Istanbul

Istanbul, my love, what have they done to you?
They've washed your face and whacked a new frock on you, but we still know what a dirty little slut you are!
Your curves show through the veil of respectability that has been draped over the domes and minarets.
A tram runs where crossing the road used to to be a blood sport.
What is this with your clean streets, traffic lights and flushing toilets?
Why does my bar now sell beer to me in clean glasses? and dare to charge me more? Where is Ahmet selling me delicious kebabs from his cart with his dirty fingernails. I demand gastro you bastards!
I knew you before the EC seduced you and I still see you in the back streets and laneways.
And I still love you.

We have lost Daniel twice, the kids have seen snow and decided it's not what is is cracked up to be. A bit cold for their liking.

Christmas Day dawned bright and sunny for the first day since we arrived.....and at 1degC. We spent it wandering the back streets and visiting mosques and, somehow, ended up back at the grand bazaar. I am amazed at how frequently this has happened, some kind of "town planning phemonemna" I suppose.