KAPADOKYA

One thing about the Turkish language is the letters are always pronounced the same way, none are silent and every single one is pronounced. Of course they have more letters than we do which adds a mild degree of complication. The English version is Cappadocia. I went there this weekend and didnt get to see or do everything. Kinda typical, but this place is so chock full of nooks and crannies that you probably couldnt see it in a year let alone two days. You have to google it to get the history, but it goes way on back into the BC's. The hotel I stayed at was the Caravanserai Hotel in Goreme and sleeping in a cave was pretty cool. Anyway to sum up: great food and Cappadocian wine, Love Valley, Zelve open air museum, belly dancers, whirling dervishes, fairy chimneys, Turkish bath, underground city of KaymaklI (which has one of those extra letters -the I is actually different and looks like a small capital I). I have a couple of pictures here, but this is definitely one of those places that pictures can't seem to capture and ought to be on everybody's bucket list.

Merhaba (hello) from Turkey

After England, I spent the next several weeks at home in Pensacola. I did get to work at NAS Pensacola for September-October so I was able to stay home and work on my place for a change. Remodeled 2 bathrooms, teaching myself to tile floors, repair sheetrock and buy new bathroom furniture. So between work and home improvement I stayed pretty busy. Now as I write I am in the south of Turkey at Incirlik Air Base near Adana, Turkey. I have been a little slower getting going this time, probably due to having arrived here with a chest cold. There are plenty of things to see and do here so I wont get bored. I have met some Turkish and Kurdish folks, been carpet browsing, but not buying yet, because I want one that will fly. The mosque here is pretty amazing; it's huge and one of the biggest in the Middle East. Today I went hiking with my new friend Ottis and climbed up to the 12th century Snake Castle about 20 miles to the east of Adana; no path, lots of boulders, no guardrails, awesome adventure. Driving in Turkey is a lot of fun. For the most part its pretty civilized, but in town, there are no rules, only suggestions! It hasnt rained here in quite some time but the rumor is that 3-4 days after the Holiday of Sacrifice ends...it will rain to clean the blood our of the streets. Holiday ended on Friday, so maybe days will be less brutal and rain will wash the dust out of the air. But I like it here so far. Stay tuned. By the way this meal is a Kebab. minced and spiced lamb meat served on a sword covered with roasted vegetables and chicken, all sitting on top of a large piece of flatbread. mmm-mmmm!

one more trip to London

Well I guess I forgot to post a picture of my trip to Stratford last week, so here is Shakespeare's birthplace. The whole town was lovely though. I spent yesterday seeing a few more must-sees in London. Abbey Road Studios was not open to the public but I did walk across the crosswalk from the Beatles album cover. I went to the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace (Buck House) and the ceremony was impressive but not as much as the incredible press of people who attended. I was too early to have tea with the HRM but I did manage to have a proper tea at Harrod's...most expensive cup of tea EVER! I went to the Baden-Powell House but the exhibitions were closed and the shop was completely unrelated so I settled for a photo of the statue of Lord Baden-Powell (founder of Boy Scouts) outside. I went to the outdoor markets at Camden Town but the massive throngs of people prompted me to leave after about 15 minutes and head for what I hoped would be a successful visit to the Charles Dickens Museum. It was a success...no crowds of people. His house was in an elegant, quiet neighborhood in central London and not heavily marketted so finding it meant I had to have the house address, which I had. Great little museum in the house where he lived. A small sign outside was the only indication that this was the place. I culminated my day with "The Phantom of the Opera". It was a most excellent production at Her Majesty's Theatre. Getting home was a 3-hour adventure as railroad tracks and Underground tracks were shut down for construction in preparation for the 2012 Olympics. It should have been an hour and 15 minutes. Overall a great day with toasty 70 degree weather and only one shower to cool things off mid-afternoon. Next weekend, my last in the UK, I have to choose between a day at Oxford, a day at Bath, or a weekend in Edinburgh, Scotland...I still have a few days to decide. I guess I will post my final decision next week.

It's all Greek to me...

I guess I forgot that line is from "Julius Caesar" by Shakespeare. I saw the play by the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-Upon-Avon last weekend. Nice little town. Not a lot to do for a whole weekend but I tried. WS was born and buried there and it's a lovely town despite the hoards of tourists. Over the past 2 weeks I went to the Jurassic Coast near Dorset and Bournemouth and spent a Sunday at Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill and home of the Dukes of Marlborough. England continues to be amazing and interesting, but now after 2 1/2 months away from my homestead, I am getting excited about going home in a couple more weeks. These pics are: typical roads to anywhere not on a major carriageway, Blenheim Palace, Corfe Castle Ruins, and the "Durdle Door" near Dorset.

England part 2

I know it's been a couple of weeks since my last post but, I have been settling in here in Banbury England. Very nice town and everything is within walking distance except Tesco which is about a mile away (that's kinda like a WalMart). I work in 2 places. One is about an hours drive and goes down little lanes and streets, although they are pretty standard as far as roads go. My Dodge wouldn't be skinny enough. I am posting some pictures here of some very English stuff. but also I am posting a picture of me at the Black Pearl which was in Oahu for some prep work as they start to make the fourth chapter in the Pirates of the Caribbean. In these pic you can see the kind of roads I deal with, Stonehenge (not pictured is the stone circles at Avebury - very cool), The Salibury Cathedral (not one steak place could I find), and the Royal Jordanian Falcon Fight team performing at the RIAT Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford this past weekend. At least 14 different countries displayed their air prowess including the USA and the F-22 Raptor, the 50 year old British Vulcan, a B-52, the Bristish Red Arrows and an amazing French Team (they apparently have a cup holder for a wine glass and if they can fly without spilling they make the team and avoid the firing squad for alcohol abuse (think about it a minute - it will sink in). I also took a video of Blake's airplane...not his actual one but a British Harrier, but my son knows how to fix them. Next weekend I plan to go to Stratford upon Avon and maybe take in a play at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

ALOHA Hawai'i Ne

Last day before I jet outta here. I make this last post with a couple of final pictures. Next stop...England. First however, I have to go to the place that can only be found by those who already know where it is, aye the place where the Black Pearl makes berth. Rumor has it that she is here. Later.

