Navarre Beach

I took two weeks off over the Christmas holidays and we spent time at our cottage in Navarre Beach, Florida which is known as "The best kept secret in Florida." 

Everyday I was on the beach as if I would never come here again. 

You might wonder what is so special about Navarre Beach? It is special, with sugar white, smooth beaches and friendly people. I have walked the beaches in California, but there is no comparison. In CA, the gummy petroleum sticks to my feet and I cannot get it off for days.

Finally, I have made my mind up. We are moving to our cottage in Florida permanently. Perhaps I will maintain here in Southern California a small residence, because most of my activities are here.

But, Navarre is where I want to live.

For years I have been away from the Atlanta film market, and it is an easy reach from Pensacola to Atlanta and I have an address there, too. So as soon as I graduate in May from California State University Channel Islands, we are heading for our new home in Navarre Beach. 

Concert in Ojai

To my blog followers, I must acknowledge my negligence in not posting for quite awhile. Being in my final year of classes, I just can’t seem to find the extra time to write much of anything on a personal level.

Family Reunion Cruise

After marrying the woman I love, who is my soul-mate, many years ago, we now anticipate and finish each other’s thoughts and sentences. My wife knew I could not say no to our family reunion cruise to Bermuda. I had not seen the grandkids for a couple of years. Yes, we Face-timed on birthdays and holidays, but it is not the same. Of course I said okay, even though NewYork and Bermuda are not exactly on my bucket list of things to do.

My Travel Experiences in Frankfurt and Beyond

Why can’t there be a standard for everything? I mean, why not? For instance, English people want to be different and they have their weird ways such as driving on the wrong side of the road. But, I digress. What I really want to talk about is my experience in Frankfurt, a place I have never been before.

After deplaning from my Turkish Airline flight from Ankara via Istanbul, I passed through passport control; so far so good. I waited to get my luggage, which was somewhat delayed, but I had no hassle. As I was going through customs, I asked the young lady in uniform packing a gun holster on her side, “Can you tell me where ground transportation is?”

Cappadocia, Land of Magic

Cappadocia, Land of Magic by Behcet Kaya

Turkey is unendingly, unmitigatedly surprising; each area having a look of its own distinction.

At the beginning of the four-hour bus ride from Ankara to the area known as Cappadocia, one hardly sees a steep hill, but rather miles of endless, golden wheat fields. Then come the marshy shores of the great salt lake, Tuz Golu.

Alaska Cruise - Part Three

Due to the small number of passengers, 30 in all, we were given three cars and all had their own window seat.

The voice over the intercom told stories of Skagway, beginning with the town cemetery.

In the late 1800s, the Gold Rush was at its peak and there were good guys and bad guys.

Alaska Cruise - Part Two

Our first port of call was Ketchikan. We were here nine years ago and it appeared that nothing much had changed except the city had built more houses expanding up into the steep hills.

There are many tours, but we walked to the downtown area instead, found an Internet café, The Sweet Mermaid, caught up on our emails and enjoyed delicious hot coffee.

Alaska Cruise - Part One

Our first stop was the city of Vancouver, Canada.

We did not find it difficult, customs was a breeze and our taxi driver took us to our hotel, the Century Plaza on Bourard Boulevard in downtown.

Vancouver is a beautiful city and cultured.

Reflections on My Trip to Turkey

On this recent transatlantic crossing to my homeland of Turkiye, there were many things that I discovered, things that made me reflect, and things that made me sad.

As I thought about this, it occurred to me that perhaps these things are too private to share.  Yes, some things are, but some things are not.

Visit to My Village - Part Eight

Hakan led the way, as usual. We walked another hour and I realized that we were on the trail we had taken the other day.  We reached the area with the loose rocks and Hakan warned me again to be 'sure footed.'

"If you slip and get your foot caught between rocks, you can break your leg or ankle."

Visit to My Village - Part Seven

The next morning we were on our way to Erzincan. Hakan had a basket filled with fresh mushrooms for his daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren.

I stopped in Siran to buy petrol for the car and ordered tea and simit (Turkish pretzels) but Hakan did not want anything. Our drive on the autobahn was smooth and driving the BMW was quite an experience.

Visit to My Village - Part Six

The woodstove was fired up and the house was nice and warm. I took a hot shower, ate more of Mother's soup and retired for the night.

I told Mother that I wanted to sleep and if anyone came, to please excuse me. I was so tired, I slept over ten hours. In the morning I awoke, my thighs throbbing from yesterday's climb.

Visit to My Village - Part Five

After spending an hour at the summit, Hakan decided it was time to start back down. It was late afternoon and dark clouds had begun to close in.

Although Hakan said the wind could disperse the clouds, one can never knew the capricious mind of the weather.  He told us there were four choices to take.

Visit to My Village - Part Four

It had been six days since I arrived the village. Each day was sunshiny in the morning and rainy in the afternoon. Every morning I went walking by myself, covering all the fields to the north of the village.

I kept saying to myself that I was going to do my climb, but I became more nervous that the rain would never stop, and I would not be able to fulfill my dream of hiking the two summits.

Visit to My Village - Part Three

During my first week, I had visitors every night; some I knew, others were strangers to me.  Mother was constantly making and serving tea.

When the men came, they brought their wives and sometimes their daughters who helped mother with her cooking and chores.  Mind you, at this time of the year not all the people are in the village.

Visit to My Village - Part Two

I felt exhilarated as I approached the outskirts of Siran. Stopping the car at a convenient place, I observed the two mountains to the north of my village.

It had been forty-nine years since I left and I had forgotten how they look from this vantage point. Beyond these mountains, there is another ridge of higher peaks where the snow never melts.

Visit to My Village - Part One

After our transatlantic cruise, I decided to pay a visit to my mother. I have visited her almost every year, but always at Christmas time and at her home in Ankara where my other relatives live close by.

Mother spends her winters in Ankara and the remainder of the year in the village. This visit would be special because it would take place in the village of Evrenkoyu where I was born.

The Conversation

I think it safe to say that I am good in observing what is around me, especially in restaurants and other public places, and I have this habit of listening to other people's conversations.

When I lived in England, my landlady, given the title of Lady by the Queen, continually reminded me that it was rude to listen to what others were talking about.

Transatlantic Crossing

No, this is not anything close to the Titanic. Just the opposite.

After hearing about a re-positioning cruise that our dear friends, the Sankurs, had taken, I knew this was a trip I wanted to experience. I thought about doing the same crossing as they had done - from Southampton, UK to Ft. Lauderdale.