Amanda's Pictures - amandapearson

Confusing modern art at Sacramento International Airport
DSC_0052.JPG 2012-01-05

Rob during the Humvee tour at Chalk Hill vineyards
Sonoma, CA - 1/5/12

Chalk Hill vineyards
Sonoma, CA - 1/5/12

One day, all of this would be his
Sonoma, CA - 1/5/12

Moustache Baked Goods
Very cute bakery in Healdsburg, owned by a 23-year-old guy.

The (in)famous bacon cupcake
Healdsburg, CA - 1/5/12

Moustache Cupcakes
Healdsburg, CA - 1/5/12

Lily Cupcakes
Healdsburg, CA - 1/5/12

Monkey & banana cupcakes
Healdsburg, CA - 1/5/12

More Sonoma vineyards around sunset
Sonoma, CA - 1/5/12

Hop Kiln, hops producer-turned-winery
Sonoma, CA - 1/5/12

Me at Hop Kiln
Sonoma, CA - 1/5/12

Some of Hop Kiln
Sonoma, CA - 1/5/12

Rob and me in the Hop Kiln tasting room
Sonoma, CA - 1/5/12

Rob and me in the Hop Kiln tasting room
Sonoma, CA - 1/5/12

Bodega Bay
1/6/12

Rob and his trusty steed
1/6/12

Rock formations in the water
1/6/12

Beautiful rocky coast near Bodega Bay
1/6/12

Church where "The Crow" was filmed
1/6/12

View from Mt. Tam
1/6/12

Rob in hiking mode
1/6/12

View from hotel room in San Francisco
1/6/12

High school and Turkey friends in SF!
1/6/12

Lauren, Jane, Chris
1/6/12

Wars memorial
Sacramento, 1/8/12

The California State Capitol, Rob's former office
Sacramento, 1/8/12

California State Capital dome
1/8/12

Rob with his bear friend at the Capitol
1/8/12

In my best California/Berkeley form
1/8/12

Christmas cheer in Istanbul
DSC_0001.JPG 2011-12-12

Setting up for the Christmas party
Christmas party at our apartment, 12/10/11

Part of the spread
Xmas party 12/10/11

More goodies
Xmas party 12/10/11

Friends at the party
Xmas party 12/10/11

"Commonwealth Dance Troupe"
Xmas party 12/10/11

"Commonwealth Dance Troupe"
Xmas party 12/10/11

Istanbul International Chamber Choir concert
12/13/11, Notre Dame de Sion French school (I am at far right)

IICC concert after party
12/13/11

Friends at the IICC concert
12/13/11 (Patrick, me, Rob, Joan, Emily, Jen)

Oysters @ Fontaine
12/22/11, Me, Chada and Jennie

Smith, me, John W, John H
12/23/11

Cason's engagement party
12/23/11

Another shot of the girls
Cason's engagement party, 12/23/11

Christmas Eve with the Kennedy
Katherine, Mrs. Kennedy, William

Katherine and me
12/24/11

Mary Genevieve and me
12/24/11

Christmas decorations at Cross Creek
Christmas 2011

Posing with the tree
12/25/11

Pose 2
12/25/11

Casablanca train station
DSC_0140.JPG 2011-10-21

Waiting on the Marrakech train
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Marrakech train station
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Dinner @ Dar Zellij
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View from the top of our hotel,
a beautifully restored riad. Note sheep, bottom center.

Activity in the alley near the hotel
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Unusually quiet moment in the street near our hotel
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People wearing djellaba,
the traditional hooded robe worn by Moroccan men and women

Shoe store in the medina
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Colorful leather slippers
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More slippers
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If the shoe fits...
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Two roads diverged in a crowded medina
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Medina passerby
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Cats napping on antique doors
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A cool painting
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Rob in the medina
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You never know what's going to come flying around the corner
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Mosque entrance
Unfortunately in Morocco non-Muslims cannot enter mosques, so we never got to see the interior of one.

Lanterns for sale
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Street in the medina
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Walls of the medina
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Beautiful tile work
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Entryway to a madrasa (Koranic school)
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In the traditional pharmacy (i.e. the tourist trap)
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Dubious concoctions at the pharmacy
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Walking through a lane of lamp makers
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Mirrors
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Nuts and cookies salesman
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Some of the colorful crowd at Djemaa el fna,
old Marrakech's chaotic main square

A water seller
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People watching at Djemaa el fna
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Orange juice sellers on Djemaa el fna, the main square of Marrakech
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Food stand
Djemaa el fna, Marrakech

Rob handled it really well when
a guy came up and put a snake around his neck.

One of many animal interactions in Djemaa el fna
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Rob and snake
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More of the crowd
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Grilled meat stands
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A monkey trainer
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One of a series of awkward faces
It was not initially my decision to hold a monkey.

Getting over my fear of the monkey
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Starting to like this furry thing
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He was actually pretty cute!
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But then he got up on my shoulders
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No room for monkey hands and sunglasses on my head
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Me and monkey
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Rob stoically handles all wild animals near his face
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The monkey found some good stuff in Rob's hair
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Kind of a fierce little fellow!
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:)
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Bye bye monkey
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Catching our breath at Cafe de France
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Looking out over Djemaa el fna
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Djemaa el fna and Koutoubia Mosque
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Djemaa el fna and the medina
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Minaret of Koutoubia Mosque
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Back out to the square for pre-dinner sightseeing
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Snake charmers
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Horn player
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Mildly terrifying to be near these snakes
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Dusk on Djemaa el fna
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The Transylvanian town of Rasnov
(note Hollywood sign on the hill)

Beautiful foliage in the woods around Rasnov
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Rasnov fortress
This dates to the 13th century and sits atop a hill in the town of Rasnov, located in the Transylvania region of Romania

Rasnov fortress up close
DSC_0020.JPG 2011-11-07

View from fortress
Rasnov

Entering the fortress
Rasnov

Me, Emily, Joan
Rasnov

Emily, Joan, me
Rasnov

Covered walkway
Rasnov

Emily and Joan
Rasnov

Love at first sight
Rasnov

Joan and her new boyfriend
Rasnov

"Dracula's Castle"
a.k.a. Bran Castle, dating to the 15th century

Walking into Bran Castle
Bran

My kind of living room
Bran

Turret inside Bran castle
Bran

The three of us on the castle tour
Bran

Me freezing in an outdoor walkway
Bran

Me in Bran Castle
Bran

Another view from the courtyard
Bran

Bran Castle from below
Bran

The secret entrance for victims to be?
Bran

Bran from a distance
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One of the many
Brasov

Teddy
The hostel puppy in Brasov

Brasov train station
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Train to Sighisoara
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Good times on the train,
which was surprisingly nice

Horse and carriage
Sighisoara

Orthodox Cathedral
Sighisoara

Crossing the river towards the Sighisoara citadel
Sighisoara

A man contemplates Stanta Treime church
Sighisoara

Looking up at the citadel
Sighisoara

Clock tower, built in 1280
Sighisoara

Houses in the citadel
Sighisoara

At a cafe for lunch
Sighisoara

Erin, Lauren, Melissa
Koc Univ. masters students in Joan's program

Square in the citadel
Sighisoara

Clock tower and stag head house
Sighisoara

Closer up on the 17th century stag house
Sighisoara

Lane of colorful houses
Sighisoara

One of Sighisoara's many defense towers
DSC_0305.JPG 2011-11-08

Walking back down from the citadel
Sighisoara

Old Town Hall, built 1420
Brasov

Pedestrian street in central Brasov
Brasov is the largest city in Transylvania, and most tourists use it as a base for exploring the region

Brasov
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Kids playing in fountain, Piata Stafalui
Brasov

Another look at Brasov
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Brasov citadel above main boulevard
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The Black Church
Finished in 1477, it gained its name from a 17th century fire which 'blackened' the walls inside. Don't miss Brasov's Hollywood sign at right.

Street in Lipscani
Bucharest's beautifully restored pedestrian district, which is full of bars and restaurants

The bar at Care cu Bere
A lively traditional Romanian restaurant in the Lipscani district

A delicious dish called "mamaliga"
Polenta with eggs, cheese and sour cream

Food: 1. Amanda: 0.
Due to portion sizes and the heavy food, by the time I started my main course I could barely go on.

Good times at Bucharest
It was actually pretty neat--these are all very old real houses that were trucked in from the countryside to recreate a village in Bucharest.

So much fun!!
An outdoor museum is exactly where you want to be when it's 35 degrees and raining.

Emily feeds the chickens
Bucharest

I make a pretty good villager
Bucharest

A pretty traditional church
Bucharest

Looking good, ladies.
Bucharest

Our accommodations in Citta di Castello
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Amazing castle, this way
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Headed into Polgeto Castle for the 80's party
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Inside the castle
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Abby and Chris
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Rob and me
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Let's get a closeup on that one
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Rob and Berfu
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Some nice costumes
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Ollie and me
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Karine and me
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Lanterns at the party
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Rob and Rob
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Nesli and me
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Our gracious, mustachio'd host
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The crowd at the 80's party
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Agnes and Heloise
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Wine glasses display
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Rob as Adam Ant
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Kicking off the live karaoke
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A strong start with "Sweet Home Alabama"
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Ollie, Henry, Liz's brother
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Henry and Ollie
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Joe, Steven, Rob
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Superheroes and Lina
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Taking a break
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Paulius, looking pretty cool
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Heloise taking a dip at the hotel
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Paulius and Lina
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Yes, he is wearing a silver sequined hat and turquoise sunglasses
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Paulius and Rob
Walking back into the castle for Saturday lunch and entertainment

Polgeto from below
They apparently produce olive oil with this orchard

Our lovely lunch
Note the man under the tent with a little ice cream cart attached to his vintage bicycle, serving amazing flavors with fresh fruit like vanilla-cherry and caramel-fig...they thought of everything!