It just keeps getting better

First things first: Happy Father's Day to all the great fathers in my life, especially MY DAD. By the way, I published this post on Father's Day but I can figure out how to make my post reflect that...whatever, I am in Hawai'i so it's really no big deal.

So where did I leave off? Oh yeah, I like Hawai'i. I think there are legitimate reasons for people thinking of it as paradise. I have met some great local folks, made some cool new friends, and eaten some amazing food. I think there is too much; let me sum up. Green sea turtles (honu), peacocks, wild pigs, hula shows, Lanikai Beach, Shark's Cove swimming and snorkeling with honu and humuhumunukunukuapua'a, King Kamehameha Day, oil still bubbling up from the USS Arizona, Koko Crater (1207 ft and 1048 steps up and then back down), pineapple plants as far as the eye can see near the Dole Plantation, and the ever present anuenue. Hard to believ in 2 weeks I will be pau here and flying back to Pcola for a day of rest before jetting off the England again. Hopefully this time the Queen will have a few minutes in her busy schedule to have cream tea with me. First however, I have to continue to work here in paradise (mostly on my tan) so until my next blog entry...Aloha.

Beaches & Rainforests

Amazing to go from the beach to a rainforest so easily. I did get to the USS Arizona Memorial. It is a pretty moving place when I consider the magnitude of the loss there, still under my feet. A drive around the south and east end of Oahu cleared my head then I cut across the island up and over the Pali Hwy. Saturday I went to Diamond Head and hiked up the 200 and something steps (a short and simple climb for those of us who have climbed to the Petra Monastery and Masada) and then back down to Waikiki Beach for sun, swim and a $40 lunch of 3 fish tacos and 2 beers. People who come here with pocket change won't get very far. Today I celebrated Memorial day with a hike up to and beyond Manoa Falls and the evening Memorial Day Lantern Launch and ceremony at Ala Moana Beach. A very busy and very cool weekend. Now back to work to recover for next weekend.

Aloha

Three days on Oahu and already I have driven around 2/3 of the island. The pictures I will post here cannot quite capture the brilliant colors of Flamboyan and Bouganvillas, the staggering odor of Plumeria/Frangi Pani, the noise of waves, birds, and ukeleles, the taste of fresh mangoes or the feel of a light and cool mist coming from a sky with no clouds. So far, yeah, I can see why people like Hawaii. I snorkelled this morning in Hanauma Bay (and got a little burnt) and drove up this afternoon through the mountains above Honolulu. Yesterday after work in Wahiawa, I cruised past North Shore and on around the north of the island. I am learning some new words for things but not ready to use them on my blog yet, but stand by, I will. More to come This is my view from my bedroom, me at some roadside park, Hanauma Bay and a view of Waikiki and Diamond Head.

Just say no to volcanoes

Since my last post a volcano blew its top in Iceland grounding all air traffic in England for alost a week. I was only left in London for 3 days of that so I took advantage of the unplanned holiday. I met some great people and managed to use my time well with good company (thanks Brenda, Maree and Bill). I wrapped it up and left room for more exploring when I return to England this summer after having to do a little hard time in Hawaii. But for now, I am home again and recuperated. Things to do and a quick trip to Tennessee and I will hit the road again in a few weeks. Here are a few pics of my last days in England. I went to see a play, went to Windsor Castle (again the queen refused to see me), the palace guard wouldn't talk to me, I interpretted the Rosetta Stone, and marveled with people in town at the sight of the first planes as we all stared up in awe. Here's a pic of me outside of my hotel in London...this explains how I got out on one of the first planes. Don't ask

The Easter weekend

Here are a couple more photos of England. I went to Nottingham and Sherwood Forest and roamed around the shire on Saturday. I didnt see Robin Hood but they say his spirit is still the guardian of Sherwood. I did however see a few statues of him, et al. The tree pictured here is about 1000 year old, so it would have been in the forest in 1190 when RH was hanging out. My hunch is that it was the merry men's Party Tree although there is no evidence to support my theory.. On Sunday I went to the Ely Cathedral which is only about 800 years old...a baby church compared to Canterbury, but lovely nonetheless. I attended the C of E services, took communion, then went out in true Brit fashion and had a couple of pints and a sunday roast at a local pub. I also went to the Cambridge American Cemetery which is the final resting place for some 5800 service members from WWII; mostly Air Force, many Sailors and some Soldiers, Marines and Coast Guard. Less than two weeks left in this rotation, so I am either going to London this weekend again or to Edinburgh, Scotland. I would really like to get a kilt to wear most of the time because they look comfortable and I have the legs for it. So many decisions. Aside: at this time, Andy is in Iraq, Mark and Blake are in Afghanistan; we are all in another country! huh...

now for a couple of pictures...I actually have internet this morning so I gotta act fast. this is inside the Canterbury Cathedral; Big Ben and Parliament from the London Eye; me at Dover. I will post more after I return from Nottingham / Sherwood Forest this weekend. later