Tag Archives: #favoritethings

Planes, Trains, & Automobiles: Istanbul

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SQWEE SQWEE SSQQ-SSSSSSSSQQQQQQQQWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

Vacation!

I’ve taken time off, off course … a week here, a week there, a random long weekend. Traveling with one friend across the country to visit another (and collect Arnold Palmer’s autograph, and Disney World with my bestest bosom friend and her family definitely count as vacation. Sitting on the tractor going around, and around, and around, and around the field (haying season) does not.

This particular trip–dubbed Trains, Planes, & Automobiles–is only the second grown-up, two-week holiday I’ve managed in the past {cough} twelve years {cough} To say I’ve been looking forward to it would be understating things just {pinching fingers together} a little bit.

Our trip started at dark:thirty, leaving the house early enough to drive to the airport, check baggage, and clear security. We have three legs to part on of this adventure: drive to the airport, PDX to JFK, JFK to IST. (PS–the Portland airport is not very busy at 430 am.)

I’m traveling with a friend who I’ve already come to know in a better way since this adventure began. Alright, so technically this was her trip and I just invited myself along. She and the other two we’re meeting in Istanbul were kind enough to let me.

Our seat choice for the second leg of the flight from JFK to IST was superb. When we booked them, we were a little unsure if we would appreciate them…directly behind the first bulkhead. Luscious leg room. Luscious. 20130831-071457.jpg

Tario, a keyboardist with the pop band Akon for the past few years (Justin Beiber before that), was our seat mate this leg. An easy-going, good-natured guy with a warm & ready smile … and a stellar stash of chocolate … Tario and Sandy bonded over anecdotes about a neighborhood they both know just outside Atlanta. It seems home prices in even the more affluent neighborhoods have continued to trend downwards, in some cases as much as 60-70%. Akon is playing in Istanbul 8/30 & 8/31 in the Festival of Velvet Villains with 50 Cent and Inna, among others. Who knows, a concert may end up on the itinerary…

Is there enough time to see.all.the.things?!?
…

We landed in Istanbul a little early; successfully navigated customs (picked up my 4th passport stamp), baggage pickup, the ATM for Turkish Lira, the taxi (our driver spoke very little English), and finding the apartment.

Aubrie and Robin had already been in Istanbul a few weeks and had previously sent directions, things to look for, etc. Aubrie sent a detailed explanation of how to negotiate price with the taxi driver, how to not panic when he stopped to ask directions from people on the street, and my *favorite* part of the directions, 2013-08-30 PTA4

“Once you arrive at the apartment, 102 is clearly on the door, you want to press the second buzzer button. Or you can just yell from the street.”

Which is precisely what we did. Yell from the street. Sandy and I stood on Uzunhafiz street in the Kadiköy neighborhood in Istanbul, Turkey, and yelled for Aubrie.

…

After a little power nap to acclimate to the time zone (10 hrs ahead difference) and a shower to feel human again, the four of us struck off for the falafel shop just around the corner for a snack. Oh, wow. No clue what was in it. But wow, good. Aubrie walked us down to the bakery they’ve been going to and we picked up a few treats. 20130831-075651.jpg

I tagged along with Robin down to the water front for a photo op. There was a bit of cloud cover and Robin wanted to get a few photos while the lighting was good. The clouds and wind were putting on quite a show. Those pictures are still on my camera.

After another little cat nap for Sandy and I, all of us struck off for dinner. Waiting for a table at their favorite restaurant, we had time for a cup of tea. Dinner was buffet style (Libby, does this look familiar?!?) After dinner, as we were sitting talking, soaking up the atmosphere, Robin noticed a familiar sound. There is a young girl, who, with nothing but a drum, wanders the “restaurant alleys” playing and sometimes singing. For tips. The drumming has a good beat, but it is loud. I noticed she was roaming barefoot. I’m not sure if that has any significance, though.

Two doors from the falafel place is the pastry shop Aubrie and Robin have frequenting. Two words: baklava and ice cream. OK, three. Helva. 20130831-081106.jpg

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We spent some time deciding the itinerary for the remainder of our time in Istanbul. Bedtime. My body has no clue which end is up. But the sounds of the street activity are lulling me.
…
2 am local time
The smells wafting in through the open window all.night.long are comforting and maddening at the same time. Fresh bread of who-knows-how-many-different-varieties, cinnamon, vanilla, an unidentifiable pastry or ten. It reminds me of my grandma’s kitchen. And my belly that breakfast is several hours off.
…
We’re in Istanbul. SQWEE!

The Outdoor Bucket

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I love all the seasons. Spring and blooming things. Summer and sunny days. Fall and turning leaves. Winter and cozy firesides. If pressed for a favorite, I couldn’t choose. I love them all equally …. and best.

