The Fleet Report and Daily for Monday December 12th, 2022

[StLouisCruisers]

Internet is back on so here come the rest of day 1 in Instanbul.

 

Hagia Sophia museum is up next.  The exterior.  @kazu if you see yourself in my photos, let us know!

 

Here's a roadmap for you.

 

some of the interior walkways

 

I've noticed this is one of my older cameras taking photos in 2014 so not of the quality I would like.  Camera have really improved a lot over the last decade or two.

 

 

We saw a lot of people taking photos upwards during our Istanbul stop.  You can see why.

 

 

Marble jar, used on special days to distribute water, according to the inscription below it.

 

This is called the Beautiful Door.

 

See, I did NOT make that up.

 

 

By this time we were exhausted, and so were our traveling buddies so we walked back to the ship.  We walked many miles that day.  Along the way we saw street food called Kestane being sold.  It appears that is roasted chestnuts.

 

 

A place to wash your feet before entering the mosques.

 

Another shop full of spices and confections.

 

Back on the Prinsendam, we had a dancer on the pool deck (belly dancing I believe).  She moved so fast the photos turned out blurry!  We also had local cuisine cooked and set up on deck.

 

 

Those were the days, eh?

 

 

Sorry if there are too many photos but Istanbul is an important stop on the Black Sea cruise.  

 

[StLouisCruisers]

The second day in Istanbul we decided to take a tram ride to cut down on some miles of walking.

 

We got off at the Grand Bazaar which is known worldwide. 

 

We decided to buy two of our grandsons a Galatasaray soccer jersey.  One of those boys has continued on with soccer and the other let it go.  But it's good to see them continuing on with what interests them.  Here is the salesperson who waited on us and he was happy to pose for a photo. 

 

Inside the Bazaar, which is huge.  You could get lost in there.

 

 

Someone who went to fetch some Turkish coffee for his friends.

 

We walked from the Bazaar to the Blue Mosque named after the many blue tiles that decorate the interior.  It was built in the early 1600's.  

 

We waited in a long line to enter the mosque.

 

Here are the rules.

 

An entrance to the courtyard

 

If you're going to pray you stop here first.

 

 

Inside we took off our shoes and the ladies wore head coverings.

 

 

 

That is what everyone was looking up at.

 

I'm not sure why this room was empty, but I think those darker lines in the carpet are to help people position themselves for prayer.

 

Looking up one of the columns.  The metal supports were added to add the lighting, IMO.

 

Tiles everywhere

 

 

Leaving the Blue Mosque, we put on our shoes and headed to the Hippodrome where we viewed the Walled Obelisk and the Obelisk of Theodosius.  In addition there is a gazebo-style German fountain that adorns the square.

 

 

 

Incredible tile work inside the gazebo.

 

By then we decided to head back to the ship to rest.  So here's a last look at the Blue Mosque.

 

Freshly squeezed pomegranate juice.

 

Later that day it was time to leave Istanbul.  It wasn't the prettiest of days, but we still spent time on deck watching us sail away.  Next stop - Batumi, Georgia!  

 

 

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

We were in Istanbul on September 24, 2008, on the Prinsendam as part of a Black Sea cruise.  That morning we anchored and used shoreside tenders.  When we returned from our tour, the ship had docked.

 

Istanbul from the ship

 

Even the Turks, but probably the Ottomans, were not above taking treasures from Egypt.

 

Our first stop of the day was the Blue Mosque.  We had to remove our shoes, but were given a bag to carry them.  This is the area where the faithful wash their hands and feet.

 

Inside the mosque

 

 

The Blue Mosque in the distance

 

Our next stop was a rug showroom, however, after a necessary stop, we told our guide we were headed to the Grand Bazaar and would meet them at the bus pickup point.  This is the street outside the rug store and a gate nearby.

 

 

The Grand Bazaar

 

 

 

Topkapi Palace was the next stop on the tour.

 

 

 

The palace kitchens from the outside.  We did not have a chance to tour the kitchens.

 

Our final stop of the day was the Hagia Sophia

 

 

 

One of the "residents" of the Hagia Sophia

 

I don't remember the name for this feature, but if you put your thumb in the hole and could rotate it 360 degrees without it coming out of the hole, you were supposed to have good luck.

 

The area around the port as seen from the Prinsendam.

 

Istanbul at night.  Sorry the picture is a little fuzzy.

 

Lenda

 

[Norseh2o]

Thanks for the posts and good cheer this morning. Thank you @kazu for the cat-proof Christmas tree cartoon, I will send it to our Southern California granddaughters who received a black kitty on Saturday as an early Christmas gift. We spent yesterday in LA Quinta, CA with DS and family, DD and family, DSIL' parents and his brothers and families.  Had forgotten how lovely the Palm Springs area is, surrounded by rain swept mountains, we traveled on wide streets and oh my goodness, the golf courses!  Son and daughter-in-law prepared fondue, DD a green salad, DH opened the wine and son-in-law had the small batch bourbon on hand. The more we get together, the happier we are is always the sentiment when with those folks!

[luvteaching]

Good morning everyone, 

 

My body has decided to be up an hour earlier, 5:30 AM, so I've been working on Christmas cards. The Canada ones are ready to mail tomorrow. Now I can work on decorating, the US cards, etc. 

