The picture above from our hotel room captures the Blue Mosque on the left and the Viking Star on the right.
Day T-1 - Istanbul
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On this final full day before the cruise commences, Ellen, Janet, and I had a long day of sightseeing. Before we left late morning we noticed that our ship had arrived and will be awaiting us in the morning. Our two main stops included the Grand Bazaar and the Blue Mosque. Here are some photos.
The irregularly scheduled French air traffic strike went off without a hitch stranding Brian in England. He finally arrived for dinner - which we reprised at the Bosporus-facing seafood restaurant.
We also had the opportunity to visit the Blue Mosque. Here are pictures from within this spectacular mosque.
We also had the opportunity to visit the Blue Mosque. Here are pictures from within this spectacular mosque.
So there's a story to tell about this fellow between Ellen and Janet - okay, the very cute fellow (a Kurd actually). He "chatted us up" as we were approaching the mosque and offered to ushered to the front of the queue in exchange for vising his family's "souvenir shop". We agreed - but his "souvenir shop" proved out to be very expensive Turkish rugs. It took his father moments to recognize that he'd brought back the wrong prospects - as we had no interest what-so-ever.
Bit by bit, we'll tell the story of our Norwegian connections. Where the tale begins is in 1995 when Janet responded to a Bulletin Board that promised any note posted could be read by as many as 2M Scandinavians. Her post (think Prodigy - for those who remember it) inquired as to anyone having knowledge of the town of Vik because her grandmother was born there. She received seven responses - two of which have had long-term dividends.
The first response replied that "my best friend's wife is from that village - can you provide any more information" was from Carl Esbensen. Janet called her then 92 year old father so seeking. He told her that "the house was at the bottom of the hill on the way to the ferry and that the neighbor's name was Hans Husebo". Discouraged that this would be helpful, she never-the-less reported it to Carl. A day later he replied that "we know preciely of where you speak and my friend Ellen tended goats for Hans Husebo years ago. We think you may be related." The photos above certainly wouldn't refute that possibility. More later.
The first response replied that "my best friend's wife is from that village - can you provide any more information" was from Carl Esbensen. Janet called her then 92 year old father so seeking. He told her that "the house was at the bottom of the hill on the way to the ferry and that the neighbor's name was Hans Husebo". Discouraged that this would be helpful, she never-the-less reported it to Carl. A day later he replied that "we know preciely of where you speak and my friend Ellen tended goats for Hans Husebo years ago. We think you may be related." The photos above certainly wouldn't refute that possibility. More later.