Author Archives: John and Michelle
Politics, Post-Apocalyptic Wastelands, and Soccer
This was more like entering the rugby scrum that Turks call a “queue,” crushing your way through the lines of riot police standing next to the armored troop transport toward the five small doors used to admit thousands of fans, going through the first cattle chute, getting frisked, heading to the second cattle chute, getting frisked again, and finally giving your ticket to the ticket taker. Allow me an understatement. This was quite unpleasant.
Turkish Haircut 2: Electric Boogaloo
Where to begin? Well, for starters, when I walked in the door post-haircut, Michelle started laughing. Then she didn’t stop laughing. Then she went for the camera while I went for the sink. (I won.) I haven’t seen her laugh like that in some time, actually. This was the result of the styling process which I didn’t ask for per se, but which I absolutely got. I looked like a low-rent Macklemore.
The day we wandered through a Turkish cement plant and into the wilderness
…Just a few minutes into our walk, we were greeted by a giant pit. This perhaps hinted at our looming descent into a figurative hell, but that symbolism was lost on us at the time and we forged ahead anyway…
The Turkey Bucket List: Part II
Here is what I (Michelle) would like to do in Turkey, now that I’ve finally gotten around to typing up my bucket list.
Byzantine Istanbul Part IV: The Church of Theotokos Pammakaristos
30 mile per hour winds shut down the Golden Horn ferry, so we ended up walking. This might have otherwise been a pleasant walk but for the evil weather, and I know that Michelle particularly didn’t enjoy having to constantly hold her skirt against the wind. Then I compounded the trouble by taking a quick detour through some of the least-welcoming neighborhoods of the city.
Byzantine Istanbul Part III: The Bukoleon Palace
The Roman Emperor Theodosius II was a prolific builder, and his fingerprints are all over modern Istanbul. This in spite of the fact that he was emperor some 1600 years ago. If you are a Byzantine buff, you probably know all about Theodosius II, who reigned when the empire was split between eastern and western […]
Down With This Sort of Thing! Our Experience with Protests in Istanbul
The real problem we have with these things is not so much that we are not Turkish and so have no say anyway. The problem is that we couldn’t involve ourselves even if we wanted to, because we hardly have any idea what’s going on. We have to Google everything later. For all we know, they’re chanting “No more kicking puppies!” Or perhaps not.
I call it chaos, they call it home
I could try to use words to capture the nonstop chaos that permeates all aspects of life in Istanbul.
But instead, I’ll share this humorous video that compares everyday occurrences in Europe (or the U.S.) vs. in Turkey, from crossing the street to following smoking laws (or not) to navigating bureaucracy.
The Life of the Linguistically Deficient: Idioms Are a Tough Nut to Crack
The hardest thing for me is avoidance of idioms. I tend to speak more slowly to those whose English I know is a second language, and I certainly think about my words much more methodically than I normally do. (Which may be a good habit for me anyway, since I’ve been known to put my foot in my mouth. See! Idiom!) On the other hand, I’m incredibly happy to learn the local idioms, since I find them fascinating. And, like any idiom, they often don’t make much sense at first blush. (Another one!)
What happens when Istanbul gets a few inches of snow
So it’s snowing in Istanbul. With nearly 30 brutal Minnesota winters under my belt, you’d think I’d seen it all when it comes to arctic weather conditions, but the past few days have proved that wrong.
Here’s what happens when a few inches (err, several centimeters) of the wintery white stuff blankets a city where palm trees are plentiful and snowfalls are rare.
No Ticket Back 
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