 

DH is making progress. A few days ago the nurse changed his dressing on his foot and I finally got to see the deep tissue injuries (DTI) and now understand totally why he goes "ouch" if anyone touches or moves his heel. The one on the inside is starting to heal but the one on the back has a long ways to go. I also talked to the nurse practitioner and got quite a bit of information on what was going on. When he comes home (soon we hope) he'll have a visiting nurse to change the dressing and be followed by a wound care doctor. 

Yesterday we did something "normal". I took in his better clothes (think his HA sweats and quilted polo shirt from the Westerdam OBC purchases), put on the heavy boot and his coat, and we left the facility for a few hours! We had our local SKAT para-transit bus pick us up and we went to the Skagit Symphony Christmas concert at McIntyre Hall in Mount Vernon, WA. DH loves music and he was in his glory. The symphony paired with the Mount Vernon High School mariachi band and a folklorico dancer for the last few numbers and it was an energetic and lovely performance. The band director was just named Washington State Music Teacher of the Year and I can totally understand that! Riding SKAT back to the facility was an adventure as we picked up someone and dropped them off as well but DH was so happy to be out it was worth it. 

We also bought our present to each other yesterday - new appliances. Will find out today when they'll be delivered and installed. It's a fridge, stove and dishwasher and then I'll also get a new sink and range hood  a bit later. Sprucing up the kitchen just a bit.

I'm off to water aerobics and then to the rehab facility to bug them about DH coming home before Christmas. He's standing more on his own and is definitely stronger. 

 

Best wishes to all!

Karen 

[sailingdutchy]

Thank you also to Rich and Roy and all other contributors , I might not post often but I like to read the Daily when possible .

 

Lots and lots of pictures already from @StLouisCruisers and @Quartzsite Cruiser, thank you mine are almost the same except for ...........drumroll.............

 

Now you all are have probably been waiting " with bated breath " where the pictures are of the belly dancer in Istanbul  that StLouisCruisers was trying to find , well after some searching I found her in my thousands of  cruise pictures and luckily she slowed down a bit for me , here she is : 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was on the Koningsdam in 2016 when we made a 2 day stop . I was actually told that she was one of the passengers ........... never found her for the rest of the cruise ........

All the rest of my pictures are almost the same as posted except for the players in them .

 

Happy Monday everybody ! 

Tony 😁😁

 

Edited December 12, 2022 by sailingdutchy

[StLouisCruisers]

1 hour ago, AncientWanderer said:

Good morning.  I've been away from the Daily as we were in Maui for 10 days.  No gingerbread-making or poinsettia-arranging for me.  I'm in the Covid penalty box -- with the entire list of typical symptoms.  My holiday prep in in peril.  

 

Looks like lots of frustration around CC with subpar cruises lately.  Land travel is no different.  Even staying in a high-end place and dining at good restaurants, our Hawaii escape was not what we've come to expect.  Things go up and down.

 

For each one reading this, hoping good things come your way today.

Sorry to hear you ended up with Covid thanks to your Maui travels.  Rest is essential so someone else will have to do the holiday prep.  Take care of yourself!

 

 

 

 

14 minutes ago, luvteaching said:

Good morning everyone, 

 

My body has decided to be up an hour earlier, 5:30 AM, so I've been working on Christmas cards. The Canada ones are ready to mail tomorrow. Now I can work on decorating, the US cards, etc. 

 

DH is making progress. A few days ago the nurse changed his dressing on his foot and I finally got to see the deep tissue injuries (DTI) and now understand totally why he goes "ouch" if anyone touches or moves his heel. The one on the inside is starting to heal but the one on the back has a long ways to go. I also talked to the nurse practitioner and got quite a bit of information on what was going on. When he comes home (soon we hope) he'll have a visiting nurse to change the dressing and be followed by a wound care doctor. 

Yesterday we did something "normal". I took in his better clothes (think his HA sweats and quilted polo shirt from the Westerdam OBC purchases), put on the heavy boot and his coat, and we left the facility for a few hours! We had our local SKAT para-transit bus pick us up and we went to the Skagit Symphony Christmas concert at McIntyre Hall in Mount Vernon, WA. DH loves music and he was in his glory. The symphony paired with the Mount Vernon High School mariachi band and a folklorico dancer for the last few numbers and it was an energetic and lovely performance. The band director was just named Washington State Music Teacher of the Year and I can totally understand that! Riding SKAT back to the facility was an adventure as we picked up someone and dropped them off as well but DH was so happy to be out it was worth it. 

We also bought our present to each other yesterday - new appliances. Will find out today when they'll be delivered and installed. It's a fridge, stove and dishwasher and then I'll also get a new sink and range hood  a bit later. Sprucing up the kitchen just a bit.

I'm off to water aerobics and then to the rehab facility to bug them about DH coming home before Christmas. He's standing more on his own and is definitely stronger. 

 

Best wishes to all!

Karen 

It's nice to hear you two were able to get out for the concert even with all the work getting there.  I do hope your DH can come home before Christmas!

[durangoscots]

The snow has arrived here. A bit late, but I had time to give the dogs a good walk before the flakes began to fall. We are not supposed to get much in town but the passes and all roads out of town will be bad. Fortunately I am not going anywhere. Wolf Creek Pass will get about 12".... the northern passes around 10". One thing about the snows of winter.... most of those passes do not have many guard rails. When the snow is piled up, you could not go off it you wanted to.

