Kevin's Watch

So the trip continues.

I think this is Rome. An interesting city. Really spread out. The drivers are rougher than New York and I got a little overwhelmed. The ruins were really interesting. We did not go to the Vatican because the tourist swarm was huge. There was plenty to see without the Vatican.











A news team stopped "the man on the street" to interview him about if he felt safe in Rome. I slipped away and took these pictures for posterity.




I think these are out of order. This is Mykonos. It was really lovely. It gave me a real desire to visit the Greek Isles again. And since it was an island there were no huge swarms on tour buses filled with aggressive people with umbrellas and white gloves. So it was much more relaxing.












Onward to Turkey. But I will need help here. A fascinating city but I'm not sure which of the two in Turkey this is. Maybe Istanbul??? There was a Mosque there that really grabbed me. it had been taken over / conquered a few times so there were parts that were Christian and parts that were Muslim and also the Vikings had their hands in it.











There was a Mosque (Blue Mosque?) we couldn't go into because I was not dressed properly. But here are some more kinda cool pics of Turkey.



This is a BOAT






Here's the thing. I just could not haggle. I found the Grand Bazaar overwhelming. I had pictures in my head of leaving with tons of cool stuff but I just could not bargain. Uss can, I sucked at it. And the men are so aggressive.I left empty handed. But enjoyed the experience.



Good bye to Istanbul (lousy pic)



End of part 2

Yep, Rome first: the Forum, the Colloseum (no pics for some reason) and a place called Terme de Caracalla
(which I'd never heard of, old baths seemingly).

Mykonos came after we visited Naples (pics later maybe), and was lovely with all the white buildings
and windmills.

Then Istanbul, where we visited Hagia Sofia and saw the runes left by those very respectful people,
the Vikings (ha! Softy!). The Blue Mosque was closed for prayer, so we didn't get in (next time!).

Haggling is fun, and if you don't do it the locals have no respect for you while they rip you off.
If you do haggle, they'll at least respect you while they rip you off for that little bit less (By the time
we got to Kusadasi, lorin had her haggling shoes on, and got some really good deals from the jeweller
that she dealt with. She took the clothes off his back and left him with seven starving children! )

u.

Yep, Rome first: the Forum, the Colloseum (no pics for some reason) and a place called Terme de Caracalla
(which I'd never heard of, old baths seemingly).

too busy dodging cars. And maybe if you helped taking some of the pics............

You have pics of Naples. I stayed close to the boat. I had the beginning of toe nail problems. Yep........lost my toe nails. You went to Pompey by yourself.

Think my wanderlust just double-flipped and 'gasmed. Some parts of Italy (Pompeii, Herculaneum...) are on my list for next winter-ish anyhow, so must add that forum to my itinerary. Did you visit Croatia at all though?

ussusimiel wrote: Then Istanbul, where we visited Hagia Sofia and saw the runes left by those very respectful people, the Vikings (ha! Softy!).

Well, upon the utterance of that forbidden name, I vow and solemnly swear by my sword that I shall hunt down some Irish gourds come next Kekri/Samhain, and carve runes upon them to glorify Óðinn.

Looks like quite an adventure. I like all the ruins and history and such.

lorin wrote:This is a BOAT

That is quite fabulous. And if it had a longer name, they might need a bigger boat.

Sorus wrote:Looks like quite an adventure. I like all the ruins and history and such.

lorin wrote:This is a BOAT

That is quite fabulous. And if it had a longer name, they might need a bigger boat.

We are just starting........it was quite an adventure. And that we got along for almost 5 weeks speaks loads for Irish Mike's ability to tolerate a Lawn Guyland Princess.

I just noticed the netting between the two spheres. Wonder what that is?

I look forward to seeing more.

lorin wrote:
I just noticed the netting between the two spheres. Wonder what that is?

Arachnids of unusual size?

lorin wrote:...too busy dodging cars.

Traffic in Rome is infamous.

--A

Very cool! Thanks for these!!

love the marine blue of the trim of the buildings in (I think) Greece.

And... Turkey?!? Of course, part of that counts as Europe, but... Turkey is fascinating. I found myself getting more excited when you were talking about it.
The one that had been taken over / conquered multiple times... and how that showed up in the art.. so wild.

Frostheart wrote:Well, upon the utterance of that forbidden name...

Haha...

Wonderful trip and pics. I'm jealous!