Author: wolfesbuketlistscom

The Adventure Continues ….

We met our guide in the hotel lobby at 9am, and begin what would be a seven-hour journey through Istanbul’s rich history.
Our first stop was the site of the original Hippodrome, an impressive structure constructed by the Romans. This entertainment center could accommodate an astounding 80,000 spectators! Sadly, it was destroyed in a devastating earthquake. The city built over it. Today, a broken column remains as a powerful testament to this ancient gathering place. It’s fascinating to see the contrast between the new construction sitting atop the original Roman structure, a perfect example of Istanbul’s history.

Next, we toured the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, more commonly known as the Blue Mosque. After removing our shoes as a sign of respect, we entered and were immediately awestruck by the enormous size and breathtaking grandeur of this magnificent house of worship. The mosque has a capacity of 4,000 people inside, with space for additional worshippers to gather outside during peak times. The intricate tile work and soaring dome left us in awe.

Our next stop was Topkapi Palace, the historic home of the Sultans who ruled Turkey through the centuries.

It was a grandiose complex of buildings that included living quarters for the Sultan his family and harem, as well as accommodations for the army and guards—truly a city within the city. The palace also housed a college, library, and various reception and ballrooms. At its peak in the 16th century, it provided a home to 10,000 people!
I was particularly intrigued by how they managed to feed such a large population. Using only wood fires and large cooking vessels, the kitchens featured a series of six enormous rooms, each with a single funnel-shaped opening in the roof to remove the heat and smoke.

Leaving the palace behind, we made our way to Istanbul’s famous Grand Bazaar, home to over 3,000 shops all under one roof! This marketplace is truly dizzying in its scope and energy. The many corridors and endless array of colorful goods mean you could easily get lost and disoriented.

Somehow we managed.

The Adventure Continues….

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step—but I’m pretty sure whoever said that wasn’t 80 years old! Traveling at our age? Well, that’s a whole different adventure. We’ve been putting in the work though, spending time with the pros at physical therapy to get our knees and joints ready for what’s ahead.

Now, about packing. The internet tells me the northern cities will be cool and rainy, which means we need rain gear and layers. And don’t even get me started on shoes—mine alone could take up an entire suitcase! Then, as the ship cruises south, we’re looking at mid-70s to low-80s with plenty of sunshine. So naturally, that means packing a completely different set of clothes.

We’re arriving in Istanbul just in time to celebrate Valentine’s Day. After packing and flying for 26 hours I doubt we will be awake for a romantic cruise on the Bosphorus.

THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES

WE’RE OFF ON ANOTHER ADVENTURE. TURNING 80 JUST MEANS WE WILL CONTINUE OUR TRAVELS BUT AT A HIGHER COMFORT LEVEL. THIS TRIP IS MALTA, MOROCCCO AND THE WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN … VIA ISTANBUL.

WHY ISTANBUL? IT’S THE CROSSROAD OF TWO CONTINENTS; EUROPE AND ASIA. IT’S A BLEND OF RELIGIONS AND CULTURES; CHRISTIAN AND MUSLIM.

ONCE CALLED CONSTANTINOPLE, WITH OVER 20 MILLION PEOPLE, IT IS LOCATED ON THE BOSP0R0US AND HAS SURVIVED NUMEROUS WARS AND INTRIGUE DURING IT’S COLORFUL HISTORY.

OUR PLANS ARE 4 DAYS IN ISTANBUL AND THEN FLY TO BARCELONA WHERE WE BOARD OUR VIKING CRUISE SHIP “SATURN”.

WE’VE BEEN CHECKING THE WEATHER FORECASTS AND GETTING PREPARED. IT’S COOLER IN THE NORTH AND WARMING IN THE SOUTH.

WE WILL CHALLENGE TECHNOLOGY ON THIS JOURNEY. THERE ARE TRANSLATION PROGRAMS – TURKISH, SPANISH, FRENCH AND ITALIAN AND USING OUR PHONES WITH EARBUDS WE SHOULD SURVIVE.

