Just before leaving Istanbul after a quick visit recently, we stumbled across a newly restored ruin from the 5th Century. We were first visitors the day we were leaving so my wife said she'd shoot a quick vid before it got crowded. A magical place.
We once had the Taj Mahal to ourselves for a bit. Reverb in there was perfect (like the building). Wife turned to me and said, pull out the harmonica. Left it at the hotel. Darn !
Now that is cool! Ain't Istanbul a cool city? I was there a few years back and had a blast. This vid touches both the harp player and the archaeologist in me! Love it! ----------
Istanbul - I used to eat at the vegetarian restaurants in that area just before you get to the big bridge separating old/new Istanbul....also, loved those big cucumbers from the cart with the ice - sliced open and handed to you like a big banana with salt shaker shook over the cukes! Enjoyed big piece of Halva with fresh baked roll for breakfast, too. ---------- The Iceman
Thanks for stopping by folks! BAG I was a serial uninvited harp performer on this trip. Nate, my fat fingers and phone keyboards are the worst combo for me. My worst incident was sending a come-hither GIF to one of my (male) friends. Fudbutter. Dunno how you got the Taj to yourself! Woulda been awesome to have a blow there. I carried four harps but had packed all but one for the return journey. I spurred myself on by imaging looking back. Isaac, Istanbul must be an archaeologist's dream city. All the monuments and tales made me realize how ignorant I am about a lot of things. Maybe you need to do field research there. Iceman. Mouth watering. Loved the Turkish food. Lied having labna from the corner store on toast with yogurt and berries for breakfast. A lot of my friends said they loved Turkey. Now I know why.
I enjoyed your photos from the trip, BW, and I really liked all the things you shared from Istanbul/Turkey. I was speaking to my colleague about it today; he has made a few journeys around the European parts you visited and given his interest in history I thought he’d be very keen to visit Istanbul. He was, but he also held reservations regarding potential for trouble... I think I’m still keen.
Those rooms are harmonica friendly. I did a concert in the old U.S. Mint Rotunda in Philadelphia. The room was round with all marble with a glass dome ceiling. Classical Guitar and Harmonica. The volume of the instruments was at least triple. ----------
Last Edited by Diggsblues on May 03, 2019 8:02 AM
@BronzeWailer: Yes, Istanbul is a definite archaeological paradise. I was there for a conference, and it was really cool to be able to walk out into the city and see some of the things we were discussing. I have a good friend who is a faculty member at Istanbul Technical University. We keep talking about doing a project together somewhere in Turkey. I hope we can do it. The political climate is not the best for that right now, but all things change... ----------
SuperBee, we never felt unsafe. Cops and/or soldiers everywhere we were (touristy bits) although we mistakenly disembarked a ferry on the Asian side where no-one spoke English. Kingobad and Iceman Lol. Pickn5 They had speakers situated throughout and started playing what I assume was classical Turkish music after a while. Diggs that must have been magic. Do you have any recordings? doug I can Imagine a flute in the Taj would have sounded great. Isaac I hear you re the politics but time may be your ally. We wanted to see the latest digs Göbekli Tepe site but it's too near the Syrian border.