 

Hope all of you make it to your various cruises. I will be anxiously following any blogs.

 

@grapau27Glad your surgery went well and it was less extensive than you anticipated. @kazuI know how you feel about uncertainty...especially when it comes to travel plans. Fingers crossed.

 

Susan

 

 

 

 

[grapau27]

Just now, durangoscots said:

The snow has arrived here. A bit late, but I had time to give the dogs a good walk before the flakes began to fall. We are not supposed to get much in town but the passes and all roads out of town will be bad. Fortunately I am not going anywhere. Wolf Creek Pass will get about 12".... the northern passes around 10". One thing about the snows of winter.... most of those passes do not have many guard rails. When the snow is piled up, you could not go off it you wanted to.

 

Hope all of you make it to your various cruises. I will be anxiously following any blogs.

 

@grapau27Glad your surgery went well and it was less extensive than you anticipated. @kazuI know how you feel about uncertainty...especially when it comes to travel plans. Fingers crossed.

 

Susan

 

 

 

 

Thank you Susan.

[Cruising-along]

Good morning all!

After 13 days I'm happy to say I'm up to probably 90% of "normal".  Never, ever, have had a flu like this one and I hope to never again.  

 

I've gotten all the cards out now, all the gifts ordered online.  DH will get the tree up this week and the grandsons will be decorating it for me this weekend when they stay overnight on Friday (must be 100% by then!)  But I'm going to let them go at it, and I'll love how it looks no matter what.  We may just have a tree with the bottom half decorated I don't care!  😂

 

@seagarsmokerVery happy to hear that you're feeling 90% too.

@grapau27Graham so happy to hear that your surgery went well.  Speedy healing.

@kazuJacqui fingers crossed that you can fly out on Wednesday!

@AncientWandererMaxine I'm so sorry to hear that you have Covid.  Prayers for a mild case.

 

We've been to Istanbul a couple times, I love Turkey.  I won't dig up my photos because they're too much like those already posted.  Thank you Sandi @StLouisCruisersand Lenda @Quartzsite Cruiser.

Edited December 12, 2022 by Cruising-along

[Vict0riann]

Good morning, all!  Here's hoping Jacqui, @kazu, is able to fly on Wednesday, we're looking forward to seeing her on Koningsdam!  It would be sad to have to cancel.  Graham, @grapau27, glad the surgeryt went well.  I gave my appointment tomorrow to Pat, he has three nasty keratoses on his back, which he insists on scratching with a metal back scratcher and he makes them bleed, so I figured my little one on my arm could wait.   They will be inspected before being zapped at least!  Today we get our Covid boosters, yay, and will go out to lunch after, to celebrate.  Then come home and make soup.  

 

We went to Istanbul a long time ago, 2008, on Zuiderdam.  We arrived in the afternoon, went on a dinner boat ride in the afternoon (I didn't know about "food porn" in those days, so no pictures but it was an amazing meal), and the next day had a tour.  After the Topkapi Palace we were taken to a carpet shop.  Some people took off then, but we didn't know better, so went in with most of the group, and got locked in until they sold their quotas for the day!  We did buy a runner, they were to send it home to Virginia, and I figured it would never arrive, but when we got back there it was.  I'm still happy with it.  I had to hunt for the mistake, there is always an error ("Only God is perfect"), but there is a slight change in colour in one area.  But we were in there for hours, and didn't get into the bazaar or the cisterns.  We are booked on the Oosterdam next year with an overnight in Istanbul, so hope to do better!

 

A few pics from the boat ride.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forgot to say, we did get into the blue Mosque and the Hagia Sofia, my pictures are like the others.

[bennybear]

Good morning and thanks all!
@AncientWanderer sorry to hear you have Covid,   Did you get it in Maui?  
@Cruising-along and @seagarsmoker glad you’re both up to 90%!  Continued healing! 
Glad your skin checks went well, @grapau27 and @ottahand7  the good thing is most are easily treatable and so very common as we get older.  As long as not the dreaded melanoma, but that too can we well treated if caught early, so good that you get those skin checks done! 

 
Great photos,  for some reason my Istanbul photos are not cooperating, had hoped to show you the cisterns. 
 

[MISTER 67]

2 hours ago, StLouisCruisers said:

Internet is back on so here come the rest of day 1 in Instanbul.

 

Hagia Sophia museum is up next.  The exterior.  @kazu if you see yourself in my photos, let us know!

 

Here's a roadmap for you.

 

some of the interior walkways

 

I've noticed this is one of my older cameras taking photos in 2014 so not of the quality I would like.  Camera have really improved a lot over the last decade or two.

 

 

We saw a lot of people taking photos upwards during our Istanbul stop.  You can see why.

 

 

Marble jar, used on special days to distribute water, according to the inscription below it.

 

This is called the Beautiful Door.

 

See, I did NOT make that up.

 

 

By this time we were exhausted, and so were our traveling buddies so we walked back to the ship.  We walked many miles that day.  Along the way we saw street food called Kestane being sold.  It appears that is roasted chestnuts.

 

 

A place to wash your feet before entering the mosques.

 

Another shop full of spices and confections.