Rwaltd@gmail.com Margaretwolfe.sc@gmail.com

THIS MAY BE CONFUSING AS IT PROVIDES DETAILS OF THE VERY SMALL PHOTOS ON OUR CHRISTMAS MISSIVE…

IF YOU’RE STILL WITH US:

ALL THE FURNITURE AND FRAGILE ITEMS READY & WAITING FOR THE PACKERS AND MOVERS. HOPE IT SAFELY ARRIVES IN SAN ANTONIO.

BOB AND DENISE ON ONE OF THEIR HIKING AND CAMPING EXPEDITIONS

THE GRANDS AJ IS 9 AND IN 3RD GRADE WHILE ETHAN AT 7 IS A 1ST GRADER. THEY KEEP MOM BUSY.

BOTH KIDS LOVE TO SWIM. AJ IS LEARNING TO DIVE. ETHAN LOVES MECHANICAL WORKINGS AND IS LEARNING TO CODE.

CASEY COMPETED IN THE 2025 NEW YORK MARATHON. IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE THE CHILDREN TO THE MANY SITES IN THE CITY. OUR HOTEL WAS IN TIMES SQUARE WITH ALL THE BRIGHT LIGHTS AND THE CHAOS.

JOSY THEIR AUPAIR HAD TO LEAVE THE USA DUE TO HER VISA EXPIRATION. SHE HAD BONDED WITH SKY THEIR LABRADOR RETRIEVER AND ASKED IF SHE COULD TAKE THE DOG WITH HER TO GERMANY.

IT WAS A SAD TIME WHEN THEY DEPARTED.

BUT THREE WEEKS LATER THEY ADOPTED CARL. NOW THE FAMILY IS BACK TO THREE DOGS AND IS BUSY PUPPY TRAINING.

IT WAS HALLOWEEN THE SAME WEEKEND AS THE MARATHON. HERE THE GRANDS ARE HEADING TO THE SUBWAY ON THEIR WAS TO TRICK-OR-TREAT.

WE HAD OUR ANNUAL BEACH WEEK ON PAWLEYS ISLAND. IT WAS A HOT WEEK BUT AJ AND HER MOM LEARNED TO SURF. WE WERE LUCKY TO WATCH A TURTLE INVENTORY/RESCUE WITH LOTS OF LITTLE GUYS MAKING THEIR WAY TO THE OCEAN.

WE’RE ALL MEETING IN PARK CITY FOR CHRISTMAS.

WISHING YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

A SHORT CRUISE FROM HELSINGBORG BROUGHT US TO THE FINAL STOP COPENHAGEN.

THE HIGHLIGHT OF THIS CITY WAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT JACOB FONSS. 33 YEARS AGO JACOB LIVED WITH US AS AN EXCHANGE STUDENT THRU ROTARY. HE’S MARRIED WITH 3 ADULT CHILDREN. WE ENJOYED THE AFTERNOON TOURING WITH JACOB AND LOTTIE HIS WIFE.

THEN IT HAPPENED:

DENMARK IS MOVING TO A CASHLESS ECONOMY. PRACTICALLY EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE IS WITH A CARD OR PHONE. FROM HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, COFFEE SHOPS, TAXI DRIVERS EVEN ICE CREAM STANDS….CARD OR PHONE PLEASE. THIS IS CONVENIENT BUT UNCOMFORTABLE FOR FOREIGNERS. HOW DO YOU TIP THE BELLMAN AT THE HOTEL OR THE PORTER AT THE AIRPORT? IF YOU HAND THE BARTENDER US$20 BILL THEY POLITELY DECLINE ‘ONLY DANISH KRONE PLEASE’ OK, I WENT TO AN ATM AND IT ATE MY CARD! JACOB AND HIS WIFE WERE WITH US TO INTERPRET INSTRUCTIONS BUT NO JOY. NOW ITS SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND BANKS ARE CLOSED IN COPENHAGEN AND THE US. FROM PREVIOUS INTERNATIONAL TRIPS WE KNOW TO CARRY SEVERAL CARDS. WE MANAGED.