The pool-side crowd
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OBG guys hanging out
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Abby double-fisting, Lina looking lovely
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Rob and me by the pool
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Rob and me below the castle
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Abby and Chris by the tennis courts
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How to use a catapult in 3 easy steps
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2
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3
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Pretty much an ideal afternoon
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Rob playing tennis
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Another look at Polgeto
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View from one of the castle terraces
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Inside the castle
The place was the size of a village

Another view inside the castle
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Surrounding countryside
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A bocce court with a view
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Rob's turn
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Rob preferred the overhand technique
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Abby up to bat
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Chris taking a toss
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Debate over the results
You would be surprised how competitive people get over a game which involves rolling balls 10-20 ft (after a few glasses of prosecco)

Uh oh-- baby on the course!
At left, seated in the white shirt, was our host Andrew, and standing in the blue dress was our hostess Liz, along with their 1-year-old daughter Georgina.

Taking Georgie for a walk
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Team "The Pressure"
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Ramy making a go
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I myself came to prefer the underhanded roll
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Georgie!
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Pool in the evening
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Joe in one of the scarier masks of the masquerade
Unfortunately due to camera issues, I don't have any other photos from the masked party.

Beautiful setup for the masquerade dinner
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Nicolas and Karine
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Walking down to the pond on Sunday
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The setting of our unforgettable Sunday lunch
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Rob and Rob
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The spread
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OBG friends
Clockwise from top left: Elyse, Karine, Nicolas, Ollie, Joe

Cute
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Polgeto, as seen from the pond path
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Again from below
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The second castle of our trip, Castello di Monterone
A castle-turned-hotel very close to Perugia

Castello di Monterone
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The troll who guards the gate
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View over the pool towards Perugia
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Looking over Perugia and valley below
We took a day trip to the city, famous, among other things, for having been the place where the American college student Amanda Knox is imprisoned for allegedly murdering her roommate

Piazza d'Repubblica
Perugia

Central Perugia
DSC_1070.JPG 2011-08-01

Some buildings at funny angles
Perugia

Woman walking her dog on a side street
Perugia

Cute restaurant sign
Perugia

Pretty homes
Perugia

Piazza Novembre and the National Gallery of Umbria
Perugia

Corso Vannucci and outdoor cafes
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Stop. Taking. So. Many. Photos.
Rob got a little impatient with my pace.

Varieties of pig meat...we were in heaven.
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A Harry Potter-esque alley
Perugia

Doorway gargoyle detail
Perugia

Small street with arches
Perugia

Assisi for the day
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The car and chauffer
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Piazza Chiesa Nuova
Assisi

Piazza del Comune
Assisi

The main drag of Assisi
On the left is the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo; on the right is a Roman temple-turned-church called Chiesa di S. Maria (the original temple was called the Temple of Minerva)

Altar of the temple/church
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Interior of temple/church
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Assisi street life
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Delicious-looking bakery offerings
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Face-sized merengues...now that's what I'm talking about
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Via S. Francesco
Palazzo Vallemani at right

Asymmetrical windows on Via S. Francesco
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Basilica di San Francesco
Founding location of the Franciscan order and one of the holiest locations in Catholocism. There are two churches on the site; the lower one dates from 1230 and the upper one from 1253.

Basilica di San Francesco
Assisi

Rob and me
Assisi

Unintentionally funny--
Emily and I couldn't decide what this dinosaur was supposed to be, until we realized it was the Van Lake monster, the town of Gevas' claim to fame due to its location right on the lake's shore. Note the kids running away at right.

Emily on the ferry out to Akdamar Island
We were at Lake Van, Turkey's largest lake

The route out to Akdamar Island
One of several islands in the middle of beautiful, stark Lake Van, Akdamar boasts a lovely 10th century Armenian church and is one of the region's major tourist destinations

Revelers on the Akdamar boat
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The crowd of tourists headed out to Akdamar
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A look back at land,
and at Lake Van's stunning landscape

The story of the island goes like this:
According to Armenian legend, an Armenian princess named Tamar lived on the island and was in love with a commoner. This boy would swim from the mainland to the island each night, guided by a light she lit for him. Her father learned of the boy's visits. One night, as she waited for her lover to arrive, he smashed her light, leaving the boy in the middle of the lake without a guide to indicate which direction to swim. The water was frigid, and as he died, he sighed, "Ah...Tamar..."

The short climb up to Akdamar Church, a.k.a. Cathedral of the Holy Cross
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Southern face of the cathedral
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Cathedral of the Holy Cross
Built between 915-921 AD, this church was twice the seat of the Armenian patriarch. It has been threatened with demolition by the Turkish government several times, but thankfully due to conservation efforts seems to be on safe ground these days.

The stonework is in incredibly good condition
and portrays many of the most well-known stories in the Bible

At bottom left, Jonah and the whale
(you can see Jonah falling out of the boat and getting swallowed up)

Looks like at left is Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac
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David and Goliath
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Crosses carved into the walls
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North wall of the cathedral
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Adam and Eve
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More human figures and lions
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Northwest face of the cathedral
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A khatchkar
Most historic Armenian churches feature these, which are ornately carved stones decorated with crosses

Another khatchkar
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Armenian inscription over the entrance
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Entrance hall to the cathedral
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Cathedral of the Holy Cross altar
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Cathedral dome
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Frescoes
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The weird tourist crowd
I was on the same page as the Iranian tourist in shiny pink--who did these Russians think they were, hiking around in stilettos with scrunchies the size of small children?

Some local Kurdish women
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Emily on Akdamar Island
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Me in front of the cathedral
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Cathedral and mountains beyond
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Path on Akdamar Island
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Our boats for the return to Gevas
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Emily and me
On the boat back from Akdamar Island to Gevas

Back to the mainland
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A last look at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross
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Goodbye Akdamar
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Back on shore, trying to get it together for the family photo
Abayas are a tough business in the Van wind

Still can't quite do it
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There we go.
Time for that grainy yet heart-warming family photo on the cell phone

It was like being in Jurassic Park
Just had to show the monster one last time; even though he is handless he's very fierce

Van harbor at sunset
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BB gun target balloons and windsurfer
Van is a funny place.

Closer up on Van Castle, plus paddle boaters
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Out for a night of Van home cookin
Emily dives in with the soup

We'd never heard of most of the foods
But they were delicious!

Dessert time. Happy camper.
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On the road again, this time to Dogubayazit
Driving along Lake Van

A fellow passenger
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Driving into mountainous Dogubayazit
This town is perched on the Turkish border with Iran

Ishak Pasha Palace, as seen from a nearby hill
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Urartian castle nearby
The brick walls were built by the Urartu civilization in the 9th century BC; the mosque below is a later addition

Gates of Ishak Pasha Palace
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Stone work on the entrance gate
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Outer courtyard in Ishak Pasha Palace
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Passing through to the interior courtyard
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Decorative windows
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Beautiful doorway
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Closer up
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Example of stone work
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The palace's former dining area
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The dining room
Ishak Pasha Palace

Me inside the former dining room
Ishak Pasha Palace

A room with a view if there ever was one
Former harem bedroom in Ishak Pasha Palace

Peekaboo
Ishak Pasha Palace

Dome of the mosque inside the palace
Ishak Pasha Palace

The mihrab, fellow tourists
Ishak Pasha Palace

Another shot of the palace mosque
Unfortunately under heavy restoration, but I'm sure it will look great once all the scaffolding and tape are gone!

Emily and me inside Ishak Pasha Palace
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Another look at the exterior courtyard
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The landscape facing NW towards Dogubayazit
You can see the city sprawl at middle left

Colorful rocky hills
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Ishak Pasha from below
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Walking over to the other historic complex nearby
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Simply blown away
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Ottoman mosque and Urartian walls
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Another Ottoman mosque and tomb at the site
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The walls are in incredible condition and blend so well with the surroundings
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Jagged rocks upon which the Urartian castle is built
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Ishak Pasha from above
Looking towards the nearby Iranian border

The path to access the Urartian castle from behind
Once through the little window above, you hang over a 1000-ft sheer drop while standing on a 1-ft-wide ledge. Scary in slippery flip flops!

Probably should have taken a hint from all the people running my way...
We got caught outside in a downpour shortly after this

The guys who gave us a ride down from the palace in the rain
They happened to be Mt. Ararat hiking guides who were in the area and had space in their Land Rover--good luck on our part!

Passing Mt. Ararat on the way back to Van
(yes, the one where Noah's ark is supposed to be!)

Kurdish music concert in downtown Van
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Lighters in the air
It was a very peaceful affair, but unfortunately police in riot gear had swarmed the place because it was a Kurdish cultural event

Prohibited items at Sabiha Gokcen Airport
Needless to say, our group had some last-minute packing adjustments.

And we're off!
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Alanya waterfront by night
Tacky clubs, pirate ships and all.

Beautiful old town Alanya
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Red Tower
One of Alanya's main landmarks

Sarah is SO excited for a castle tour!
Riding the tourist bus up to the castle

Byzantine ruins within the Alanya castle
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European tourists at the castle
Wouldn't be Alanya without 5000 of our best Scandinavian friends

The western beach, a.k.a. "Kleopatra Beach"
As students we hung out here after school--tough life!

