Cats of Istanbul

For all of you readers who are also cat lovers, I trust you wıll enjoy this entry. Turkish cats are well loved, cared for, and basically rule the streets, parks, restaurants, etc. Pick out your favourite photo from below....

I think Turkish cats have a sense of personal space similar to many humans here... and it is much reduced from my own! My favourite 'cat scene' occurred the other evening while trying to eat my chicken wrap, but unfortunately I do not have a photo of it. I had 5 cats begging to share my chicken with me... they were sitting under the table, reaching paws up onto the table, and eventually attempting to crawl up onto my lap. I promıse, I did not encourage any of it. Art was not bothered at all by them (perhaps they did not like his curry sauce??). He said I am some sort of cat magnet. meow.

In case you're watching the news...

Just a quick note to say that all is still safe and sound for Art and I in Istanbul, though protests have started up again and news stories have even featured my conference, reporting "academics are caught up in protests" (see http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/academics-caught-up-in-istanbul-protests/2007299.article). I did find out from a few of my colleagues this morning what it was like to be caught in the protests and hit by tear gas on their way to their hotel last evening, but fortunately Art and I are not staying in that same area. In fact, I just requested that if Art were to get lost again today that it be in an easterly direction away from Taksim Square, and that seemed to work fine for him :-)

 

 In our travels today, we got only as close as the sign pointing up the hill to Taksim Square...

 

Safe and Sound... but a little lost

We arrived in Istanbul early Monday afternoon, on schedule but fully unrested from our plane travel. I must say that I don't even remember the several hours in our Istanbul apartment yesterday (except for taking the above photo from our window) before going to sleep at 9 pm (that's noon for you folks in SK!). Of course, Art cheated a bit and crashed on the couch much earlier than that...

Anyway, today was easier to remember, especially for Art. This morning, we both walked down hill to the university where my conference is being held.



Art agreed to meet me back at the university after my presentation this evening and then he headed off to climb the hills back to our apartment to read and relax. But apparently, he never made it. Turns out that the twists and turns and similar shops on every corner had him completely lost for about 4 hours, until he gave up and made his way back to the university to meet me, exhausted and sunburned.

It turns out that two heads really are better than one (sunburned) one... together, we made it back to our apartment without too many detours and wrong turns. Maybe I'll suggest that he stay closer to the apartment tomorrow... :-)

Turkey... Here we come

And so, our travels begin.

Tomorrow (Sunday), Art and I are off to Turkey for 18 days! I'll do my best to provide a few updates in this blog as we go, including photos, for family and friends. Just the time it has taken to get packed, deal with last minute work things, and bring Aaron up-to-speed on all that is required to look after Princess Kiri have us exhausted already. Sure hope the flights are safe and quick, with a good selection of movies... and that a tasty Turkish coffee awaits me in Istanbul.