 

Back on the Prinsendam, we had a dancer on the pool deck (belly dancing I believe).  She moved so fast the photos turned out blurry!  We also had local cuisine cooked and set up on deck.

 

 

Those were the days, eh?

 

 

Sorry if there are too many photos but Istanbul is an important stop on the Black Sea cruise.  

 

Great photos which bring back some wonderful memories.

I'm Greek Orthodox and our church is very upset that the president of Turkey decided to turn Hagia Sophia back into a mosque after being a museum for many decades, shame on him.

[grapau27]

4 hours ago, ottahand7 said:

I hope they can get the internet working well for your benefit and for when we board on the 27th.  

@richwmnthank you for all that you pull together for us each day on the Daily and Fleet Reports.   I haven't decorated gingerbread I will leave it for the experts.   I haven't had ambrosia in years.  None of it showed up at our garden club potluck.    Pointsettia are beautiful but I haven't had one in years.  I was fortunate that my 2 kitties were well-behaved about holiday decorations.  Their first Christmas they were a year old and they had fun climbing the tree and after that it was an occasional batting at the ornaments at the bottom for the tree.   The did not munch any house plants.   A great quote by Twain.  I will pass on the spaghetti squash, no matter how much cream or cheese it just doesn't work for me.  No on the melon drink but the Nebbiolo looks really nice.  @StLouisCruisersthanks for the beautiful of Istanbul.  @grapau27I am happy to hear your surgery went well.  @rafinmdI am glad your lip ailment is on the mend.  Prayers for all on our care list and for the people of Ukraine.  @kazuI hope you are able to dodge the weather and can get to your cruise.    I am already beginning to watch the forecast for December 22 when we begin our slow trip to Fort Lauderdale.   I don't want to leave early because of weather because I have a nail appointment at the last possible moment on the 21st.    My skin check was per usual, a few actinic keratoses on my face that I treat with some type of chemotherapy cream for 2 weeks and a spot on my arm I will have to keep and eye on.   No visit to DB today because my appointment was at 8 and it would be too early to visit.   

Topping everything off our furnace started acting up yesterday.  It would start but not stay on.   I ran a space heater in the bedroom overnight which worked and now are running the gas fireplace with the blower in the great room. We had someone at the house by 9 and if the part is available in town it will be fixed today.   Thankfully it is mild for mid-December Michigan.  I also have a technician from the propane company coming today to check our gas output.  Our range burners have been running orange for weeks so something is up.   Have a nice Monday and when I am caught up I may post food porn from our chapter's wine dinner last evening.  Nancy 

 

3 hours ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

Good morning from a cloudy, cool, but not windy central Texas.  Our rain is supposed to begin about 4 pm, and be on an off again until noon tomorrow.  Today, I'll be boxing up some of the cookies to mail and other to take to neighbors.  The rest I'll add to the ones left from the first batch.

 

It seems like I was a day or two early for gingerbread decorating day. I would never attempt to make a gingerbread house, but at least the cookies are flat and don't have to be glued to one another.  I'll pass on the ambrosia and the poinsettias.  After a couple of years having poinsettias in the house, we figured out they caused an allergic reaction.

 

The Mark Twin quote is probably even truer today than it was in his day.

 

We'll pass on the spaghetti squash and the drink.  The wine sounds interesting, but a little pricey.

 

We were in Istanbul on September 24, 2008 on the Prinsendam.  We were scheduled to be there in 2016, but the bombing at the airport and the coup attempt changed the itinerary for the Black Sea cruise. 

 

@seagarsmoker  That's good news your at now 90% of normal.  Hope you are 100% soon.

@rafinmd  Roy, I was glad to read your lips are feel pretty normal now.

@Crazy For Cats  Jake, the new snow looks so nice and peaceful, and I can enjoy it from afar.

@grapau27  Graham, I'm pleased everything went well this morning.  I'll pass on the picture you took.  🤣

@kazu  Jacqui, fingers crossed 🤞 that you can fly out of there on Wednesday.

@dfish Debbie and @ger_77  Gerry, add me to the Messy Gift Wrappers Guild, although I haven't wrapped a gift since 2019.  

@smitty34877  Terry, that is good news that Tana was feeling well enough for a shower this morning.  I bet the shower made her feel even better.

@HAL4NOW  I'm glad your DD and her boyfriend had already left the Istanbul airport before the bombing.

@AncientWanderer  Maxine, I'm sorry you have covid, and hope you are over it soon.

@ottahand7  Nancy, I'm glad your skin check showed nothing more serious than what can be treated with a cream.  Sorry that your furnace has been hit by the gremlins. 

 

Lenda

 

2 hours ago, durangoscots said:

The snow has arrived here. A bit late, but I had time to give the dogs a good walk before the flakes began to fall. We are not supposed to get much in town but the passes and all roads out of town will be bad. Fortunately I am not going anywhere. Wolf Creek Pass will get about 12".... the northern passes around 10". One thing about the snows of winter.... most of those passes do not have many guard rails. When the snow is piled up, you could not go off it you wanted to.

 

Hope all of you make it to your various cruises. I will be anxiously following any blogs.

 

@grapau27Glad your surgery went well and it was less extensive than you anticipated. @kazuI know how you feel about uncertainty...especially when it comes to travel plans. Fingers crossed.