Alanya Ottoman old town
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Close-up of Ottoman Alanya
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Me in the castle
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Alanya peninsula
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The familiar walk down the mountain
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The villa!
This Ottoman villa was donated to Georgetown University by the late George McGhee, a former US ambassador to Turkey, and is currently used as a school for Georgetown's Alanya study abroad program.

Me in front of the villa
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One of the villa
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Walking down from the castle
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Scott bey's house!
Located in old town Alanya. Joan was staying for the summer in our former professor's vacation home, and they were kind enough to let Sarah and me stay there as well.

Inside Scott bey's lair
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Scott bey's kitchen
Complete with Ottoman fireplace and home-made bathtub liquor (note Pepsi bottle)

Down at the beach
Sarah getting some sun

Me on Kleopatra beach
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Kid enjoying the sun and surf
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Kleopatra beach
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Surfing in Alanya? Who knew.
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Back at the Red Tower Brewery,
Alanya's microbrewery.

Tanks downstairs
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Sunset view from Sky Bar on top
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Sarah and Joan
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Sarah and Joan
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Sarah, Joan and me
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Then the waiter got a little handsy with the camera
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Sarah handled the attention better than I
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Alanya harbor at night
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Sarah on the Alanya boat tour
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Pulling out of the harbor
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Arsenal and Ottoman old town
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If you think about it
the Alanya peninsula kind of resembles a sleeping duck.

Byzantine monastery out on the peninsula
Accessible only to rock climbers such as the brave Charlie Amadon

She'll never let go
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Historic Alanya
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Sarah and me on the boat tour
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Cap'n Sarah
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Back on the bus to Antalya and then flight to Istanbul
Goodbye once again, Alanya!

Haghia Sophia
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Low-hanging lantern from the
Haghia Sophia's days as a mosque

Haghia Sophia dome
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Minbar and mosaic
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Upper gallery mosaic
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Dad and me inside the Blue Mosque
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Yerebatan Sarnici / Cistern
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Yerebatan Sarnici / Cistern
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Medusa in Yerebatan Sarnici
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Sirince Greek school-turned-restaurant
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Lunch in Sirince with Dad and Rob
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Dad and me
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Ottoman-era Sirince homes
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Sirince
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Sirince tourist strip
Dad has developed the Turkish man walk

Dried things for sale
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The men poring over an Ephesus map
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Formerly road from the marker to the sea, now silted in
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Ephesus amphitheater
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Ephesus library
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Tablet with Greek inscription
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Rob and me at the library
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Dad and me at the Ephesus library
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Rob made a friend
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love + ephesus
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Roman-era mosaics
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Lower agora
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Hadi, to the upper agora
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Upper agora
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Rob and me
Ephesus

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Rob, back at the amphitheater
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View from our Izmir hotel
I could get used to this!

Alsancak harbor
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Boat statue on N. Izmir coast
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Konak Pier
Former pier and loading dock converted into cute shops and restaurants.

Efes + sunset
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Tankers in the Aegean
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Rob in Alsancak harbor
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Dad in Alsancak harbor
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A sunset drink in Alsancak
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Dad by night
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Izmir clock tower
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AK Party office in Bergama, pre-election craze
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Bergama
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Funicular up to Bergama ruins
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Unwilling photo subjects
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Bergama amphitheater
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Steep amphitheater!
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Amphitheater from the bottom
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Looking over the city from the theater
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Rob, Roman statue
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Arches. Former shop/storage area.
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Just the right size
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Had enough of old rocks for one day
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Ayvalik backstreet
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Kuru fasulye (white beans dish) restaurant
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Greek basilica-turned-mosque
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Assos harbor
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Assos
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Mediterranean flowers
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Assos
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Me in Assos
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More pretty flowers
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Troy
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Inside the horse at Troy
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Canakkale by night
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Gallipoli - Anzac Cove
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The peak Anzac forces were forced to climb,
resulting in a suicide mission against the Turks

Anzac cemetery
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Strolling around one of the well-kept Anzac cemeteries
They are funded by foundations in Australia and New Zealand and are beautifully kept gardens

Anzac cemetery headstone
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Anzac cemetery headstone
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Anzac Cove
Hard to imagine such atrocities took place in such a beautiful setting

Canakkale ferry
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Dad in Anadolu Kavagi
The north-most stop on the Bosphorous ferry tour, tourists can hike up to the Genoese castle overlooking the Black Sea

Where the Bosphorous meets the Black Sea
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Dad, overlooking the Black Sea
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Me in front of Genoese castle
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Lunch @ Assk Kahve
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Rob and me @ Mikla
Our favorite bar with a view

Dad & me at Mikla
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Onwards to Greece!
Pulling out of the enormous Istanbul bus terminal

The joys of Turkish rest stops
Brought me back to my study abroad days.

Driving through western Thrace
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House in the Kastra area
Thessaloniki, GR

Part of the former Turkish Quarter
Thessaloniki, GR

Church of Nikolaos Orfanos
Thessaloniki, GR

Nuclear graffiti
Thessaloniki, GR

Interior of Church of Agios Dimitrios (5th cent.)
Thessaloniki, GR

Prayer candles at Agios Dimitrios
Thessaloniki, GR

Ataturk's house!
It is on the grounds of the Turkish consulate in Thessaloniki.

Requisite Ataturk bust
Ataturk's house, Thessaloniki, GR

Ataturk's kitchen
For all those wondering, not original furnishings. Thessaloniki, GR

Room where Ataturk was supposedly born
Ataturk's house, Thessaloniki, GR

Ataturk's hamam-style bathroom
Ataturk's house, Thessaloniki, GR

The Rotunda
Thessaloniki, GR - Originally intended to be the mausoleum of Galerius, this became Thessaloniki's first church and was later turned into a mosque by the Ottomans. The minaret they added is at right.

Arch of Galerius
Thessaloniki, GR - Dated 303 AD, this celebrates a victory over the Persians.

Charming Modiano Market
Thessaloniki, GR

Shopping for fish
Modiano Market, Thessaloniki, GR

My answer to the lack of pig in Turkey #1:
:p

Proud butcher
Modiano Market, Thessaloniki, GR

Fish for sale
Modiano Market, Thessaloniki, GR

Aristotelous St.
Thessaloniki, GR

Plateia Aristotelous
Thessaloniki, GR

Waiting for a green light
Thessaloniki, GR

Fisherman near the port
Thessaloniki, GR

Lena's Bar
Ladadika, Thessaloniki, GR

Fishermen on the waterfront
Thessaloniki, GR

White Tower
Thessaloniki's most famous landmark, this is where Sultan Mahmud II had the remaining janissaries massacred in 1826

Dusk and Alexander the Great
Thessaloniki, GR

Happy New Years 2008...
and welcome to Macedonia

What hitchhiking looks like
En route from the Greece-Macedonia border to Bitola, MK

What it looks like when
the driver you are hitching with drives off with your bag and leaves you in the dust

Bitola bus station
Bitola, MK

Au revoir Bitola
Bitola, MK

Bitola-Ohrid bus
Standing room only

My digs in Ohrid
(Villa Lucija, front and center)

Sveti Sofija Cathedral
Ohrid, MK

Example of the town's lovely Ottoman architecture
Ohrid, MK

Narrow lane
Ohrid, MK

3 old cars
Ohrid, MK

Roman amphitheater
Ohrid, MK

More wandering through Ohrid
Ohrid, MK

Upper Gate area
Ohrid, MK

Car Samoil's Castle
Ohrid, MK

Old town Ohrid
Ohrid, MK

Northeast Ohrid old town and stunning mountain backdrop
Ohrid, MK

Interior of Sveti Kliment i Pantelejmon
Ohrid, MK

One of the omnipresent, hilariously tiny cars
Ohrid, MK

Church of Sveti Jovan at Kaneo
Ohrid, MK

Me at Sveti Jovan
Ohrid, MK

Dock on Kaneo Beach
Ohrid, MK

Popeye the Sailor Man
Kaneo Beach, Ohrid, MK

Typical cobblestone Ohrid street
Ohrid, MK

Back side of Sveti Sofija
Looking towards Lake Ohrid, Ohrid, MK

My answer to lack of pig in Turkey #2:
bacon-wrapped pork shish kebap

Sveti Kliment i Pantelejmon
Ohrid, MK

Lake Ohrid at dawn
Ohrid, MK

7 AM, Ohrid bus station
Ohrid, MK

To Skopje
Ohrid, MK

Skopje and the Vardar River
Skopje, MK

Old town
Skopje, MK

Skopje Carsija
Skopje, MK

Men drinking tea
Skopje, MK

Mustafa Pasha Mosque
Ottoman mosque in Skopje old town

Cailin and me at Leb-i Derya
Cailin and I studied together in Alanya in 2006. She is now a master student at Sciences Po, and this was the first time we got together after graduating!

Cailin, Emily and me
At a Black Sea home food restaurant after visiting the Pera Museum

Sunset from my apartment
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Beyazit and Istanbul University
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Simit seller
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Chesnut seller at the Suleymaniye Mosque gates
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Covered ladies at the Suleymaniye
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Inside the newly restored mosque
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Street in Vefa
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Vefa Bozacisi
Operating since 1876, this place produces a traditional milk and millet-based drink called boza. Difficult to describe, but delicious.

