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when you visit Turkey it’s important to go to one of the greatest sites in Istanbul. The Topkapi palace where the sultans ruled for hundreds of years is a real treasure. One thing you won’t see, however, is the diamond portrayed in the movie “Topkapi”. While you are there remember to spend time Enjoying Topkapi surroundings. It’s a very beautiful and relaxing place to spend three or four hours and maybe more if you’re interested in studying every aspect of the palace.
Luxembourg is a very small country but it is also the country of my great great grandfather and grandmother. I decided to visit on my way to Paris to see what there is to see and there was an interesting happenstance. I went down one street and then on my way back to the hotel turned right on another and wound up at some barriers with people standing around waiting for something something. I asked a fellow from Italy what they were waiting for and he explained the royal family would be coming by at about three. So I decided to wait to see the Royals. It was a very interesting event, a church related religious ceremony, the itinerary is in a photo below with a mention of when the Royals will show up.
Just walk around the city and try all different kinds of Istanbul food. It comes from many different countries and definitely has things you will enjoy. These are just some ideas that might be interesting.
as real estate prices increased in Japan after World War II old buildings were no longer economically viable. Some of those buildings were considered historical, culturally important or architecturally reminiscent or beautiful. Those buildings were moved to this large piece of land north of Nagoya. If you are going to make this trip from Tokyo it is definitely a full day at Meiji Mura. If you are staying in Nagoya you can do it in half a day. It is almost 1 hour train ride away from Nagoya station in a little village called INU YAMA (dog Mountain). Meiji Mura is an important place to visit if you are interested in late 1800s up to World War II architecture, history or culture, or if you just want to have a very pleasant half day or full day walk in one of the most interesting places in Japan.
as you probably know the Romans set up an eastern empire citadel complete with future religious independence in what is now Istanbul. This cathedral was their main church for the eastern Roman empire. They used religion to gradually gain back their influence over the western world as Rome became increasingly difficult to defend against enemies. And as you know this was the launching pad for what we now call the orthodox church or the Greek Orthodox Church.The incredible Hagia Sophia was later increased in size and embellished with the newer version of the Middle Eastern religions, Islam. The two come together in this very interesting structure. You of course will be told by everyone you need to see this as one of the major two or three attractions in Istanbul.
it’s an interesting story how I learned the original imperial hotel in Tokyo which was taken down in the 60s was replaced with a giant hotel structure more fitting the economic potential of the area. As some of you know this building was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and that is why it was so cherished and rebuilt at Meiji Mura (Meiji era Village).
Pete Muir and his wife Marjorie we’re close family friends often coming over for bridge and a dinner which gave us kids a chance to have some wine. Pete was the grandson of John Muir who you know as the great advocate of the Yosemite national park and many other things. He and Marge planned to visit Tokyo and I was going to take them around to interesting places I found. They had booked the imperial hotel and we’re surprised when they got there it was not the imperial hotel they remembered maybe from the 1950s or early 1960s. So I checked into the history and found that they were rebuilding the original hotel brick by brick near Nagoya at Meiji Mura. This was the first I heard of this place out in the middle of nowhere but my next post will be about the other buildings in this beautiful park which I highly recommend visiting if you’re interested in Japanese history, culture and the period between 1870 and 1925. if they wanted to again see the imperial hotel they remembered they could visit Meiji Mura which they decided to do.
https://www.imperialhotel.co.jp/en/tokyo/special/wright-building
if you travel to Turkey and decide to go to Cappadocia make sure you visit the historical open air Museum including the best preserved and amazing Cappadocia churches.
