We’re going to Turkey in just over a week!  I promise to put the finishing touches on the Spain entries and get those finished up before we head out, but for now, take a peek at some of the sites we’ll see.  (Thanks to Leonardo Dalessandri for the video!)

In prep I’ve done over 800 Turkish lessons and have discovered that I’m much better at reading and writing Turkish than I am speaking or hearing.  So, basically if someone writes me a sentence I’ll be golden, but if they talk to me, not so much.  Ha!  At least a legitimate language attempt has been made not to be an ignorant tourist.

I’ve also been reading.  Some good, some not so good.  The good–the cats of Istanbul.  The Hagia Sofia Cat is going to be my buddy.  And, this one Why Istanbul Should be Called Catstantinople.

And this article about Gaziantep, a city close to the Syrian border…not so good.  Or this happening at the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul last week.  Also not so good.

Judging by mainstream news, the security situation isn’t the best.  Travel advisories have affected where we were planning to travel.

Just over a month ago, a tour that we had planned to take through Gaziantep and Sanliurfa was cancelled, so we had to quickly rework 5 days of the trip.  Everything worked out though, and the trip will be amazing.

My worry is that my heart will break from the Syrian refugee crisis.  There is no logical reason for children and families who have lived normal lives to be displaced by acts of war.  Imagine living, just as you do now, and suddenly being completely uprooted from your home with no security or safety guaranteed–not to mention food, shelter, or basic sanitation supplies.

So, my search for charitable opportunities in Istanbul and other parts of Turkey we’ll be visiting continues. Any small thing that can brighten someone’s day is worthwhile.

“Just because it isn’t happening here doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.”
~j