Facade of Vefa Bozacisi
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Boza: perfect with a little cinnamon on top
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Sasha and Austin
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Pouring boza
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Ataturk
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Mmmm
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The group at Vefa Bozacisi
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Preparing the fresh boza bottles
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Aquaduct in Fatih
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Getting into the Christmas spirit
with some reindeer cookies!

Chocolate espresso cookies
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The tree
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Ornaments
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Galata on Christmas Eve
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Decor in Christ Church
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Present time
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Mince pie
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Resident elf
Not my best look.

Potential uses for my new tripod
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More tripod uses
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The
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The Christmas spread
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Rob carving up the stuffed chicken
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At the Oxford Business Group party
A formal event at Divan in Kurucesme; here with my friend Sean

(Sept. 4, 2010)

Sean and me
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Micha, Sean, Elyse
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Peter dancing with his daughter Heloise
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Sam and Barbara
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Rob presenting an award
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My Rob and Rob Whittigan
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I imagine the conversation went something like:
"Nice sunglasses." "Yeah? Nice name."

Fellow passengers on the ferry to Heybeliada
One of the "Prince's Islands" in the Sea of Marmara, technically a district of Istanbul

(Sept. 11, 2010)

Seagulls over the mast
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Rob and Patrick being swindled
They actually bought the citrus juicers the salesman was pitching on the boat. Has Rob used it once? Nope.

Disembarking on Heybeliada
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Horse of the islands
There are no cars allowed on the island; bikes and horse-drawn carriages are the only modes of transport

Antiques shop
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Beautiful old house
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Another interesting old wooden house
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Pretty fixer-upper
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Charming bungalow
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The Halki Palace
A historic hotel slightly past its prime but still very grand, a great place to spend some time.

View from the back of the hotel
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Having drinks in the lobby
There was a parrot behind me that made cat noises.

Where were we? Where were we going?
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Confusion reigned
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Just like men not to ask directions
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Phaeton chugging up a hill
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Pretty terrace with gourds
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Taking a breather on the way up the hill
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Monastery across the island
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Anchor detail on house
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Bizarre photo shoot
Patrick didn't know quite what he'd invited upon himself

Blown away
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Rob and me on Heybaliada
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And wrap.
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Let it be known:
This is my future summer house. You are welcome to attend my parties in 2030.

Facade of my future home.
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Rob and Patrick walking back down to the harbor
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Pulling away from Heybeliada
You can see the naval school at the edge of the water

Seagulls following the ferry
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Young ferry passengers
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Kasik Adasi, or "Spoon Island"
One of the small uninhabited Prince's Islands

A little game of I spy perhaps?
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Istanbul ferry at dusk in the Marmara
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Famous Eminonu rocking boats
On this particular day I met up with some friends for fish sandwiches and a ferry trip up the Golden Horn to the beautiful, historic and conservative neighborhood of Eyup for some sightseeing.

(Oct. 16, 2010)

Serving up balik ekmek
(fish sandwiches). Cheap and cheerful, and a nice mix of tourist and locals.

Sean, Nick and Jimmy noshing
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View of Galata
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Pulling into Eyup, at the north end of the Golden Horn
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Walking through Eyup
Eyup is a particularly important area due to its mosque, which is the 3rd holiest in Islam. There are many cemeteries in the neighborhood, and the old Ottoman headstones are interesting because you can tell the profession/status of the pers

Tree trunk enveloping old gravestone
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Covered bride at Eyup Sultan Camii (Mosque)
This mosque is considered sacred due to its being the burial grounds of Muhammad's standard bearer, Abu Ayyub (his tomb is the tiled building front and center, facing the mosque). As a result many newly married couples and recently circumci

Mosque interior
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Mosque dome
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Congregants and lights
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Nick and Sean, nonplussed
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Saturday crowds at the mosque
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Recently circumcised boy in traditional outfit
Boys are usually circumcised around the age of 6-7 and then are dressed up like little sultans and brought to Eyup or Sultanahmet and treated like princes for the day

The little sultan
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Inscription and lantern over entrance to complex
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Wedding group entering
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Another covered bride
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Taking the finicular up to the Pierre Loti Cafe
Nick, Ben, Zach, Sean

Boys at Pierre Loti Cafe
Pierre Loti was an orientalist French writer who used to live at the site of this cafe. Pre-industrialization, he had a great view.

Current view down the Golden Horn
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Part of the kulliye, or complex, around the mosque
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The old Galata Bridge in its resting place
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One of the little boats that shuttles people
back and forth across the top of the Golden Horn

Sunset on the Golden Horn
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The Haskoy neighborhood
Center you can see the Koc Museum, which owns the submarine and ferry boat parked out front

Where the sidewalk ends
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The historically and culturally rich Balat neighborhood
The big red building at left is the Greek school; the white building near the water far right is the Bulgarian church.

Republic Day in Istanbul
(Oct. 29, 2010)

Besiktas Republic Day fireworks show!
View from my living room

More fireworks
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Fall sunset view from my living room
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Closer up
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Fishing boat off the coast of Sariyer,
a neighborhood at the furthest north end of Istanbul, on edge of the Bosphorous and the Black Sea.

(Nov. 6, 2010)

The nets were sort of eerie and beautiful
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Central Sariyer
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Sadberk Hanim Museum.
(the large yellow and white building) It's great--go there! There was a nicely done Ottoman women's clothing exhibit.

No. 3 Davar Sokagi
Creepy abandoned house around the corner from the Sadberk Hanim Museum

Guard dog at museum
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Happy dog
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Jennie and Ricardo came to visit from Paris!
Dinner @ Abracadabra. Jennie and I have been friends since the first day of 6th grade!

(Nov. 9, 2010)

Breakfast at the Besiktas kaymakci
A 100-yr-old shop, purveyor of delicious clotted cream and honey

(Nov. 12, 2010)

Photo with the Besiktas kaymakci!!
Having the crotchety old owner of the place get in a photo with me was one of my top moments in life.

Brunch in Rumelihisari @ Sade Kahve
I'm pretty sure we did more than eat during their visit, but you sure wouldn't know from the photos

(Nov. 13, 2010)

Koy kahvaltisi + menemen
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Jennie and me :)
It was great having Jennie in Istanbul for a 2nd time

Jennie and Ricardo at the Rumelihisari waterfront
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Jennie and Ricardo
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Rob and me
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Looking north from Rumelihisari
At left is the old ferry station, which has been turned into a fancy restaurant

Hijinx on the grounds of the Sabanci Museum
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Enjoying the gardens in the beautiful weather
Rob, Ricardo and Jennie

One of the Sabanci Museum buildings
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Inside the Sabanci Museum
Fantastic exhibit on Treasures of the Aga Khan Museum (extensive Islamic art collection)

Some illuminated texts
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Exhibit on winners of the Jameel Prize,
an award for contemporary Islamic art

Rob contemplates
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Jennie and I cooked Saturday night
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Rob and me at Lacivert for Rob
(11-20-10)

Rob and me
(11-20-10)

Boat back to the European side
(11-20-10)

Back to Heybeliada to celebrate
Rob's 30th birthday

Celebrating in a mature way befitting of a man going into his 4th decade.
Andrew, Patrick, Monique, Peter, John

Not sure
Patrick, Monique, Peter, John, Lina, Other Sam

Lift Rob up 30 times on the chair time
Courtesy of Monique Jaques

Sam
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Unclear whether Patrick was being assisted or attacked
Rob, Abby, Patrick, Andrew

Abby, Rob, Andy, Patrick
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Historic Haydarpasa train station on fire, 11/28
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Sultanahmet at dusk from the ferry
DSC_0081.JPG 2010-11-28

Brunch at Assk Kahve
Merritt, Saunak & Daniel

On the Bosphorous boat cruise
Merritt

Daniel on the boat
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Pulling into Bebek harbor
Saunak and Merritt

Daniel, Saunak, Merritt
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Captain
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Merritt and me in Rumelihisari
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Merritt up top
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Beautiful Tarabya mansions
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Boys swimming
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Merritt swimming in Beykoz
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All four of us on the way back in
SS2.jpg 2010-08-09

Merritt and me in Ortakoy
Saturday night

Saunak and Daniel in Ortakoy
Attempting to blow smoke rings with the hookah/nargile

Inside the Blue Mosque
DSC_0027.JPG 2010-07-18

Merritt and me inside the Blue Mosque
Note that Merritt has worn short shorts and has been forced to wear a skirt as a result.

Daniel in Blue Mosque
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Karakoy street art
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Inside Rustem Pasha Mosque
Monday morning we walked around Eminonu sights like Rustem Pasha and the Egyptian Spice Bazaar before I went to work and they headed to the Grand Bazaar, Topkapi, etc.

Merritt and me with Iznik tiles
Rustem Pasha Mosque

On the ferry to Kadikoy
Monday night we took the ferry to the Asian side for a last dinner together at Ciya ("chee-ya")

Merritt and me on the ferry
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View of Haydarpasha and the Golden Horn
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Merritt, with his interesting choice of dinner
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Ewww
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These boys could NOT get enough of the mussels
Walking anywhere was like herding cats, because they were always peeling off to go consume hundreds of mussels. They must have paid this guy's salary for a month.