 

Susan

 

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Cruising-along said:

Good morning all!

After 13 days I'm happy to say I'm up to probably 90% of "normal".  Never, ever, have had a flu like this one and I hope to never again.  

 

I've gotten all the cards out now, all the gifts ordered online.  DH will get the tree up this week and the grandsons will be decorating it for me this weekend when they stay overnight on Friday (must be 100% by then!)  But I'm going to let them go at it, and I'll love how it looks no matter what.  We may just have a tree with the bottom half decorated I don't care!  😂

 

@seagarsmokerVery happy to hear that you're feeling 90% too.

@grapau27Graham so happy to hear that your surgery went well.  Speedy healing.

@kazuJacqui fingers crossed that you can fly out on Wednesday!

@AncientWandererMaxine I'm so sorry to hear that you have Covid.  Prayers for a mild case.

 

We've been to Istanbul a couple times, I love Turkey.  I won't dig up my photos because they're too much like those already posted.  Thank you Sandi @StLouisCruisersand Lenda @Quartzsite Cruiser.

 

1 hour ago, Vict0riann said:

Good morning, all!  Here's hoping Jacqui, @kazu, is able to fly on Wednesday, we're looking forward to seeing her on Koningsdam!  It would be sad to have to cancel.  Graham, @grapau27, glad the surgeryt went well.  I gave my appointment tomorrow to Pat, he has three nasty keratoses on his back, which he insists on scratching with a metal back scratcher and he makes them bleed, so I figured my little one on my arm could wait.   They will be inspected before being zapped at least!  Today we get our Covid boosters, yay, and will go out to lunch after, to celebrate.  Then come home and make soup.  

 

We went to Istanbul a long time ago, 2008, on Zuiderdam.  We arrived in the afternoon, went on a dinner boat ride in the afternoon (I didn't know about "food porn" in those days, so no pictures but it was an amazing meal), and the next day had a tour.  After the Topkapi Palace we were taken to a carpet shop.  Some people took off then, but we didn't know better, so went in with most of the group, and got locked in until they sold their quotas for the day!  We did buy a runner, they were to send it home to Virginia, and I figured it would never arrive, but when we got back there it was.  I'm still happy with it.  I had to hunt for the mistake, there is always an error ("Only God is perfect"), but there is a slight change in colour in one area.  But we were in there for hours, and didn't get into the bazaar or the cisterns.  We are booked on the Oosterdam next year with an overnight in Istanbul, so hope to do better!

 

A few pics from the boat ride.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forgot to say, we did get into the blue Mosque and the Hagia Sofia, my pictures are like the others.

 

1 hour ago, bennybear said:

Good morning and thanks all!
@AncientWanderer sorry to hear you have Covid,   Did you get it in Maui?  
@Cruising-along and @seagarsmoker glad you’re both up to 90%!  Continued healing! 
Glad your skin checks went well, @grapau27 and @ottahand7  the good thing is most are easily treatable and so very common as we get older.  As long as not the dreaded melanoma, but that too can we well treated if caught early, so good that you get those skin checks done! 

 
Great photos,  for some reason my Istanbul photos are not cooperating, had hoped to show you the cisterns. 
 

Thank you Friends for your good wishes.

Graham.

[grapau27]

3 hours ago, StLouisCruisers said:

The second day in Istanbul we decided to take a tram ride to cut down on some miles of walking.

 

We got off at the Grand Bazaar which is known worldwide. 

 

We decided to buy two of our grandsons a Galatasaray soccer jersey.  One of those boys has continued on with soccer and the other let it go.  But it's good to see them continuing on with what interests them.  Here is the salesperson who waited on us and he was happy to pose for a photo. 

 

Inside the Bazaar, which is huge.  You could get lost in there.

 

 

Someone who went to fetch some Turkish coffee for his friends.

 

We walked from the Bazaar to the Blue Mosque named after the many blue tiles that decorate the interior.  It was built in the early 1600's.  

 

We waited in a long line to enter the mosque.

 

Here are the rules.

 

An entrance to the courtyard

 

If you're going to pray you stop here first.

 

 

Inside we took off our shoes and the ladies wore head coverings.

 

 

 

That is what everyone was looking up at.

 

I'm not sure why this room was empty, but I think those darker lines in the carpet are to help people position themselves for prayer.

 

Looking up one of the columns.  The metal supports were added to add the lighting, IMO.

 

Tiles everywhere

 

 

Leaving the Blue Mosque, we put on our shoes and headed to the Hippodrome where we viewed the Walled Obelisk and the Obelisk of Theodosius.  In addition there is a gazebo-style German fountain that adorns the square.

 

 

 

Incredible tile work inside the gazebo.

 

By then we decided to head back to the ship to rest.  So here's a last look at the Blue Mosque.

 

Freshly squeezed pomegranate juice.

 

Later that day it was time to leave Istanbul.  It wasn't the prettiest of days, but we still spent time on deck watching us sail away.  Next stop - Batumi, Georgia!  

 

 

Excellent collection of photos Sandi.

[grapau27]

3 hours ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

We were in Istanbul on September 24, 2008, on the Prinsendam as part of a Black Sea cruise.  That morning we anchored and used shoreside tenders.  When we returned from our tour, the ship had docked.

