Sunset: Bitez Beach, Aegean Sea

Belly Dancer: Istanbul, Turkey.

Istanbul Restaurant: This man was singing a popular Egyptian song about Iraq. The lyrics were translated by the Egyptian man sitting next to me and they went something like this: I wish I were a doctor so that I could heal our ailing brother, Iraq. Brother you are in so much pain, I wish I were a doctor so that I could take your pain away...

Topkapi Palace: Istanbul, Turkey.

Istanbul Beatle.

Peak-a-boo!

Istanbul: Dangling Baby. Who said Michael Jackson still doesn't have influence?

Blue Mosque (which faces Aya Sophia): Istanbul Turkey

Istanbul: Not Constantinople: Below You Will Find Photos of One Peace Corps Volunteer's Dream Vacation with His Girlfriend.

Finally, I've been able to post some of the photos I took on my vacation to Turkey with Solena. We had an amazing time. I hope these photos are able to capture some of the magic and mystery looming in the ancient city of Istanbul as well as some of the more modern delights of the Aegean coast. Enjoy--we sure did!

Sincerely,

Larry Tweed

Bodrum: Harbor. Notice the sugar-cube architecture of the houses and business in the background.

Istanbul: Bridge.

Istanbul Spice Bazaar. Those are Hookahs in the background.

Olives! What more can I say? Istanbul, Turkey.

Istanbul. Outside Topkapi palace with the Bosphorous in the background.

Our Swank Accomodations in Bodrum. We had an awesome stay at this cool hotel on the Aegean coast.

Bodrum, Turkey

4th longest suspension bridge in the world. This bridge crosses the Bosphorous (the body of water that separates Europe from Asia). Istanbul is the only city that spans two continents.

Bone Shadow: Larry likes to sneak in an "artsy" photo every now and then. This taken on top of a wall that separates the Blue Mosque from the Bazaar situated behind it.

Hotel Empress Zoe has amazing breakfasts: here's the layout. Olives, feta and skinned tomatoes were my favorites.

Hotel's private garden where we ate our Turkish breakfasts.

Bitez beach, Bodrum, Turkey. Spent a beautiful day here sipping Tonics and wine. ummm ummm.

Our dining area in our Hotel Room at the Empress Zoe in Sultanahmet Neighborhood of Istanbul.

Turkish Tea

Operation Dinner Out. Istanbul, Turkey.

Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey: September 10th. Prayer.

Exterior of Aya Sofia. This church became a mosque and then a museum and it faces the blue Mosque (above).

Inside Aya Sofia in Istanbul.

We met this little guy when we went out to see traditional Belly Dancers'. My girlfriend (at the time) taught him how to play Peek-a-boo.

Istanbul, Turkey: Sept, 2005: Near the Spice Bazaar. Shiny Dead Silver Fisheeeeeees.

Istanbul, Turkey: Soccer star in the making.

Dog Days of Summer. Behind the Blue Mosque in Istanbul.

Larry Tweed has completed one year in Kyrgyzstan.

I was really looking forward to sharing some of Turkey's amazing sights, however, Blogger's Hello Picasa feature and internal blogger photo post features don't seem to be working.

I arrived back to Osh over a week ago and found that life had continued moving forward during my absence. Upon my return, I also discovered that I am the new facilitator for an online webcam conference between the students of East Carolina University and Osh State University. Last Tuesday we (I and 14 students) connected via webcam with a classroom in North Carolina. One of my students pointed at the computer monitor (which displayed the U.S. classroom) and asked me, "Are they real Americans?"

"Yes," I responded, forgetting the microphone was on, "those are Real Americans." Everybody back in the U.S. classroom chuckled when they heard me declare that they were the real thing. I think the class promises to be a fascinating learning experience on both sides.

A few of us met the new U.S. Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Ms. Marie L. Yovanovitch, last week. She is a very impressive women. You can read more about her here.

I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the Peace Corps Partnership Program for the Center for American Studies. So far we have raised approximately $800 and we need about $1,300 to go. Thank you all for your support! Would you like to Contribute? There's still time! Click here for more information about the project and how you can help Kyrgyzstan future leaders!

The discussion club has grown considerably with the beginning of the new semester. Our next topic is Tolerance Within the Educational System. We will be discussing such things as religious tolerance, ethnic tolerance and tolerance toward those who display other differences, such as disabilities (many of Kyrgyzstan's disabled are holed up in their homes or sent to institutions to be with "their own kind"). I am impressed with the students for choosing such interesting and pertinent topics. It should be a good discussion!

I look forward to blogging a little more regularly in the near future.

Test: Larry Back from Istanbul

Test message. I am back in Osh, Kyrgyzstan safely after a phenomenal trip to Turkey and a day trip to the Greek Island of Kos. I've tried posting photos but something's not working right. I'll try back in a day or two again. Take care,

Larry Tweed

Istanbul

Beautıful Istanbul. For those of you who dont know, I am on vacatıon ın Turkey wıth my gırlfrıend Solena. We have been stayıng ın the beautıful hıstorıc dıstrıct called Sultanahmet--home to Aya Sofıa, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı palace and the Grand Bazaar among many others. Our hotel, Empress Zoe ıs dırectly next to Aya Sofıa and our rooftop terrace overlooks the Bosphorous. Photos wıll be posted when I return. Solena has outdone herself--thıs place ıs amazıng and the Champagne she pıcked up on her brıef stop ın Parıs made for a wonderfully bubbly mornıng as we watched the sunrıse over the water. I am off to eat olıves and feta and skınned tomatoes and Baklava...yummm

Far from Kyrgyzstan,

Larry Tweed