And we're off!
Third annual birthday booze cruise

Rob with trash can of Pimms
(this was a classy affair)

Alanya friends
Me, Susae, Marisa, Nick

Zeynep and me below deck
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Sarah, Anna, me
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General carousing up top
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Kate, looking very picturesque
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Rob, Patrick, Lars
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Sarah and Crappie Patrick
Nice hat, Patrick

Burcu trying to get Martyn to smile
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Almost there
DSC_0120.JPG 2010-06-12

Much better!
Martyn, Burcu, Alistair

People swimming at Beykoz
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Me, Zeynep, Sarah
Three years of boat cruises and going strong ;)

Singing tender (why does this always happen)
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Belting it out now
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The whole bunch of us
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Sarah and me
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Gill, Rob, me and Sarah
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Rob, me, Sarah
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Enter Lars
DSC_0158.JPG 2010-06-12

Lars, Patrick, Mustafa, me, Sarah
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Nick, lookin gooood
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Up top in Beykoz
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Friends swimming
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Zeynep, me, Sarah
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Mission: Pants Patrick. Stage one: circle like sharks.
DSC_0199.JPG 2010-06-12

Stage two: launch attack on all sides
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Mission accomplished
DSC_0210.JPG 2010-06-12

Tandogan, Zeynep, Susae
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Roomies: Kate and Gill
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Nick
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The cereal box game has begun
This wedgie will require an archeological dig to remove

Marisa, Emily, Sarah
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Ferry steaming down the Bosphorous
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This city is so pretty :)
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Sean performing acrobatic feats
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Lars
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Nick and Anna
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The morning after: brunch at Kahvedan
Cihangir, Istanbul

Interior of Kahvedan
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Bloody Marys were only appropriate
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Cihangir street
DSC_0254.JPG 2010-06-13

Looking down from Cihangir towards Tophane
Cihangir Panorama 1.jpg 2010-06-13

Vendors at PAZART, a lovely biweekly bazaar
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Stall at PAZART
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Kids frolicking in Roma Bahcesi
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Sarah at PAZART
DSC_0293.JPG 2010-06-13

Sculpture in Roma Bahcesi
DSC_0296.JPG 2010-06-13

Ne Mutlu Turkum Diyene
"How happy I am to say I am a Turk", a phrase coined by Ataturk, the founder of the modern Republic of Turkey

Cruise ship, Tophane, PAZART
PAZART Panorama 2.jpg 2010-06-13

View from Istanbul Modern
Ist Modern Panorama.jpg 2010-06-13

Karakoy Shipyard building
DSC_0312.JPG 2010-06-13

Sarah and I spent a half day on Suada (left),
a man-made island in the Bosphorous. It is actually centuries old, and was apparently a rich Genoese man's personal garden back in the day.

Lay of the land on Suada
DSC_0050.JPG 2010-06-14

Suada!
Suada Pool Panorama 1.jpg 2010-06-14

Look back at the coast
Suada view of coast Panorama 2.jpg 2010-06-14

Sarah
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In the pool
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Other ne
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Our sultan day bed
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Sundresses and Suada
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Waiting for the boat back to land
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Me
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Floating duckhouse!
DSC_0118.JPG 2010-06-14

On the Suada boat
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At the Suada pier
Looking at Suada Panorama 3.jpg 2010-06-14

A glass of wine at Assk Kahve
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A civilized start to the day
Patrick, Andy, Iskra, Burcu, Alistair, Lars

The crowd on the boat
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Ahoy matey
Rob and me

Patrick taking the plunge
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Into the icy waters
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Paulius
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Danny, Nick, Anna
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The debauchery begins here
Beth, Nick, Amy, Patrick

Someone
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This almost hurts to look at
DSC_0030.JPG 2010-05-29

Rob and Nick battling it out
At least the captain's having fun.

They seem to have worked out their differences
DSC_0036.JPG 2010-05-29

Beer and tavla. Mm.
DSC_0037.JPG 2010-05-29

Andy
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Nick Bruche, always stepping on people
Or noses, as it were.

Relaxation
DSC_0042.JPG 2010-05-29

Istanbul skyline and local boys swimming
DSC_0044.JPG 2010-05-29

Boys on buoy
DSC_0046.JPG 2010-05-29

The crowd
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Heading back towards the 2nd bridge
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Lina Kaptan and boys going under the bridge
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Rumeli Hisari
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What to say
DSC_0063.JPG 2010-05-29

Haha
DSC_0064.JPG 2010-05-29

They are like monkeys
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Captain Rob
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Incoming
(almonds)

Nice picture of Patrick
DSC_0072.JPG 2010-05-29

Here it comes
DSC_0073.JPG 2010-05-29

Mmm lovely
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Ouch rebound
DSC_0076.JPG 2010-05-29

Lars giggling
DSC_0079.JPG 2010-05-29

Desecrating Lina
DSC_0082.JPG 2010-05-29

Look up
Nick and myself having a civilized conversation; Paulius sleeps on the roof

Andy, Alistair, Iskra
DSC_0086.JPG 2010-05-29

Cruise ship parked in Karakoy
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Meet Andy MacDowall
DSC_0092.JPG 2010-05-29

Knocked out Burcu
Happens to the best of us. I myself fell down the stairs and almost gave myself a concussion on the low ceiling.

Goodbye European Side
DSC00181.JPG 2010-04-24

Boats out on the Bosphorous
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Fishing boat in front of Dolmabahce Palace
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Istanbul beauty/pollution
DSC00204-1.jpg 2010-04-24

On the ferry
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Hello girls and Asian side
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Zeynep, Ayse and me
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Zeynep and me
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Ayse and me
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Tranquil scene at Cadde Bostan
DSC00243-4.jpg 2010-04-24

Goodbye Pera Apartmani
DSC00263.JPG 2010-04-25

DSC00266.JPG
DSC00266.JPG 2010-04-25

Last drink on the terrace
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Beste and Suzan
@ Lychee in Arnavutkoy for Ayse's bon voyage party.

Ayse and me
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Rob and me
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DSC00280.JPG
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DSC00281.JPG
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Cute
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DSC00285.JPG
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Zeynep, Ayse, Burcu, me, Suzan
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Zeynep and me
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Dancing
If you're still in your chair at the end of the night at a meyhane, you're doing it wrong.

DSC00293.JPG
DSC00293.JPG 2010-05-01

DSC00296.JPG
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General revelry ensuing
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The whole group
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DSC00304.JPG
DSC00304.JPG 2010-05-01

Cupcake time!
DSC00305.JPG 2010-05-01

DSC00306.JPG
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Hello Sarah!
Dinner @ Big Chef in Tunel when Sarah got into town for our epic SE Turkey trip

Sarah, Zeynep, Ayse
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Windblown Ayse
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Sarah, Zeynep, me
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Hah Sarah and Martyn
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The Cinaralti area of Emirgan,
a town on the European side of Istanbul, fairly far north up the Bosphorous

Mosque across from the water
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Fountain with Ottoman inscription
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Irmik helvasi (semolina helva)
Anna is on a mission to visit all the places Orhan Pamuk discusses in "Istanbul: Memories of a City." This is a cafe where writers and artists used to gather and talk.

Gingerly trying the helva
(which was delicious, I might add)

We strolled over to Emirgan Park,
which is in the middle of its annual Tulip Festival

Tulips
DSC_0030.JPG 2010-04-11

Twisted tree and clock of flowers
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Red and yellow tulips
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Kids playing in the park
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Beautiful blossoms
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Make me think of cherry blossoms
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Creative flower planting at its best
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A tulip design
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Looking down toward the water
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Colorful tulips
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The Beyaz Kosk (white pavilion)
Complete with all the covered grannies. Wouldn't be a day in the park in Turkey without them.

More dramatic red and yellow tulips
DSC_0111-1.jpg 2010-04-11

Tulip close-up
DSC_0113-1.jpg 2010-04-11

Inside the Sari Kosk (yellow pavilion)
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Sari Kosk
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Another view of Emirgan Park
DSC_0136.JPG 2010-04-11

Creepy tree
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Looking up at the sari kosk
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Anna and me
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Anna and me
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Creepy killer swans in the pond
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Close-up on killer swan
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Enjoying the view
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Gozleme-makers
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Next we found kagit helva (paper helva)
DSC_0208.JPG 2010-04-11

Digging in
DSC_0212.JPG 2010-04-11

The prize of the day
And for only 1 lira!

Looking south down the Bosphorous at the second bridge
DSC_0218.JPG 2010-04-11

The view across to Hidiv Kasri
DSC_0220.JPG 2010-04-11

Toasting at the rehearsal dinner
Parents of the groom, Stephen and Chada

France study abroad buddies: Caitlin, Jennie, Courtney
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Chada, Stephen and Nenette enjoying some Gordon Biersch beer.
DSC_0011.JPG 2010-02-20

Thinking. It
Also feathered hairbands. She does those well, too.

Rob and me at the rehearsal dinner
DSC_0014.JPG 2010-02-20

Alok and Chada
Westminster friends

Turtles! Jennie, me, Chada, Caitlin
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Cutting the cake
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Both are Northwestern grads
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Sexy, Cait.
DSC_0034.JPG 2010-02-20

Rob and me in Vinings before the wedding
Not surprisingly, we have received much flack for resembling 18-yr-olds off to prom.

Close-up
DSC_0041.JPG 2010-02-20

With the siblings
Merritt doing creepy things to my shoulder. I told him not to reinforce Rob's stereotypes of the South.

