Which also meant most folks thought we were something other than Americans. We were confused with Germans, English, Irish, Welsh, Scots, Dutch, Aussies, Canadians, and our personal favorite -- Jamaicans, mon. (Seriously, in Istanbul some people thought we were Jamaican. I'm pretty certain not sure many Turks have met many Jamaicans, because the Bolgers are not sprinters. Our dreadlocks must have confused them.)
Speaking of hair, my four blondes attracted a lot of stares and comments. One family even asked to pose for a picture with them. At first Carol thought they were asking her to take their picture -- so she reached for the camera to oblige. Then they clarified -- they wanted a family shot with our family (excluding your faithful blogger, who was standing in line at the Dolambahce Palace -- the first time, not the second time!).
Further down is our list of favorites, but I also like to give some impressions. So here's a run of them:
- Turkey is open during August. Much of Athens and Barcelona has left for vacation, so we got more of an all-around authentic feel in Istanbul.
- Don't go to Greece for the beaches -- go for the history. Definitely dabble with the beaches, but they are not the reason to go to Greece -- go to Hawaii or the Carribean for beaches. Or Delaware/the Jersey Shore.
- Greek and Turkish wine is a bit on the weak side. They are fine to drink, but I preferred Israeli wine a LOT more back in the Spring.
- Priorat is the best Spanish wine in my book, moving ahead of Rioja -- unless, of course, I was near that region!
- It's hard to find affordable meals for five in any country on the Euro -- even lunch. Now I know we were in touristy areas, but years ago Greece was famous for being an inexpensive place to go. The EU has ruined the affordability!
- With the exception of the cabbie who ripped me off, everyone was pleasant. There wasn't the resentment of some tourist areas.
- It would be fun to stand between two restaurants in Rhodes and flip a coin -- the two hawkers wouldn't know what to do while the coin was flipping.
- We felt the most comfortable in Spain, but some of that is language (Carol knows it, and I can figure some signs out).
- Cargo shorts with a zippered pocket are a good way to fight the famed Barcelona pickpockets -- I never had to worry about it. (I did worry that I might become used to wearing cargo shorts, but such is the way travel indelibly changes a person.)
- I do hope that Turkey stays secular and welcoming to the West. Istanbul is an amazing mash up of East and West.
- If you aren't awed at the Acropolis, you have no sense of the history of democracy, politics, and philosophy.
- If you aren't inspired at Sagrada Familia, you have no soul.
- If you aren't bewitched by the Spice Bazaar in Istanbul, you have no sense of adventure.
- If you are awed and inspired at all three of the above, you are a friend of ours.
The best guide book combination is to have BOTH Lonely Planet (surpassed my old favorite, "Let's Go" long ago) and the DK Eyewitness Travel. One complaint about Lonely Planet -- the darn print is too small and hard to read. I don't need reading glasses (yet, wait a year or two), but I really could have used them for the Lonely Planet books.
Lonely Planet has the detail, while DK Eyewitness lays the info out very clearly in an easily accessible way. Use Lonely Planet while planning, and use DK while on foot/on the move.
Well, a quick word of thanks to my faithful readers, many of you who sent emails, Facebook comments, and even more comments on the blog posts than usual. We're already planning our next trip in 2011. Right now the short list includes: Portugal and Northern Spain, Paris and western Germany, or England and Scotland. It will be August, so keep the weather in mind as you suggest places.
Thanks, and safe -- and often -- travels.
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