my trip to turkey in pictures

 Because pictures are worth a thousand words right?  Nah, I'm just lazy...  plus these pictures and my words could never suffice to explain the glory that is Turkey!  It was really really lovely.  For this trip I went with a tour group for twelve days, which can be good if you're visiting  a country for the first time and you want to see a bit of everything (its bad because you only get a little taste of what the country and the people are really like).  Our group was very nice and we had a lot of fun, but if/ when I go back to Turkey, I would love to do it on my own... the Turkish people are extremely hospitable, Turkish Airlines is the bomb, the food is EXCELLENT (no preservatives, everything is fresh and seasonal... honey and yogurt and lamb mmmmmm), the whole place is alive with deep history (the historian in me was SOOO excited) and the shopping is glorious.  Just blogging about it makes me want to go back ♥ But no.  My next international trip will be to Japan (in May/ June) which I'm very stoked about :)  Anyway, hope you enjoy my pictures!

The library room at Topkapi Palace (Istanbul, Turkey)

Pomegranate Juice Seller (Istanbul, Turkey)

 

Juicy pomegranate  (Istanbul, Turkey)

 Hippodrome (Istanbul, Turkey)

 Hagia Sophia (Istanbul, Turkey)

 Lunch at the Pudding House: Lentil-stuffed eggplant, yogurt and Kebab (Istanbul, Turkey)

 Sultanahmet Camii/ Blue Mosque (Istanbul, Turkey)

 Sultanahmet Camii/ Blue Mosque (Istanbul, Turkey)

Grand Bazaar!  I spent way too little time here... (Istanbul, Turkey)

 Ataturk's Memorial (Ankara, Turkey)

 Museum of Anatolian Civilizations (Ankara, Turkey)

 Iskender Kebab: yummmy!  Kebab meat over cubed pita with a tomato and butter sauce with fresh yogurt.

 Evil eye on a tree (Goreme Cappadocia, Turkey)

 View from my first balloon ride!  People were able to carve extensive homes/ tunnels into the mountains here because of the type of rock (tufa) its made of... inside these little places was much cooler than outside! (Goreme Cappadocia, Turkey)

 View from my first balloon ride! (Goreme Cappadocia, Turkey)

 View from my first balloon ride! (Goreme Cappadocia, Turkey)

 Lace Design on Turkish Ceramics at a Ceramic Factory  (Cappadocia, Turkey)

 Manti, Turkish ravioli with yogurt and garlic oil (Kayseri, Turkey)

 Goreme Open-Air Museum (Goreme, Neveshir, Turkey)

 Beautiful sunset (Goreme Cappadocia, Turkey)

 Mevlana Museum (Konya, Turkey)

 Pamukkale, Cotton Fortress  (Pamukkale, Turkey)

Ruins at Ephesus (Kusadasi, Ephesus, Turkey)

 Ruins at Ephesus (Kusadasi, Ephesus, Turkey)

 Charisma Hotel (Kusadasi, Turkey)

Ancient health spa Asclepion (Pergamon, Izmir, Turkey)

 Ancient health spa Asclepion (Pergamon, Izmir, Turkey)

Ancient health spa Asclepion (Pergamon, Izmir, Turkey)

 The ruins at Troy (Troy, Turkey)

Gallipoli Coast/ Anzac Cove (Turkey)

 Crossing the Dardenelles (Turkey)

 Spice Bazaar (Istanbul, Turkey)

Yeni Mosque, near the Spice Bazaar (Istanbul, Turkey)

i'm back!

I'm back!  It was a WONDERFUL trip to Turkey and I promise to share lots of pics and more details in a bit. Coming up (in January and May) trips to the Big Island of Hawaii and a trip to Japan; HUZZAH!!! In other news, I've redesigned my blog again!  It won't last long, probably just until the holidays are over.... I'm still trying to make it look cleaner and more professional; we'll see how it goes in the near future.

Also in other news, I've opened my shop again! It has been quite a while since its been open and its been even longer since it's had items for sale other than those that are already reserved for customers.  I am trying to sell things I already have on hand, and I'm also considering reopening my second etsy store (happyapplet... bet you guys didn't even know/remember I have an etsy supply store; it's been closed for years!)  because I think berrysprite is moving in a new direction... we'll see about that too.  Anyway, I might have some yarn and fabrics for sale... still considering parting with some of my stash!  If you're in the mood for some Christmas gifts, feel free to pop on over to berrysprite... I'll let you know if/ when happyapplet is opening again!