Merritt, Rob, me, Mary Genevieve
DSC_0044.JPG 2010-02-20

The altar at St. Joseph
DSC_0049.JPG 2010-02-20

Mr. and Mrs. Saetie, lighting the candles
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Jennie (a sponsor) and her escort
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Maggie and her escort
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Caitlin and her escort
DSC_0057.JPG 2010-02-20

Stephen
DSC_0058.JPG 2010-02-20

Nenette (Chada
DSC_0059.JPG 2010-02-20

Nita (Chada
DSC_0060.JPG 2010-02-20

Adorable ring bearer
DSC_0061.JPG 2010-02-20

Flower girls--so cute
DSC_0064.JPG 2010-02-20

Flower girls processing in
DSC_0065.JPG 2010-02-20

Here comes the bride!
DSC_0066.JPG 2010-02-20

Chada and her dad
DSC_0067.JPG 2010-02-20

Approaching the altar
DSC_0068.JPG 2010-02-20

At the altar
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The setup during the mass
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The entire wedding party
DSC_0088.JPG 2010-02-20

Taking their vows
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Bridesmaids
DSC_0102.JPG 2010-02-20

Exchanging rings
DSC_0104.JPG 2010-02-20

You may kiss the bride!
DSC_0105.JPG 2010-02-20

Extinguishing their individual candles
DSC_0106.JPG 2010-02-20

Lighting the unity candle
DSC_0107.JPG 2010-02-20

They incorporated Filipino traditions, practiced by Chada
Placing the veil

Then the noose...err, rope that binds
DSC_0114.JPG 2010-02-20

Jennie and the other sponsor gave gold coins for prosperity
DSC_0118.JPG 2010-02-20

Jesus and the unity candle
DSC_0119.JPG 2010-02-20

One of the flower girls
DSC_0129.JPG 2010-02-21

Flower girls
DSC_0131.JPG 2010-02-21

Joining hands to process out
DSC_0132.JPG 2010-02-21

Still looking good after the ceremony finished
DSC_0135-1.jpg 2010-02-21

Leaving the altar as a married couple
DSC_0136.JPG 2010-02-21

Out the door into marital bliss...and a boozy reception
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Yes, I took a million photos of them. They are too cute for words.
DSC_0141.JPG 2010-02-21

Nikki and Arif
DSC_0147.JPG 2010-02-21

The ballroom at the Ritz downtown, where the reception was
DSC_0149.JPG 2010-02-21

Flower girls and ring bearer
DSC_0152.JPG 2010-02-21

Nenette jamming
DSC_0153.JPG 2010-02-21

Caitlin, throwing a football...or just looking like a deranged person
DSC_0157.JPG 2010-02-21

Nita and escort
DSC_0159.JPG 2010-02-21

The newlyweds
DSC_0160.JPG 2010-02-21

Up to the dance floor for their first dance as a married couple
DSC_0163.JPG 2010-02-21

First dance
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Pretty
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More first dance
DSC_0177.JPG 2010-02-21

High five
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Listening to Mr. Saetie
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Mr. and Mrs. Saetie
DSC_0183.JPG 2010-02-21

Caitlin and Ari
DSC_0184.JPG 2010-02-21

Alok, Chada, Imran, Arif
DSC_0187.JPG 2010-02-21

Westminster friends
Alok, Imran, Jennie, Tuck, me, Chada, Anna, Arif, Caitlin

Turtles strike again
Jennie, me, Caitlin, Chach

Best man
DSC_0195.JPG 2010-02-21

Maid of honor
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Father-daughter dance--who knew quiet Mr. Saetie had those moves??
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Exiting the dance floor
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Mother-son dance
DSC_0209.JPG 2010-02-21

Inviting everyone up to the dance floor...
to the tune of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On"

Getting it on
DSC_0216.JPG 2010-02-21

Nita and James
Engaged three days later! Nita caught the bouquet. :)

Electric slide
DSC_0221.JPG 2010-02-21

Party in the USA
DSC_0222.JPG 2010-02-21

Imran, getting down
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Haha Courtney, Caitlin, Ari, Anna
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Rob and me
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Haha
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Arif and Nikki
DSC_0244.JPG 2010-02-21

Hot in here
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Shimmying. It seemed right at the time.
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Jennie
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The bride showing off her moves
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Chada
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Stephen busting a move
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Nenette getting down
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Chada and Courtney
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James
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Nita
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Not sure, but great robot
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It
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Jennie limbo-ing
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Stephen
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Caitlin and Anna at the Westminster table
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Caitlin
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Caitlin!
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Alok and his ginormous camera
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Nenette
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The bouquet toss
The legend is true: Chada's sister Nita caught the bouquet and was engaged within 3 days. Congrats, Nita!

The view from my apartment,
post-January storm. Normally you have a clear view of the Bosphorous.

Rob, making tracks towards brunch
DSC_0013.JPG 2010-01-23

The bal kaymak (honey and cream) place in the snow
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Delicious Turkish breakfast
Bal kaymak (honey and cream), menemen (the scrambled egg pot) and cay (tea). Mmm.

Crazy cousin hanging out
The restaurant is so cute--the space has been around since the 19th century. Ataturk looks on from above the window.

Serving up more bal kaymak
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The newly restored Ottoman mosque by my apartment
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Lamb with a side of charades
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Martyn, Burcu, Alistair
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Cherie, Lauren, Sam
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Captains of the Ladies Team, strategizing
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Nick, one of our hosts
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Anna, Cherie and Burcu
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Ladies Team, concentrating
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Sam on an alcohol run
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Martyn pulling from the hat
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Patrick, round 1
DSC_0048-1.jpg 2010-01-31

Rob and Patrick
DSC_0049-1.jpg 2010-01-31

Another draw. Perhaps Qaddafi?
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Hold on there
DSC_0052-1.jpg 2010-01-31

Sam looking urgent
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Lauren drawing from the bag
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Sam
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Haha Patrick
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The confident men's team
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Teamwork
DSC_0064-1.jpg 2010-01-31

Rob's turn
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Patrick and Sam
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Cherie, looking lovely
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The final score.
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Unhappy campers. Sore losers.
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Martyn, gloating
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Looking a bit worse for the wear
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Tunel in the snow
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Lights in Tunel
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Rob and me in Tunel
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Zeynep's birthday! @ Addio mama
Ayse, Zeynep, Zeynep's boyfriend, birthday girl Zeynep

Zeynep & Ceyda
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Rob's "Turkish man" dance
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Rob and me
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Melih
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Zeynep and me!
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And a tambourine for good measure
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Ceyda, Zeynep, Burcu
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Ayse's sad tambourine
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Here comes the cake
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Blowing out the candles
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The point when Rob had had too much wine
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People dancing in the restaurant
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Ensuing events in Taksim...
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How can it be wrong when it feels so right?
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Sam and Andrew
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Driving into SF
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Apartment building
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Donuts
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Lunch at The Grove Cafe in the Marina area
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Welcome to California
I probably should have blurred these so no one steals Charlotte's (Rob's car) identity.

Driving over the Golden Gate Bridge
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Old Town Sac
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Sacramento has recessed into the 1880s
Frankly, I was disappointed by the lack of swinging saloon doors.

California in a nutshell
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Nighttime on the Sacramento River
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Historic steamboat
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Freedom fries!
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Cool graffiti
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The original Tower Records
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Waiting for midnight on New Years Eve
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Rob and me
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Chris and Rob
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Chris and Rob
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Throwing those popping things
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Boys will be boys
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The Japanese New Years spread in Turlock
Mmmmmm.

Val and Alec stirring some skiaki
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Rob's dad cooking up more skiaki
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My rice
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Rob and Kenji
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Rob's grandmother, dad, Jean and Rob's mom
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Rob, me and Rob's great aunt Jan, the hostess
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Geoff, unamused
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Tram coming through
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Downtown SF
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The Ferry Building
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Fresh produce for sale
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Ferry Building Marketplace
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Tea shop
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Tasty Salted Pig Parts...
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Mushrooms for sale
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The Bay Bridge
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Rob and me
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Seagull
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Orange-beaked seagull
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Ferry Building at night
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Ice skaters in Union Square
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Speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil.
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One entrance to Chinatown
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Intense statue and pagoda
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Chinatown street
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Chinatown shop
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Mid-day in Chinatown
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Characteristic street lamps and rooftops
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Pretty red lanterns
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Monastery
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Charming old buildings and signs
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Street lamp and lanterns
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Ok, I went a little photo-crazy in Chinatown.
But it was so pretty!

Eclectic shop
For all your stovetop cooking, bird care and Chinese New Year needs.

The fare in Chinatown
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A pitstop for snacks
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Pretty rooftops
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Colorful building with lanterns
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The Dalai Lama = Liar #1! Liar --> Billionaire!
Well-known homeless guy from Berkeley had set up shop in Chinatown.

God Bless America
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Dramatic SF skyline
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Cool building on the edge of Little Italy
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Little Italy telephone pole
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Gelato shop in Little Italy
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Rob finishing his gelato
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Sts. Peter and Paul Church
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Pier 31
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Alcatraz as seen from Crissy Field
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Charlotte, the competition for Rob's love
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Cute family in Crissy Field
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Path to the beach
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Rob and me in Crissy Field
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I know.
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Looking back at downtown SF from Crissy Field
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Vicious
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Golden Gate Bridge
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Golden Gate again
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Pretty wooden houses
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Rob and me by the Painted Ladies
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The Full House houses and SF beyond
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Close up on the Painted Ladies
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Aylin, Danny and me out in SF!
It had been over two years since I'd seen these dear friends from study abroad!

Skyline of San Francisco from the hills of Berkeley
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Stereotypically Berkeley scene
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The Berkeley crowd
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A redwood tree!
One California mission: accomplished.

