Amos

In Turkey brown road signs signify historical sites.  Bulent and I have a dream where one day we can take a road trip and follow every brown historical road sign that tickles our fancy.  Well, when we were in Marmaris we were able to do just that, which lead us to the Ancient city of Amos, situated on Asarcık hill, above Kumlubük bay, near the town of Turunç. 

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To reach the ancient city, walk through the fragrant olive trees…

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Climb up to the top of Asarcık hill…

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Past the ruins of the city walls…August2011 015

To where the city overlooks the sea on three sides, built on top of a spit of land protruding into the bay…

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There are several sections of ruins of up the hill, including some residential areas, an amphitheater, and the walls of the ancient citadel.

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We had a great time following the brown historical road sign, and hope that there are many more in the future.

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Filed under History, Marmaris, ro, Road Trip, Turkey

Another Flat Jules Sighting!

Every year there is a 5k race at our town’s Old Home Day. When I went home in June my mom asked me if we could  train for it and run it together. We thought it was going to be in early August. Unfortunately, the race took place after I left for Turkey. My mother and I still trained for it all summer. My mother rocked that race and ran it in a little over 30 minutes. While I was not there in person, I supported her by doing my own 5k run in Marmaris that day.  I was a little disappointed to not make the race with her. 

However, my Dad had a great idea… Flat Jules also made an appearance! After the Wellesley Reunion, my BFF from college mailed her to me, signed by all of my friends.  So my parents cajoled Flat Jules down from her room in the attic for some photos with my mom after the race.

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My mom graciously shared her race number with Flat Jules! 

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While we did not run the race together, we did have a great time training together this summer.  It also gave me a great new outlet for stress and a new hobby.  I have run almost every day since I have returned to Turkey, around the track in Ankara and by the sea in Marmaris.   Maybe next year we will do another 5k together!

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Filed under FamFam, Flat Jules, Mom, Running

Trip to Datça

The other day the whole family took a trip to the nearby town of Datça.  It is about an hour down the peninsula.  The ride is spectacular, through the mountains with the Aegean on one side and the Mediterranean on the other.  We just wanted a change and to do a little sightseeing.  Datça is harder to get to a much more isolated than Marmaris.  While it does have a tourism trade the town is less built up, with fewer bars, and none of them blasting dance music to attract business.  In our mind this was a big attraction.  There were some lovely natural food stalls, where we bought some yummy raw almonds, organic capers and this lovely treat.

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Translated it is “Sugar Almonds.”  It reminded me of a lighter version on peanut brittle with fresh almonds.  Delicious.  After walking about the town, we headed back to the harbor, hungry and thirsty.  One of Datça’s mainstays is fishing, so we had to stop by and grab some fresh fish…and cold beer.

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There were quite a few things on the menu, but we saw the sardines get carried off the boat right in front of us, which made it easy to order.  I loved that they fileted each one and removed the head and the spine.  I am not a huge fan of eating bones, even in little fish, and end up spending a lot of time picking them out. 

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We had a lovely time, and then headed back to our Marmaris…

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We spend the night reading with wine and beer in the garden, enjoying those mountain breezes. 

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Filed under Datca, Marmaris, Road Trip, Turkey, Vacation

Oh The Time of The Fig!

We have been vacationing in Marmaris for about a week now (more on that later).  Now, we are here at a delightful time, the TIME OF THE FIG!  There is nothing better and sweeter than a nice juicy ripe fig.  There are trees all over the place here, lining the streets, laden with ripe heavy juicy figs.  The best figs are the ones that look like they have gone bad.  See that one there..

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The bottom has started to split.  It will be soft to the touch and if you gently squeeze it a little drop of juice will start to bulge out.  PERFECT. 

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I am eating figs left and right.  Figs with breakfast, figs as a snack, figs with wine in the garden.  They do not sell them out of season, and the ones they ship to Ankara are not as nearly as tasty as the slightly misshapen ones from the garden here.   Oh the figs!

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Filed under Fig, Marmaris, Turkey, Vacation

Camping in Maine

A few weekends ago I went camping in York, ME.  As a kid we always used to go camping on the Maine Coast or up in Canada.  Many of my best childhood memories are tied up with swimming in the icy cold water, sitting around campfires and hunkering down in the pop-up with my family.

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So when my family had a chance to go a few weekends ago, despite my father’s illness and chemotherapy regimen, we all jumped at he chance.  We drank beer, played scrabble, listened to the ocean and hunkered down in the camper while a magnificent thunder storm rumbled and dumped rain on us.  2011 Summer 060

When you grow up some things change, or become more complicated.   Heartbreak can no longer be cured with a kiss and a cookie.  But then again, some things never change.  Icy water+Camper+ Family = Always a blast!