 

Istanbul from the ship

 

Even the Turks, but probably the Ottomans, were not above taking treasures from Egypt.

 

Our first stop of the day was the Blue Mosque.  We had to remove our shoes, but were given a bag to carry them.  This is the area where the faithful wash their hands and feet.

 

Inside the mosque

 

 

The Blue Mosque in the distance

 

Our next stop was a rug showroom, however, after a necessary stop, we told our guide we were headed to the Grand Bazaar and would meet them at the bus pickup point.  This is the street outside the rug store and a gate nearby.

 

 

The Grand Bazaar

 

 

 

Topkapi Palace was the next stop on the tour.

 

 

 

The palace kitchens from the outside.  We did not have a chance to tour the kitchens.

 

Our final stop of the day was the Hagia Sophia

 

 

 

One of the "residents" of the Hagia Sophia

 

I don't remember the name for this feature, but if you put your thumb in the hole and could rotate it 360 degrees without it coming out of the hole, you were supposed to have good luck.

 

The area around the port as seen from the Prinsendam.

 

Istanbul at night.  Sorry the picture is a little fuzzy.

 

Lenda

 

Great photos Lenda.

[marshhawk]

Happy Monday Afternoon Dailyites!  Got up early as DH had an appointment, sat down at the computer, and the phone rang, since I didn't know the name, I didn't pick it up, but realizing it was too early for a telemarketer, I did, and his appointment was cancelled for today.  So we ran over to the grocery store, bought some low carb yogurt and strawberries, some nuts and berries,  and a cucumber and salad yummies, cranberries, and walnuts, and onion rings, and now I'm set to go for another few days.  Had lunch, and got home in time for Dh to start work, and the computer system has crashed.  Not here, but for all the telemarketers. 

 

Who knows, I may get a night off??

 

It's quarter of two in the afternoon, and the sky is once again DARK!  We had 25 minutes of sun today, that's it, long enough for the dog walk.

 

When i was cutting down the dry shrubbery last week, I know that I got into some poison ivy, and that  is what was making may hands itch, but on further inspection, every bump has a tiny bite in it, so it was ants or spiders.

 

I have loved everyone's pictures of Turkey and Istanbul.  

@grapau27I am glad that things went so well today at the docs.

@kazuI am keeping the prayers going for you to be able to get that cruise in.

@durangoscotsstay safe even though town wont get much snow. My BFF said about Providence RI last night, even a half an inch of snow and ice, can make you fall.  I said it was much better to have a good three feet of snow, that way it wont hurt. 

@AncientWandererI'm so sorry about the Covid, it really seems to have raised it's ugly head again.

@sailingdutchy Your belly dancer was beautiful.  I cant be a ballerina, or a modern dancer anymore, not skinny enough, but belly dancers are not skinny, if they were they would be called stick dancers.

@smitty34877I was very happy to read that Tana had some PERKINESS today!

@Quartzsite Cruiser Your cookies picture from last night, was food porn to the max.  I did see some cookies at Walmart that I contemplated purchasing.  Ugly Christmas Sweater cookies.  You made the design on a pre shaped cookie with colored sprinkles, rebake the cookie and the color from sprinkles melted, giving you the ugly Christmas sweater.  I didn't buy them.  But I am wearing my ugly Christmas sweater today.

 

 

[MISTER 67]

7 hours ago, grapau27 said:

Good afternoon.

I had my skin cancer operation at 10.30am UK time.

The surgeon thought 1 was a skin cancer and he removed it but thought the other which is not noticeable to just keep an eye on it.

I took a photo but won't post it unless anyone wants me to.

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who sent their good wishes and Like my posts every day.

There was 4 inches of snow on my car this morning when I took Pauline to work at 07.00am and the temperature has been sub zero all day.

My thanks to Rich,Roy, Debbie & @summer slopeand all those who make this a Must Read thread every day.

Tomorrow is my 6th anniversary of joining Cruise Critic.

Nice selection of days today.

Best wishes for everyone on Roy's care list.

Take care.

Graham.

 

 

Glad that the surgery went well.

 

 

Edited December 12, 2022 by MISTER 67

[grapau27]

22 minutes ago, marshhawk said:

Happy Monday Afternoon Dailyites!  Got up early as DH had an appointment, sat down at the computer, and the phone rang, since I didn't know the name, I didn't pick it up, but realizing it was too early for a telemarketer, I did, and his appointment was cancelled for today.  So we ran over to the grocery store, bought some low carb yogurt and strawberries, some nuts and berries,  and a cucumber and salad yummies, cranberries, and walnuts, and onion rings, and now I'm set to go for another few days.  Had lunch, and got home in time for Dh to start work, and the computer system has crashed.  Not here, but for all the telemarketers. 

 

Who knows, I may get a night off??

 

It's quarter of two in the afternoon, and the sky is once again DARK!  We had 25 minutes of sun today, that's it, long enough for the dog walk.

 

When i was cutting down the dry shrubbery last week, I know that I got into some poison ivy, and that  is what was making may hands itch, but on further inspection, every bump has a tiny bite in it, so it was ants or spiders.

 

I have loved everyone's pictures of Turkey and Istanbul.  

@grapau27I am glad that things went so well today at the docs.

@kazuI am keeping the prayers going for you to be able to get that cruise in.