The Berkeley Campanile
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Delicious Christmas Eve smorgasbord
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Blair, Nancy and me
I look idiotic, but it's a nice picture of them!

Santa and 'his' helper
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Aww
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The Christmas Eve crowd
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Santa donning Little Claire's glasses
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Lookin' good, Little Claire
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Little...who is this?
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Nancy on Santa's lap
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Mr. Hicks and Santa
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"Little Bill" (a.ka. Dad) on Santa's lap
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A rubix cube! How did Santa know
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Little Merritt up to bat
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Santa's long list
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Little Betsy with Santa
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The lovely host and hostesses
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Wee-um making a silly face
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Very cute
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The Kennedy's
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My family
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Merritt, Mom, Mary G, me, Dad
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Christmas Eve crowd
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The sibs
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Closer up siblings
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My stocking
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Caught: Mom recycling an old Mother's Day gift
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The gift proceedings
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Mary G amidst her new toys
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Dad loves having his photo taken.
Not.

Dad and his new beer stein
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Dad and Mary Genevieve
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The carnage
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Mom whipping up a casserole
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Everyone at brunch
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Mary Genevieve working it in the kitchen
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We got into town after dark
This is the town hall in Marienplatz, the very central historic part of Munich

The perfect time to go wild at the Christmas markets
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Candied apples
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One of the stalls at Marienplatz
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Crowded markets on Friday night
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Christkindlmarkt! The best places to be in December.
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Pouring shots into our rum. Bad idea
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Sarah wouldn't look so gleeful the next morning
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Hot steaming gluhwein
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Stars for sale
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Pumpkin products stall
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Christmas ornaments for sale
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Marienplatz
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A mens choir performing at the Rathaus
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Gluhwein stand
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The Rathaus and huge Christmas tree
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Hofbrauhaus, the most famous brewery and beer hall in Munich
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Hofbrauhaus sign
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Adorable old men in traditional outfits
Hofbrauhaus

The crowds inside Hofbrauhaus
This place seats thousands of people. It was full by 7 PM--I can't imagine what a zoo it must be during Oktoberfest!

Starting in with enormous beers
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Sarah guzzling
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Rob and me at Hofbrauhaus
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Post-slamming my head on the table
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Is this really a good idea?
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Cute Rob, mildly under the influence
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Sarah on her umpteenth
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Words can't describe
It's the background that really makes the picture amazing

Whenever I have a bad day, I can just look at these.
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Marienplatz by day
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Markets under the town hall
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Belltowers of the Frauenkirche
Cathedral of the Archbishop of Munich and Friesing; this was built in the 15th century.

Inside the Frauenkirche
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Lighting candles in the Frauenkirche
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Adorable - mini dirndls and lederhosen
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Sausage shop
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Funny molding
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A little local color in Marienplatz
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Gingerbread cookie stall
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Spires of the Old Town Hall and Church of the Holy Spirit
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Sarah in Marienplatz
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More men in hunting club hats
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The Viktualienmarkt
The well-known year-round food market in Munich

Tower of the Altes Rathaus, now a toy museum
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Walking back into Marienplatz
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Markets in Marienplatz
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The column for which Marienplatz is named
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Looking down on impressive Frauenkirche
We climbed to the top of "Alter Peter"- the bell tower of St. Peter Catholic Church near Marienplatz- for the stunning views

The Town Hall and Marienplatz markets
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Rob and me atop Alter Peter
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Frauenkirche and the Rathaus
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Munich skyline
An interesting mix of old and new that somehow works beautifully

Pretty red-roofed Munich
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Sarah!
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Towards the beautiful Alps
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Augustinerbrau Brewery and restaurant
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Julia and me out for her birthday dinner @ Menza!
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Here comes the cake
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The birthday girl dance
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This candle had blow torch-like qualities
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The crowd at Corvinteto, a huge bar/club
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Wall in Corvinteto
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Cool lamp
If there was one area where these Hungarian bars excelled, I would say that it was their light fixtures. All very intriguing.

Lukacs coffeehouse
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Nice picture of Jules
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Nice presentation
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Reflection of Andrassy Blvd.
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Decorative facade on Andrassy Ut., one of Budapest's main drags
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Park and nice buildings off of Andrassy
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Pedestrian path on Andrassy
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Sculpture outside House of Terror
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The House of Terror
A museum dedicated to depicting Hungary's experience under a series of totalitarian regimes. Very interesting and incredibly moving.

Tank inside the House of Terror
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Pictures of victims of these regimes
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Exhibit on labor camps
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Listening to the old timey radio
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You can see down into the bowels of the building
The building housing the museum was actually the seat of Hungary's various oppressive governments. The basement below the tank is where victims were held in isolation and tortured.

Various ads and propaganda
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Exhibit on oppression of the Church in Hungary
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Squalid cell below
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Memorial to the dead
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Budapest street
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Budapest Operahouse
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Great statue
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A look back at Pest and the Chain Bridge
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Chain Bridge and the Parliament across the Danube
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Looking down at the finicular and across at Pest
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Beautiful Budapest skyline over the Danube
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Looking north up the Danube
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The striking Parliament Building
(courtesy of Julia)

Crossing into Buda over the Chain Bridge
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Julia in Buda
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Buda Castle
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Statue in Buda Castle
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Part of the Castle Quarter
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Pretty tree on the castle grounds
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Julia and me at Buda Castle
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Hot wine, please
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Warming ourselves up with some hot wine
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Darkness falling over Pest
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The tramway
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Admiring the view
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The historic Gellert Hotel, inside of which are the thermal Gellert Baths
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Freedom Bridge, another one of the attractive bridges crossing the Danube
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Freedom Bridge as seen from Pest
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The Christmas markets!!!
They had just started for the season, and we spent a whole evening wandering around and eating our body weight in heavy warm foods and sweets.

Julia displaying some of the wilder wares of the Xmas market
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Gingerbread cookies! Delicious.
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The crowded markets
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Hot wine coming right up
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One of the stalls
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K??rt??s kal??cs--the most delicious dessert ever
(courtesy of Julia) They baked the sweet dough on these batons, then dip them in whatever toppings you want (sugar and cinnamon!) before handing you the conical bread to scarf down.

Ironing the meat. Why not?
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Fried potato patties
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We couldn't get enough of the k??rt??s kal??cs
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Bathtubs are chairs at Szimpla
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To the Dead Sea!
Rob and I rented a car so that we could get around the small country quickly and do as much as possible in our 3 days.

The Movenpick Dead Sea resort
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Heading down to the Dead Sea beach
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Dead Sea bathers
Many of whom have rubbed the mud from the Dead Sea all over themselves; it supposedly has really great qualities for your skin. After hearing a horror story about a severe body rash resulting from it, I refrained.

The barren Jordanian Dead Sea coast
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Floating in the salty water
It's really true! I couldn't have gotten fully underwater if I'd tried. And note to all: do NOT go in with any cuts of after shaving. Terrible pain ensues.

My nerdy boyfriend reading the Economist on vacation
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Tourists in the Dead Sea
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Soaking up some salt and rays
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Salt-encrusted rocks near the water
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The peaceful sea
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It was a Corona kind of moment
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Corona ad?
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One of the cute wooden umbrellas
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Muddy Germans
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Rays over Israel--this could be a Christian music CD cover
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Palm tree at the resort
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Colorful sunset over the Dead Sea
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Making a little...pit stop en route to Petra
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Feeling a little bit lighter
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Camel crossing
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Petra's town and rock formations from above
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The sign says it all
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Making the mile-long trek down into Petra
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A temple along the road
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Passage between the cliffs
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First glimpse of the Treasury facade
A horse carriage crashes through--one of the many ways of getting back and forth from the entrance. Donkeys ("You want to ride Ferrari?"), horses, camels and carriages abounded.

Rob and me in Petra
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The Treasury
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My new boyfriend
What can I say, I like a man in uniform

Some dolled up camels
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Rob patiently waiting, Longchamp in hand
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Buildings past the Treasury
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Colorful rock walls
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Bedouin inside Petra
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Some interesting rock carvings
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My new donkey friend
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The amphitheater
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Impressive part of Petra
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Close-up of rock-hewn buildings
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The Roman road
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The stones that have lasted all these years
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Just chillin
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I have to say, this camel has a pretty nice view from his office
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I love this one
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Tug of war
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Um, Roman goddess?
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Haha
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Interesting facade topped by stair-like triangles
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Mosque on the way out of Petra
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Last light over the rocks
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Gorgeous sunset
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Inside the feeding tent at our Bedouin camp
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The camp
(We actually stayed in a cabin-like room.)

Amazing setting
We came in at night, and since there are no lights out there in the desert, it was stunning to wake up and see our surroundings for the first time.