My infatuation with blooming things starts with early spring crocuses and doesn’t stop. Earlier this week I noticed the brilliant orange and purple combos showing off. This happy little coneflower wanted to be trendy, too.

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I think it’s showing off just a little, both colors in the same bloom.

Walking the Hairy Beasts last night I noticed a few more of the field flowers are “out.”

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I love how the outdoor bucket is shaping up!

You *can* put love in a box.

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Three years ago (good grief, it seems like just a couple months ago) I went on spring break holiday with my bestie and her family. Tagging along I balanced out the adult-child ratio (they have three boys). I had an absolute blast, experiencing every thrilling twist and turn of Disney World roller coasters more than once. Mt. Everest was definitely my favorite.

Laura and I were able to wander off on our own (the boys are not the most enthusiastic shoppers) and indulge in some girl-time. Whenever we’re able to be together we make it a point to find a souvenir. This particular trip, we decided on matching pendants. Hers, a starfish; mine, a seahorse.

Today the postman brought me love in a box.
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A surprise and happy mosey down memory lane. And a beautiful reminder of my beautiful friend.

Pinktastic Tour 2012

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This year has really flown by {snapping fingers} fast. It’s nearly Christmas!?! 2012 has been spectacular; several fabulous events and experiences with so *many* wonderful, indulgent moments in between. Here is one such event from earlier this summer:

It was a dark and stormy night … 

It was a clear and dry day …

I’m not sure who was responsible, but I was nominated to lead the first Saturday club MOTO ride of the season.

Being Ride Master is no mean responsibility. So many considerations:
* Safety–first, last, always–avoiding traffic, limiting town travel, etc
* Adequate pit stops–for stretching and well, pit stops
* Scenery–and lots of it
* Lunch–time, location, type (picnic, restaurant)
* Road condition–should have turns and rolling hills, shouldn’t have stretches of gravel

Logistics can get a bit tricky, especially if you’re really trying to plan a fresh route.  Given the fact some in our group have ridden practically every possible route across the state (really, that’s not much of an exaggeration), logistics are next to impossible. The best you can hope for is to plan a route to a destination folks haven’t been to … in a while.

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I’ve become sort of known for my riding boots. When I was Ride Master in 2011, Duane made everyone pink boot covers as a show of solidarity. It set a precedent, of sorts. My rides should have some touch of pink to them. Really, did he know what he was starting?

The Wed night prior I was encouraged to name my ride this year. I had a little idea brewing …

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Pinktastic Tours: 2012 Pink Tea

We started with breakfast, stopped for lunch at the mid-point and ended with ice cream. That covers all the major food groups, right?

An overview of the route is to the right; total mileage: about 125 miles.

When I started planning the route, my goal was to find at least one road that at least one person in the club hadn’t been on before. So, I spent some QT with Google Maps plotting. I can heartily attest to the value of doing a check ride–far enough in advance that you can make route changes as necessary.

GPS thinks that you can get from Rodgers Mountain Loop over to Lulay. They probably were connected at some point … by a logging road no longer in use. Fortunately, that was the only bobble in planning. I decided to leave the loop as part of the route, because it really is a gorgeous, rolling 7.4 miles.

Turns out Dave had never been on this road before. WOO HOO! Success :)

The navigator (that would be me) went straight on Bilyeu Creek when I had intended to turn left. However, it turned out to be a GREAT mistake, because I found a road John hadn’t been on, and more importantly, a gorgeous pink Cadillac in a driveway. Finding a road John Turner hasn’t been on is the coup de gras. (Yay, me!)

At the first rest stop (Our Lady of Lourdes church), Duane shared what he knew of the history. And I popped open the trailer and rolled out the Pink Tea (Raspberry Snapple) and a few other pinkish snacks. Apparently this raises the bar a little higher for the next Ride Masters. (And now I have to figure out how to top that if they let me be Ride Master again.)

From the first stop we rambled to a turn-out in the Silver Creek Falls park. (um, note to self: parking, Memorial Day weekend, not so great) And from there to Silverton for lunch.

After lunch, we headed north up to Marquam, then west to Mt. Angel–via the scenic route, of course. We meandered south towards Stayton. I confess the navigator goofed again, but I think I covered pretty well, and no one will ever know.

It was a great route, if I say it myself. Given another 5 degrees or so of temperature–if bullying the weather into cooperation is possible–and it would have been a perfect day all around.

 

Under pressure…

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Every summer weekend brings with it a l.o.n.g. list of chores. Daylight’s burning and all that. Some I’m not overly fond of (crawling around under the house, for one). Others I don’t mind.

Some, I utterly adore. Like pressure washing. There’s just something so satisfying about seeing what you’ve accomplished, even while you’re still in the middle of it.

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Utterly.

If this kind of love is wrong, well, I’m okay with that 🙂