@durangoscotsstay safe even though town wont get much snow. My BFF said about Providence RI last night, even a half an inch of snow and ice, can make you fall.  I said it was much better to have a good three feet of snow, that way it wont hurt. 

@AncientWandererI'm so sorry about the Covid, it really seems to have raised it's ugly head again.

@sailingdutchy Your belly dancer was beautiful.  I cant be a ballerina, or a modern dancer anymore, not skinny enough, but belly dancers are not skinny, if they were they would be called stick dancers.

@smitty34877I was very happy to read that Tana had some PERKINESS today!

@Quartzsite Cruiser Your cookies picture from last night, was food porn to the max.  I did see some cookies at Walmart that I contemplated purchasing.  Ugly Christmas Sweater cookies.  You made the design on a pre shaped cookie with colored sprinkles, rebake the cookie and the color from sprinkles melted, giving you the ugly Christmas sweater.  I didn't buy them.  But I am wearing my ugly Christmas sweater today.

 

 

 

6 minutes ago, MISTER 67 said:

Glad that the surgery went well.

 

 

Many thanks to you both for your good wishes.

Graham 

[SusieKIslandGirl]

@rafinmdRoy, thanks for the inclusion on the Celebrations list. And we’re still celebrating-another 10 days on the Island Princess. @kazuJacqui, fingers crossed you can fly to San Diego. Had a long walk from Pier 2 in Fort Lauderdale to Publix and back. It was a bit too warm for me but the steps sure added up!

[JazzyV]

Good afternoon. Thanks for the Fleet Report/Daily.

I like seeing decorated gingerbread but haven't done any myself. I haven't had any ambrosia in years. I looked at poinsettias today, but didn't buy one. Often true on the quote.

I like the meal (it's lower carb). I'll pass on the drink and the wine is over my budget. 

I haven't been to Istanbul. 

 

It's a cloudy, grey and chilly day today. We aren't getting out of the 30's. No snow in the forecast, unlike a lot of the Dailyites. I ran errands this morning. The final stop was at the big box store; what was I thinking, it was a madhouse! I ran into a friend who mentioned there was a great low price on gas (about 60 cents a gallon cheaper than my usual place), but the lines were long. I took a look after I'd put all my stuff in my car, and it wasn't bad, so I filled up the car.

 

@seagarsmoker Good news that you're feeling better.

@rafinmd I'm glad the lips are looking better. 

@grapau27 I'm glad the procedure went well, and only 1 required excision. That's a good bit of snow you got. 

@kazu Sorry to hear the storm is moving faster towards you. Fingers crossed you can get out.

@StLouisCruisers Thank you for the great Istanbul photos.

@smitty34877 I'm pleased to hear of small steps of progress for Tana. 

@kochleffel The receptions sound nice with your additions to the wine and challah.

@HAL4NOW How scary that must have been with DD and her boyfriend at the Turkish airport.

@AncientWanderer So sorry to hear about Covid affecting you.

@ottahand7 That sounds like a pretty good skin checkup. Sorry to hear your furnace is acting up and hope it's fixed quickly. 

@Quartzsite Cruiser Excellent Istanbul pictures.

@Norseh2o That sounds like a very nice family gathering.

@luvteaching Good to hear of DH's steady progress. It's good you were able to talk to the NP and get more information. So nice that DH got to go out and enjoy the Christmas concert; I'm sure it was good for his spirit. Nice Christmas gifts!

@sailingdutchy Thanks for the belly dancer pics.

@durangoscots Those passes sound scary in good and bad weather.

@Cruising-along I'm glad you're feeling better, finally. Another reason I still wear my mask when out and about is trying to avoid the flu, even though I had a flu shot. 

@Vict0riann I'm glad Pat is getting those looked at. Nice photos.

 

Prayers for the Care List and Cheers for the Celebration List.

Stay safe everyone.

 

Edited December 12, 2022 by JazzyV

[durangoscots]

13 minutes ago, JazzyV said:

Good afternoon. Thanks for the Fleet Report/Daily.

I like seeing decorated gingerbread but haven't done any myself. I haven't had any ambrosia in years. I looked at poinsettias today, but didn't buy one. Often true on the quote.

I like the meal (it's lower carb). I'll pass on the drink and the wine is over my budget. 

I haven't been to Istanbul. 

 

It's a cloudy, grey and chilly day today. We aren't getting out of the 30's. No snow in the forecast, unlike a lot of the Dailyites. I ran errands this morning. The final stop was at the big box store; what was I thinking, it was a madhouse! I ran into a friend who mentioned there was a great low price on gas (about 60 cents a gallon cheaper than my usual place), but the lines were long. I took a look after I'd put all my stuff in my car, and it wasn't bad, so I filled up the car.

 

@seagarsmoker Good news that you're feeling better.

@rafinmd I'm glad the lips are looking better. 

@grapau27 I'm glad the procedure went well, and only 1 required excision. That's a good bit of snow you got. 

@kazu Sorry to hear the storm is moving faster towards you. Fingers crossed you can get out.

@StLouisCruisers Thank you for the great Istanbul photos.

@smitty34877 I'm pleased to hear of small steps of progress for Tana. 

@kochleffel The receptions sound nice with your additions to the wine and challah.