Snapping away
"Your wife, she really like photos. She like click, click, click." - our guide

Driving to the protected part of the desert
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Stunning Wadi Rum landscape
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Rendezvous point for 4x4 tours
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Camels off the side of the road
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Guys in Wadi Rum village
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Woman tending to camels in Wadi Rum village
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Woman tending to camels
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Beautiful red cliffs
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Dubiously 'ancient' rock carvings
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More carvings
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Rob in the desert
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Me up high
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Lone tree in Wadi Rum
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Camels below enormous rock formation
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Climbing the death dune
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Rob, not breaking a sweat as he climbs up this dune
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Me, failing miserably
If anyone ever asks whether I have Bedouin blood, just show them this photo

Dumping sand out of my shoe
Futile, really, because we still had to get back down

Tracks in the sand
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The old school Land Rover we went around in
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Candle wax-like cliff walls
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Red rock and sand
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Hardy scrub
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The sand changed colors
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Jagged rock formations
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An old Land Rover in Wadi Rum
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Group of riders passing by
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Me on the arch
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Rob and me
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More Wadi Rum scenery
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Tour guide heading back to Wadi Rum village
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Windswept sand leading to enormous rock formations
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Downtown Amman
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Rainbow Street
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@ Hashim's for a delicious and insanely cheap last dinner
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Death by falafel and fuul
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Erke, Ayse (the birthday girl) and friend
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Ayse and 2 Zeyneps
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Rob and the performer
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Everyone dancing at the meyhane
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Meyhane revelry
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Group shot
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The cake has arrived
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The birthday girl about to make her wish
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Cutting the birthday cake
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Ayse with Erke and Zeynep
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Ayse cutting the cake
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Zeynep, Ayse and Zeynep
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Rob, Ayse and me
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More dancing
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Boys giving Ayse, Zeynep and me bunny ears
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Hey--
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Much better
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Ayse, Zeynep, friend and me
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Zeynep, the birthday girl and me
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Group shot
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Hah not sure
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Zeynepler and Ayse
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Always biting
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Rob and me
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Nice picture of Burcu
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Sultanahmet during Iftar
In Sultanahmet, as in other central parts of the city, there are nightly celebrations during Ramadan to break the fast and entertain people after the sun goes down

Chris and Andrea
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The Blue Mosque, or Sultanahmet Camii, at evening prayer
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During Ramadan, they string the lights between big mosques' minarets
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People praying
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Aya Sofya at night
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The Blue Mosque complex
The text says: "Know the reason for this month"

Andrea, Helena and me
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Picnickers abound
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Meyhane night for Talya's going-away
Emily, Jill and Can

Our table
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Talya and me
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Hot.
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Emre and Talya
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Emre, Talya and me
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Cute. Jill and Can
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The flame of eternal love
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Helena and Jill at Araf
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Everyone dancing at Araf
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Rom tearing up the dance floor
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Sunday brunch at my apartment
Not too sure what Talya's doing here

Pancakes, anyone? We've got one taker
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Two takers for pancakes
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Kim, Helena, Jill, me, and Talya (behind the camera) at brunch
Mmm chocolate chip pancakes

Hmm. Post- Lars' going away party in Harbiye,
supposedly fending off the transvestite prostitutes that wander those back streets

Hahah. Nick, Patrick, Rob and me at Araf
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Patrick, Rob, me, Sarah
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Kiz Kulesi, or Maiden's Tower, seen from the ferry to the Princes Islands
Kiz Kulesi is a small, man-made island which is hundreds of years old. Legend has it that a sultan had visions that his daughter would die by snake bite, so he built the island and put her out there in hopes of protecting her.

View from the monastery on Buyukada
The biggest of the Princes' Islands in the Marmara Sea, just a ferry ride from central Istanbul

Tired after a long walk to the top
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Me
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The monastery atop Buyukada
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The steeple at the frankly rather unimpressive monastery
The one on Heybeliada is way better.

I was not appropriately dressed for an Orthodox church
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Neither was Rob. Working it in the donated pants
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People tie cloths in the trees for making wishes
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Little islands in the Sea of Marmara
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A roof on a Buyukada house
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Rob gets annoyed with my photographic distractions
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One of the faytons (horse-drawn carriages) flying past
Aside from bikes, these are the only transport allowed on the island.

One of the typical beautiful wooden Buyukada houses
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View of the Buyukada harbor from the restaurant
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Creating art from dinner ;)
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Ayse and Sarah slaving away in my kitchen
Ayse employing a cooking utensil--this had to be documented

Zeynep, Ayse and me after cooking
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Ayse passed out on my couch
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Why do we set ourselves up for blackmail? Why?
Sarah and myself having a little childish fun

Greek church in Haskoy
One October day, Jill and I took a long walk around different neighborhoods on the historic Golden Horn part of Istanbul. A far cry from where we live, they have many poorer and more religious people, as well as ethnic minorities and fascinating historic buildings.

The secret garden behind the church
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Armenian grave stones at the church
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Creepy tea truck
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Haskoy waterfront
Haskoy is an area on the Golden Horn, or Halic, in Istanbul. It was very historically developed, then became industrialized due to shipping ports in the area and very run down, but recently has become cleaned up and revitalized.

Haskoy waterfront / old Halic bridge
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Skyline of the old city
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Looking through the old bridge (now dismantled)
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Where the sidewalk ends
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View down the Golden Horn from the bridge
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Rowers passing by
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Sculler on the Golden Horn
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The Koc Museum
A very nicely done museum which mainly focuses on transport and industry (sounds boring, but they have awesome old trains, planes, boats and cars inside). Kind of a little boy's dream.

One of the many parts shops in Haskoy
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No horse carriages on the highway please
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Stairs to one of the bridges crossing the Golden Horn
Was accosted by a soldier here for taking photos too close to a base.

Jillian over a plate of fries, as we wait for the boat
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Next stop: Fener
We took a ferry across the Golden Horn to another very historic and industrial destination

The Golden Horn and Galata
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One of the many shipyards of the Golden Horn
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Fener panorama
You can see the Greek school center top, the Bulgarian church bottom right, and I believe the Ecumenical Patriarchate is in there as well on the left

The imposing Greek school building
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Arriving in Fener
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People waiting at the ferry station
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Fener waterfront
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The Bulgarian church from afar
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Entering the Bulgarian church, which dates to 1898
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Facade of the Bulgarian church
Interestingly, this church was completely constructed of iron in I believe Austria and shipped by boat straight to Turkey, where it was simply lifted off the boat and plopped into this spot.

Note to all: when I die, I want this tombstone
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Upper facade of the Bulgarian church
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Inside the Bulgarian church
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A glass atolier we stumbled across
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The sad state of affairs in Fener
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In the backstreets of Fener
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Cute Fener shop
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Fener streets
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Everyone's got laundry
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Abandoned buildings in Fener
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Sad buildings
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The intimidating Greek school
Sadly, this huge school has only about 60 students these days. It is located very close to the Greek Patriarchate.

This one's for Jill's mom
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Girls atop an old wall recycled for newer cheap housing
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Women walking in Fener
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Hot buns
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Tunel at night (one of my favorite places to go out)
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Another Tunel shot
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Kum Saati (Hour Glass) - a cute bar Jill and I stumbled upon
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La Plaza Catalunya
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Entering La Rambla from Plaza Catalunya
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Crowds on La Rambla
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Mary Genevieve on la Rambla
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Street performers
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Just another day on la Rambla
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Executioner street performer
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What's for dinner
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Another shot of La Rambla
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Busy sidestreet filled with shopping
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Nice shades sis
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Me in the Gothic Quarter
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Street sculpture
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La Catedral in el Barri Gotic
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Interior of La Catedral
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Cathedral angels
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Alley in the Barri Gotic
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Pretty archway
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Flags of Spain and Catalunya
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Small alley in Gothic Quarter
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Buildings on La Rambla
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La Boqueria produce market
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Cool Moroccan-themed bar
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Up on Montjuic for a castle-side movie
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Following Gregg to the action
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The spires of La Sagrada Familia
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Stunning entry facade
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Statues depicting scenes from the Bible
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Mary Genevieve and me at La Sagrada Familia
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Closer up
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Words carved in the doors
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Ok, so I really liked these doors
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Que es la veritat?
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Statue at the entrance
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Interior wall
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Inside La Sagrada Familia
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View of the city from the belltower
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Barcelona below
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Mary Genevieve
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Moi
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Jesus looking down on the world
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Spire decoration
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Mary Genevieve
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On a balcony above the main facade
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The city below
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Very ornate facade of Sagrada Familia
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In the metro
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The Gaudi-designed Batllo House
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La Casa Batllo
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Tooth-like front windows
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Inside La Casa Batllo
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Mary Genevieve inside
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In the tiled patio behind the house
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Park Guell!
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Entering hilly Park Guell...
...along with 30,000 of our best tourist friends

The tiled lizard
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We ate lunch in the shade of this columned area
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Cute Gaudi-designed buildings at the entrance
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The spire and the sea
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The hip crowds
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Park revelers
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MG and me up high in Park Guell
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Mary G in Park Guell
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Man-made Park Guell
Interestingly enough, a failed luxury suburb created by Gaudi that was later turned into a park

Beautiful day in the park
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The highest point in Park Guell
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The city was not in short supply of crosses
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In the woods in Park Guell
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Tile-covered tower
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Out for a delicious paella dinner @ Set Portes
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Mmmm
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Rainbow over apartment buildings
A nice welcome to Paris

Church spires at dusk
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Old library, forgot the name
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Walking around the Tuileries Gardens
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Old-timey merry-go-round
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Off to dinner in Paris
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Rob and me
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Trying out a cupcake
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Luxembourg Gardens
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Luxembourg Gardens
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Rob and me
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Jennie and me
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Cute little car
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The Musee Rodin
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The Burghers of Calais
Depicting the men of Calais who sacrificed themselves for their fellow citizens

Another sculpture in the gardens behind the museum
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The pond in the gardens
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Throwing Rob in
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Jennie loves bushes?
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Looking towards the Eiffel Tower
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Parisian cycling away
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Intimidating guard of the bridge
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Seine bridge
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Hanging out in the park on Ile St. Louis
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Another bridge shot
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Cobblestone streets and church in the 5th
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