Monthly Archives: October 2013

2013: Entry 10: Finale: Athens, Mycenae, and Delphi

Posted on October 10, 2013 by paquettepaul

Getting in late from Santorini left me more than a little tired the next day. I was glad I had not scheduled much for that Friday. My goal was to get packed and ready to leave as I would be … Continue reading →

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2013: Entry 9: Santorini (Thira), Greece

Posted on October 9, 2013 by paquettepaul

Sunrise on Santorini A line of clouds in various shapes parade from left to right illuminated by the approaching dawn. Red bands of light gather on the horizon as the coal-black sky of night gives way to  pale blue. Slowly … Continue reading →

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2013: Entry 8: Athens, Greece

Posted on October 8, 2013 by paquettepaul

I arrived at the Thessaloniki train station and looked at the board to find my gate for the trip to Athens. By some force of intuition, I still found myself going to the youngish woman behind the International window to … Continue reading →

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2013: Entry 7: Thessaloniki, Greece

Posted on October 7, 2013 by paquettepaul

The trains have not been running between Greece and other European countries for about 2 years now due to Greece’s economic problems. My real choices were to fly (boring) or take the bus (hassles, 10-hour trip, border crossings and ripe … Continue reading →

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2013: Entry 6: Return to Istanbul, Turkey

Posted on October 6, 2013 by paquettepaul

We said goodbye to Asian Turkey as we made the 30-minute crossing at the narrow part of the Sea of Marmara to the European side of Turkey. Our first stop that day was the Haiga Sophia, that magnificent cathedral to mosque … Continue reading →

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2013: Entry 5: Cappadocia to Bursa, Turkey

Posted on October 5, 2013 by paquettepaul

Not long after leaving Konya, the landscape took a dramatic turn. It was dry, flat and yellow— sort of our Kansas! Farming of  wheat, barley, and sugar beets is the big industry here. This area was part of the Seljuk … Continue reading →

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2013: Entry 4: Pamulkkale to Konya, Turkey

Posted on October 4, 2013 by paquettepaul

We left the village of Pamulkkale in the morning and made the short hop to the ancient hot springs nearby and the adjacent site of Hieropolis. The hot springs were tiered levels that have deposited white layers of travertine, a … Continue reading →

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2013/Entry 3: Pergaman to Pamukkale, Turkey

Posted on October 3, 2013 by paquettepaul

As we left Troy in the hands of bus-loads of other tourists, we headed on to the ancient spa city of Pergaman (Begama). This was a Greek and Roman healing center. People came here to take the cure in the … Continue reading →

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Entry 2: Galipoli and Troy

Posted on October 2, 2013 by paquettepaul

We took off from Istanbul after a quick flying trip through the Grand Bazaar. It didn’t bother me that much as I will be staying in this area for 2 days at the end of the tour. The bazaar, founded … Continue reading →

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Entry 1/ 2013: Istanbul and What I Quickly Learned

Posted on October 1, 2013 by paquettepaul

Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain. I was thinking of this quote when the ever-cheerful desk clerk at the Dedeman Hotel in Istanbul said to me, “But sir, it is … Continue reading →

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