Monday, May 4, 2009

Remember that vacation I took? I need another.

I'm beyond proud of myself for posting another post so soon.  I'm a crazy posting machine.

Right before Christmas I received a package from Turkey - I totally forgot that I'd ordered a vase while I was there!  So many happy memories.  Ah, the days of not checking my blackberry, being completely confused 100% of the time because no one speaks English and being a million miles from my reality.  My trip was amazing - I went with three girls I've met in NYC and if we weren't the closest of friends before we went, we certainly are now!

In typical Jenn fashion, I procrastinated packing, left finishing up work until the last minute and left leaving to the airport for the last possible second. No worries though, I made it through the door of the plane as they were making the last boarding call and I quickly collapsed into my seat in order to sleep soundly for the next nine hours into Istanbul. Thank you Daddy, for your incredible ability to fall asleep on any airplane that you've passed onto me! We arrived in Istanbul to the cold and rain but I felt refreshed.

Istanbul is incredible. To me, New York is a city of dreams; Paris a city of lights; London a city of history; and Istanbul a city of contrasts. Old and new exist side by side gracefully, with no unsightliness of discord. You can be standing in the Old City, at the seat of the Ottoman's power in their fortress and gaze out on the Bosphorus, marveling at the power behind the huge oil tanker making its way towards the Black Sea. I saw a picture of Hagia Sofia in a textbook when I was in like, the sixth grade. Ever since then, I've wanted to see it in person. I'm fascinated by the history behind the place and the enormity of the space. Being inside was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for me - how often does that happen?!!! 

We saw the Blue Mosque, the Yeni Mosque, the Bosphorus, the Asia side of Turkey, the Europe side of Turkey, the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Market, the whirling dervishes, a church made out of wrought iron, and enjoyed a real turkish bath experience and Ottoman palaces.  One morning we dined al fresco along the banks of the Bosphorus and since it wasn't quite a tourist spot and the menu wasn't in English so much, I ended up eating french fries with mayonnaise for breakfast.  There are worse things I could have ended up eating, I suppose.


We only spent three days in Istanbul. We traveled to Cappadocia after Istanbul and I LOVED it. We had our own tour guide for two days who showed us all over the countryside. We saw cave churches, toured underground cities, hiked through the countryside, and stayed at a cave hotel. The food in Turkey wasn't my favorite - tons of meat, including lamb - a meat I don't particularly love - but my favorite meals were in the Cappadocia region. 

My favorite thing we did in Cappadocia was going on a hot air balloon ride. It was so beautiful and quiet from the air - I couldn't believe how far we could see from up there! We counted at least 25 other hot air balloons that morning.

Our last stop in Turkey was to the Aegean Coast and the ancient city of Ephesus. Paul preached in Ephesus, in the large theatre on the hill. We walked the streets of that ancient city, checking out stones piled upon stones and my favorite, the library of Celsus.  I really heart old rocks.

I love vacations and exploring new places.  Some friends and I are planning a vacation for this October but we haven't been able to decide on a place to go.  Any thoughts?



Sunday, May 3, 2009

I Found My Camera Cord Thingey!

I lost my camera cord thingey for a while there, leaving me unable to post pictures but I've found it and in what has now become a tradition on this blog, I'm posting pictures covering almost six months!  It has been a long, cold, bitter winter in New York and I must admit I'm glad to see its backside as it runs away with its tail between its legs.  Run away winter, run away like the coward you are - take that!

I enjoyed the first snowfall of the year with my co-workers (not knowing at the time how long and snow-filled the whole season would be).

The Shake Shack is, of course, my dietary staple (hell on my health, I'm sure).  Throughout the fall, Rustin and I met up once a week for a pow-wow and a seriously great burger and amazing concrete.  We told ourselves that it wasn't going to get that cold and we could totally hack the cold because it was worth it.  Well, all I can say is that it's a good thing that the Shake Shack opened up an Upper West Side location that is indoors because my life might have ended without my beloved shack burger and fries!  (By the way, did a taste test when I was home in California - compared the Shake Shack to In-N-Out and sad to say, I love Shake Shack more!  My law school roommate's husband Kyle will be proud to hear me knock In-N-Out from its high and mighty pedestal.)

Christmas found me hosting a score of visitors in NYC - law school friends, family etc.  There were many opportunities to snap photos in front of the Rockefeller Christmas tree.  I love New York City at Christmastime - I've never experienced Christmas like Christmas in New York.

Christmas at home was great.  I got to spend almost a full 10 days at home in well, not so sunny Southern California, enjoying family time and being away from work.   I even got to bake my good old (emphasis on old) friend Bart a birthday cake for his like, 39th birthday.  I'm pretty sure in this picture he's wishing that he was so lucky as to have me in his life for more than just one night.

Despite my joy of Christmas in New York, by February I had had just about enough of cold. Good thing that I had the foresight last November to book tickets to Belize.  Thank you American Airlines and incredible $150 roundtrip airfare to lovely South American countries by the ocean!  Following two planes and two boat trips, my friend T. Bentley and I arrived to our own personal paradise.  Four days of nothing but sun, sand and trade winds - life doesn't get any better that that.

Despite the long winter, I had few joys - good friends, lots of eating at fabulous restaurants (including Le Cirque - eek!) and the joys of being in a city that both heightens your senses and dulls you to life ... but that's a topic for another time.  P. Collet is always there to pull me to my senses though and remind me of the truly important things in life.  

Thanks P!