THE UNUSUALLY WARM WEATHER CONTINUED SO THAT EVENING WE VISITED TIVOLI GARDENS. ITS ONE OF THE GRAND AMUSEMENT PARKS OF THE WORLD.

OUR SPECTACULAR LUCK RAN OUT THE CLOUDY WEATHER ARRIVED MONDAY.

UNDAUNTED WE DID TOURIST STUFF WITH A CANAL BOAT TOUR AROUND THE CITY. THE RAIN HELD OFF WITH ONLY A FEW RAINDROPS.

LOOKING FOR A RESTAURANT FOR A LIGHT LINCH WE STUMBLED ON A ROOFTOP FOOD COURT. THE FLOORS BELOW HELD A 4 STORY DEPARTMENT STORE.

THE RAINS ARRIVED SO WE CLIMBED ON A HOP-ON-HOP OFF BUS.

COPENHAGEN IS BEAUTIFUL AND BUSY. IT PRIDES ITSELF FOR GOING GREEN. THERE ARE EV CHARGE STATIONS AND EXCLUSIVE BIKE PATHS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. PEDESTRIANS MUST BE ALERT. STEPPING INTO A BIKE PATH WITHOUT LOOKING CAN BE DANGEROUS.

HELSINGBORG, SWEDEN

THE WEATHER CONTINUES WARM AND SUNNY. IT REACHED 38 C. YOU DO THE MATH

HIKED A SWEDISH NATIONAL PARK.

THERE WERE 40+ BIKES IN THE GROUP.

TOURED A SWEDISH CHURCH. IT STARTED A CATHOLIC AND REFORMED TO LUTHERAN

BACK TO THE SHIP FOR AN AFTERNOON DEPARTURE TO COPENHAGEN OUR FINAL STOP.

GAZING OUT TO THE HORIZON SUDDENLY A ‘SMUDGE’ APPEARS OUT OF THE HAZE. IT’S THE BOW OF AN OCEAN LINER AND WITHIN 10 MINUTES THIS JUMBO VESSEL HAS MATERIALIZED.

THE SHIP HAS DOCKED AND WE ARE GETTING OFF FOR THE LAST TIME IN COPENHAGEN.

AALBORG

AFTER CRUISING AND EXPLORING FOR 26 DAYS WE FOUND VIKINGS

THERE IS A BEAUTIFUL MUSEUM NEAR A LARGE VIKING LIVING AND BURIAL SITE. THE AREA WAS CAREFULLY EXCAVATED AND REMAINS WERE FOUND.

VIKINGS DEVELOPED FROM USING STONE AGE KNOWLEDGE TO THE IRON AGE

VIKING WAR SHIP

LYSEKIL, SWEDEN

HERRING CAUGHT BOILED AND OILS USED GAS LIGHTS IN PARIS.

AMAZING NATURAL GRANITE STRUCTURES

2 HOUR CRUISE ON SMALL SHIP FROM LYSEKIL TO FISHING VILLAGE SMO FISKETAGENh

THIS WAS OUR FIRST VISIT TO WEST COAST OF SWEDEN.

TODAY WAS CLEAR AND CALM.

INTERESTING SERIES OF SUN SET

OSLO

NORWAYS CAPITAL WITH 760000 RESIDENTS HOSTED TWO WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES

ATHLETES WERE RACING AROUND ON ROLLER BLADE/SKIS

FANCIFUL STATUE AT THE JUMP

NOBEL PRIZES ARE AWARDED EVERY YEAR IN OSLO

MEMORIAL TO THE FIRST ADVENTURES TO REACH THE NORTH POLE

OSLOS SPIRIT DEMONSTRATED WITH THE NUMEROUS FLOATING SAUNAS. A FAMILY ENJOYING THE WEATHER

FLOATING SAUNA

WINDOW SHOPPING WE STOPPED IT AT A TRADITIONAL DRESS SHOP