Turkey

We met up with Melissa's twin sister and her family. Our four became eight and we moved into our apartment for the next few days. (Luther was impatient, waiting for them to come. Luther said, It's refreshing to know cab drivers often get lost too like you do in Lincoln." I said, "Yeah if only I could have one of those money making meters the cab drivers run while driving in circles.")

Our flat overlooks the water with ferries coming every few minutes. The most amazing part is being near many touristy bars where we were treated each night to multiple free concerts from midnight until closing at 3 AM. (Luther was certain a guy was singing in our living room. We got out of bed and searched the apartment. We never found the singer. We decided he's testing how loud his sound system could be turned up without blowing out speakers. After it stopped at 2:53 AM, Luther slept until seven and stole all the covers.) Our three bedroom and two bath flat overlooking the coasts was beautiful none-the-less. (The next morning he informed me that he prayed God would send a lightning bolt to that guy. I told him that could be understood as being disrespectful to God, breaking the commandment you shall not take God's name in vain. After my explanation I heard him snore.)

Two taxi rides later (One cost 14 Lira to the Blue Mosque area and the ride back--same distance--cost 48. I held Luther back from arguing.) we decided to walk with a map. After a mile or two back to the Blue Mosque area we saw the Sultan's palace (Luther said, "It became the seat power for the Ottoman state of 1299 after Constantinople [Istanbul.] was conquered in 1453. I told him to put away his smart phone.) The sultans ruled for 623 years until 1922. We visited the Topkapi Palace where the Ottoman Sultans (emperors) lived with their harem, parliament, oval office equivalent, treasury relics from 1465-1856. Almost 400 years of their 624-year reign. (I told Luther, "That's it, I'm taking the smart phone away." He handed me some thing made of lots of paper with pictures and lots of words. I think you call it a travel book. These were used a long time ago in the BC times which stands for "Before Cell phones." Anyway Luther had something to say about the palace, "It's used and it's too old. The columns are too slippery and there isn't enough trees." And then he asked, "What's a harem?" I bared false witness! I told him a half lie. I said, It's a palace for educating hairy women." For some reason that made sense to him.)

In the treasury/relic rooms we saw Moses' staff inlaid in gold, Joseph's arm inlaid in gold, a broach with a diamond as big as the palm of my hand, and more gold and jewels I've ever seen in one place. (Luther asked, "Why are those funny men in green berets carrying machine guns? And why do I have to ride on that conveyer belt with all the bags through security? I told him at least he doesn't have to walk through metal detectors that make loud beeps due to my camera, coins in my pocket and belt metal. Still no one seems concerned and I walked on past.)

Outside the main palace were multiple museums of Sumerian cuneiform, reliefs, sarcophagus from Turkey and Egypt, statues, pottery, and mausoleums. (Luther said, "I can relate to those mummies. After a long day of hanging on your neck I also feel dead tired.)