July 27

At the MTT track today, debaters worked on limited preparation Karl Popper debates. The coaches and judges helped prep the MTT debaters on the limited preparation topics, learned about joining IDEA, and gave feedback on the MTT practice debates.

On a side note, I was actually assigned to CJT Group A at the start of the sessions - the most experienced coaches and judges group. While I have never judged Karl Popper debate, the tournament officials took into account previous experience, analysis of the returned ballots, and the debater feedback on judge oral feedback to make the assessment; which evidently placed me in the highest category. I feel complimented by this assignment.

In the evening, we once again returned to Bağdat Caddesi with Mark from the UK for a quick dinner...at McDonalds. Not the most Turkish dinner, but a taste of home is always a good thing in a vastly different culture. The only pictures I have from today are at the McDonalds. I ordered a "Tavuk (Chicken) McTurco," which apparently is a gyro/pita wrapped meal available locally. There are other menu differences - there are no Quarter Pounders; after all, Turkey uses the Metric system of measurement. In Turkey, they are called "McRoyals." But good old favorites like french fries, Big Macs, and double cheeseburgers remain the same in name and taste. I am blogging less and less about cab rides simply because we are becoming accustomed to the insanity that is Turkish traffic. Actually, on the way down to the McDonalds, Mr. Tolksdorf's cab arrived first (despite leaving much later than the first cab with Mrs. Tolksdorf) because the driver used many "shortcuts:" driving the wrong way on tiny one way streets, and the driving on sidewalks (to avoid cars on said one way streets).

Another somewhat related note: major highways, like the D-100 that winds through our neighborhood, often have bus stops located right on the highway shoulder. Wide staircases descent the embankment from the surface streets to the highway shoulders, were people wait on the side of the expressway in normal looking bus stops. Buses pull up to the stops and literally stop on the highway to pick up/drop off passengers. Just another insight into traffic here in Istanbul.
The boys spent the rest of the day at the pool, while I prepared for the excursions tomorrow: we are visiting Ortaköy, Dolmabahçe Palace, Taksim Square, and Galata Tower, all contained on the European side, in and around the Beyoğlu neighborhood.

Pictures from McDonalds - note the rooftop dining area and view of Bağdat Caddesi.









Post: Alex