most likely many lives were lost in the conquest of this city was well.  I look forward to going again.

Keep kicking.  D.

Been awhile since we last chatted, as several trips transpired and had a bit of consternation to deal with.

My boss is leaving Post in about a week, so there have been several parties for him.  He is a very sociable person, so in the time he has been here he has made many friends, and some of the best ones are Turks.  Several weeks ago, Terese and I had a chicken-wing party at our house for him and his Turkish friends.  Last night, they threw him a party at a downtown pub and invited me.

All of them, with the exception of a very few are much younger than me so I felt a bit out of place.  In many of the pictures they took where they had me join in, I reluctantly stood in back which ended up making me look like some sort of stalker, since when I smile it usually stays inside.  Some of the pics, I looked like I photo-bombed them.

I enjoy watching these good people with their antics, laughter and tears. One young girl told me that she just graduated from University and was no longer a student.  I hit it off well with her, talking about the books we read and the music we listen to.  She’s only 23 and worried about getting a good job, as if that will be the only job she will ever have.  She said she may reluctantly take a job as a teacher if she cannot find anything else.

We all have heard how being a teacher is a noble profession as if it’s similar to being a librarian, but we all know there is so much more to it.  I pointed out, in the future when she decides on something in the corporate or diplomatic world, to have a resume stating that she taught school looks very good, because it means she has managerial skills, can relate to people and are responsible; plus more that I can’t think of.  I have a feeling the little one will be a teacher.

And as with all who tell me they graduated from University, I always feel compelled to tell them about my elegant mother who graduated at the ripe age of 89.   … and she’s a writer.

That gets them exited.  Then I drop the bomb that my daughter also graduated with her and the two walked arm and arm down the aisle together.  I still think of the ceremony often.  When my mother reached the stage to be handed her diploma, the whole monotonous procedure stopped as they announced this dear lady receiving her diploma.  And the crowd erupted in applause.  Well, actually, it mostly came from our section of the bleachers.

But, back to the party.  My boss’ friends are mostly from a group that meets for a game of darts occasionally.  I tried darts a few times and perforated the wall surrounding the dart board more than not.  Best not let me throw the hand grenades in a battle.

In this group, I find one young girl is an Electrical Engineer who is the first individual I have met who knows what a coulomb is and can carry a conversation with me about electron shift.  One girl works for Google in the comfort of her home in her pajamas.  Never did understand what she does.  Kinda like asking my younger brother what he does for a living.

As I sit here typing this, I cannot remember what the men did.  I think one works at a university, one at a manufacturing plant, I think, and … well, I really don’t know.  I guess I need to visit more with the men next time.

Maybe it’s time for another topic.

About a month ago I was sitting out on the green area between the apartment buildings with cigar and drink, reading and contemplating all things worth thinking about.  Two little Turkish girls walked by and stopped to look at this strange man.  I would guess one is about 10 and the other perhaps 12.  They were sharing a banana.

They asked me if I was İngilizce (English), and I said, Yes.  Then the younger one pointed to my drink and asked, What is that?  I said, Coca Cola.  She turned her head slightly looking at me as if she didn’t believe me, so I pulled out my can of coke and showed her.  The older said, Coca Cola, as if to assure her.

We tend to think the young people can be fooled.  I feel she may have seen past my ruse.

Next time I will tell you more about Istanbul.  Keep kicking butt.
D.

Damn, that sounds good!

Working overseas, asking a person where they are from is a good way to break the ice.  I listen patiently as they tell me their home state, and when they ask me, I point to my boots and proudly state, Texas!

In places I travel, sometimes my State Department ID is not enough.  That’s when I pull out the ol’ Texas driver’s license.  I kid you not.  I have found that little card from Texas has more sway than a diplomatic badge with my picture on it, and the words U.S. Department of State.

A few months ago, I had to go to one of the Turkish military compounds to help with a situation.  I gave the guard the usual State Dept. ID and he looked at it and said, “I need more.”  So, I gave him my “Sam Houston” card, and he exclaimed, “Ah, Texas!”  I replied, “Yes, sir.  Best country in the World.”

Believe it or not, that scenario has played out several times since being in Turkey.

Once I had to make an emergency flight to Adana and when I got to the airport, I realized to my horror, I did not have my passport or Turkish ID card.  I called back to the Embassy and was told to try using my State Dept. ID.  So, I did and it wasn’t enough.  I pulled out the driver’s license and she said, “Yes, yes.  This will work.”  So I was able to make a round trip flight and check into my hotel in a foreign country with only my Texas driver’s license.  Amazing, even to me.

When I first arrived here, all three of us in the office hailed from Texas.  So the walls are adorned with the Texas flag, and four clocks: Turkey time, Greenwich Mean Time and two showing the time in Texas.  What else is needed?

Back in December, our Texas born Seabee returned to the States and his replacement is from California, or Florida or someplace bizarre.  So, he felt a bit slighted the office was a shrine to the Great State of Texas, and proceeded to let his opinions be known.

He took a Texas clock and placed a sticker on it insinuating the clock was showing Florida time instead.  A few weeks later, I replaced the clock with a Texas clock that could not be altered.  So far, it has remained.  Rightfully so.

The Marines at the Embassy have their own house, which understandably has a bar.  So, I purchased a Texas flag to hang where all could see and enjoy it.  As a gratuity for my actions, the Detachment Commander, “an American by birth and Texan by the grace of God”, purchased a special Texas glass for me to use when I am in their bar.  All Marines are told, that particular glass is for Mister Nolte and no one else is to use it.  It pays to be a Texan in so many ways.

While I was gone from the office one day, our little cleaning girl, Nadia, came in and cleaned.  Over by my cigar humidor, I have a bumper sticker my boss gave me which says, “… you may all go to hell and I will go to Texas”.  This is a quote from the Texas Hero, Col. David Crockett.

Someone told her what it said and she found it to be a beautifully profound statement.  I don’t really think she understood it, but it did have the words Hell and Texas in it, so she found it profound.  I know in some places in the State, the difference between Hell and Texas are not well defined.

Now, every time I see her in the hallway, she has this enormous smile she gives me.  The next time I am in the office when she shows up, I’ll give her the bumper sticker to enlighten her life.  She will probably name her firstborn after me.

Instead, I will tell her to name the little one, Samuel Houston or Stephen Fuller Austin!  Give the credit where it is due.

Keep kicking butt.  Dwaine (Texan)