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Filed under Camping, FamFam, Maine, US

2nd Year!

366 days ago I got married.  Today is the 1st day of my second year of marriage!  (Which means yesterday was my 1st anniversary-but I couldn’t post since I had to finish a paper for my Masters)

My husband is actually in Turkey, and I am in NH—So we did not celebrate this anniversary in person together.   We had a romantic dinner before he left for Turkey, and a Skype yesterday.  When I get back we will do something on the date of our Turkish reception as well.

It seems crazy that I have been married a year. But crazy in a good way.  Like Crazy Awesome!  Living with your BFF who also happens to be your lover is a great way to spend your life.

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He makes life exciting.  He whisks me away for romantic weekends and is always on the look out for things I will enjoy.  He knows when I am having a bad day and pre-orders take out for us.  He holds me when I cry and and when I laugh.

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I want nothing more than many more decades with this man, on our own adventures.

Happy Anniversary  Şekerkalbim!

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Filed under Anniversary, Bulent, New Hampshire, Turkey, Wedding

Summer BBQ

I LOVE food.  ALL FOOD.  As my husband will attest while shuddering with repulsion and distaste, I will eat anything.  I will try anything once or twice (sometimes you need more than one tasting.)  I have no prejudice when it comes to food and will eat it mild or spicy, hot or cold, offal or vegetarian.   Seriously.  One of my favorite foods in TR is Kokoreç—lamb intestines…YUM!

But, there are some things that I miss.  Like tender, fresh, native summer corn and  Pork, Pork, Pork, Ham and Bacon…

While my husband was here we had a lovely barbeque, including some of my favorite things that I missed the most. 

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Sweet NH Native Corn…

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Salad of Field Greens picked from Mom’s Garden

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Homemade Potato Salad

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Hotdogs, Hot and Sweet Pork Sausages

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YUM!

 

Fun Times with the FamFam

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Filed under FamFam, Food, Home, NH

Chemotastic!

This week we are back on chemo–Dad’s third round. While he does have some side effects and major fatigue he is in a pretty good spirits. When I came back he warned me that sometimes when he doesn’t feel well he is a ornery bastard (his terminology might have been just “cranky.”)  However, lucky for all of us he has been pretty chipper and not so cranky, though we would have overlooked it if he had been curmudgeonly.   His taste buds have  been slightly altered so we have been plying him with ice cream—so that have helped too! 

Recently, we had some good news.  Apparently our darling SOB has started down the lovely path of telling Cancer to “F*ck Off!”  His nasty, fancy, rare tumor is starting to shrink significantly.  We just need it to keep doing so and his prognosis will alter dramatically.  Honestly, I think he is too stubborn for this bitch of a tumor to beat him. 

I can hardly believe I have been home for more than three weeks. Alas it is true. On Sunday I drove down to Massachusetts with Bulent and dropped him off at the airport. We won’t see each other in person for a month. I will be exhausted by the time I get to Turkey. The problem is, I don’t sleep very well by myself. I am kind of like a toddler in that I talk myself to sleep–but I prefer an audience. Plus… I like to snuggle. My parents’ dog is too big and skittish to sleep with and the cat used to be feral and is not super cuddly. It likes to love you from a distance and on its own terms.  My brother will let me hold his hand during scary movies, but we are a little too old to cuddle.  Anyway he has a gorgeous girlfriend who he would prefer to snuggle with anyway. 

So life in NH is going smoothly and without crisis.  Plus, the neighbors are still spoiling us with yummy soups and dishes like Pad Thai!  I may no longer be in the city or “Far from the Sticks,”  but our “sticks” are the place to be! 

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Filed under Cancer, Dad, FamFam, summer

Congratulations!

This Saturday I went to an amazingly lovely wedding.  My cousin Eulalie and her new husband Mike were married in their apple orchard underneath a beautiful old White Ash Tree. 

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Eulalie and Mike started dating around the same time as Bulent and I did.  We shared a lot of the beginning trials and tribulations of new love and relationships.  I was so happy I was able watch their relationship grow and be a part of their special day. 

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We had a lovely time seeing family and friends.  It has been almost a year since our wedding.  It was amazing to go to a wedding and just be able to attend, as opposed to being the host.  Best wishes to the happy couple for a long and beautiful life together. 

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Filed under Family, New Hampshire, Wedding

Oh Home!

Sweat+Blisters+3 Hours=3 acres of shiny freshly cut lawn

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Now I just have to do this every five days for the rest of the summer. 

 

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On the plus side…no one needs a gym when you have a yard with an incline like this. 

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And yes, that is a truck and a trailer parked on the lawn.  It is NH after all.  We also have a car graveyard in the woods. 

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Filed under Home, New Hampshire