Final Reflections - August 1st

Well, here we are, after a rather uneventful but rather long flight, we are finally home! That last few days in Istanbul are still whirring around in my head.  The wife an I visited the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar again, and later, on the last days, we went with the guys and took in the Maidens Tower and the Theodosian Walls. All quite impressive.  As I reflect back, I keep thinking about the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar. I recall looking at the worn stone floors of the bazaars and thinking to myself, "I wonder how many different feet have trodden this same pathways over the course of the centuries? Greek, Roman? Byzantine? Ottoman? Turk?" From the mighty to the meek, all in pursuit of the same thing: to barter with the merchants over their wares. Well, add to that list the intrepid band from Brother Rice! We too have now left our mark in the history of these places. Our footsteps have now blended with all those other countless footsteps that makes up the history of these Bazaars....

But now our travels are over, it is time to return home. It is time to put away the walking stick and pull out the slippers and rest our weary feet.

The adventure has ended.

posted: Ken Tolksdorf   8-1-11