@HAL4NOW How scary that must have been with DD and her boyfriend at the Turkish airport.

@AncientWanderer So sorry to hear about Covid affecting you.

@ottahand7 That sounds like a pretty good skin checkup. Sorry to hear your furnace is acting up and hope it's fixed quickly. 

@Quartzsite Cruiser Excellent Istanbul pictures.

@Norseh2o That sounds like a very nice family gathering.

@luvteaching Good to hear of DH's steady progress. It's good you were able to talk to the NP and get more information. So nice that DH got to go out and enjoy the Christmas concert; I'm sure it was good for his spirit. Nice Christmas gifts!

@sailingdutchy Thanks for the belly dancer pics.

@durangoscots Those passes sound scary in good and bad weather.

@Cruising-along I'm glad you're feeling better, finally. Another reason I still wear my mask when out and about is trying to avoid the flu, even though I had a flu shot. 

@Vict0riann I'm glad Pat is getting those looked at. Nice photos.

 

Prayers for the Care List and Cheers for the Celebration List.

Stay safe everyone.

 

Actually, some of those passes are much scarier in the summer. In the winter, once the road is scrapped it is sort of like a toboggan run. And there is no view to distract you since you can't see over. Still, I try to avoid them.

[grapau27]

10 minutes ago, JazzyV said:

Good afternoon. Thanks for the Fleet Report/Daily.

I like seeing decorated gingerbread but haven't done any myself. I haven't had any ambrosia in years. I looked at poinsettias today, but didn't buy one. Often true on the quote.

I like the meal (it's lower carb). I'll pass on the drink and the wine is over my budget. 

I haven't been to Istanbul. 

 

It's a cloudy, grey and chilly day today. We aren't getting out of the 30's. No snow in the forecast, unlike a lot of the Dailyites. I ran errands this morning. The final stop was at the big box store; what was I thinking, it was a madhouse! I ran into a friend who mentioned there was a great low price on gas (about 60 cents a gallon cheaper than my usual place), but the lines were long. I took a look after I'd put all my stuff in my car, and it wasn't bad, so I filled up the car.

 

@seagarsmoker Good news that you're feeling better.

@rafinmd I'm glad the lips are looking better. 

@grapau27 I'm glad the procedure went well, and only 1 required excision. That's a good bit of snow you got. 

@kazu Sorry to hear the storm is moving faster towards you. Fingers crossed you can get out.

@StLouisCruisers Thank you for the great Istanbul photos.

@smitty34877 I'm pleased to hear of small steps of progress for Tana. 

@kochleffel The receptions sound nice with your additions to the wine and challah.

@HAL4NOW How scary that must have been with DD and her boyfriend at the Turkish airport.

@AncientWanderer So sorry to hear about Covid affecting you.

@ottahand7 That sounds like a pretty good skin checkup. Sorry to hear your furnace is acting up and hope it's fixed quickly. 

@Quartzsite Cruiser Excellent Istanbul pictures.

@Norseh2o That sounds like a very nice family gathering.

@luvteaching Good to hear of DH's steady progress. It's good you were able to talk to the NP and get more information. So nice that DH got to go out and enjoy the Christmas concert; I'm sure it was good for his spirit. Nice Christmas gifts!

@sailingdutchy Thanks for the belly dancer pics.

@durangoscots Those passes sound scary in good and bad weather.

@Cruising-along I'm glad you're feeling better, finally. Another reason I still wear my mask when out and about is trying to avoid the flu, even though I had a flu shot. 

@Vict0riann I'm glad Pat is getting those looked at. Nice photos.

 

Prayers for the Care List and Cheers for the Celebration List.

Stay safe everyone.

 

Thank you Vanessa.

The surgeon put 7 stitches in a vertical cut on the cheek on the left side of my face.

I have an appointment next Monday to get the stitches out.

Graham.

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

Good afternoon from a windy and misty central Texas.  We are expecting rain, thunderstorms and high winds this afternoon and through tomorrow morning.  

 

The cookies are all off the table and either stored for when the DDs are here, or in containers to take to the neighbors.  The two boxes of cookies have been mailed, and I hope not many are broken.  I always mark the boxes Fragile, and over the years have had good luck getting them to their destinations in one piece.  

 

This time of year, I especially like the Click and Ship feature that USPS offers.  I can print the labels and pay the postage on line.  Then all I have to do is walk into the post office and drop them off.  No standing in line!  👍 This year, I could have had them picked up for free tomorrow, but with DH's doctors appointment tomorrow, I decided to take them in.  DH went along for the ride even though it was not the best weather.  He is making good progress, and is about ready to graduate from the walker to a cane, at least part of the time.  He can even walk short distances without either the cane of the walker.

 

4 hours ago, luvteaching said:

Good morning everyone, 

 

My body has decided to be up an hour earlier, 5:30 AM, so I've been working on Christmas cards. The Canada ones are ready to mail tomorrow. Now I can work on decorating, the US cards, etc. 

 

DH is making progress. A few days ago the nurse changed his dressing on his foot and I finally got to see the deep tissue injuries (DTI) and now understand totally why he goes "ouch" if anyone touches or moves his heel. The one on the inside is starting to heal but the one on the back has a long ways to go. I also talked to the nurse practitioner and got quite a bit of information on what was going on. When he comes home (soon we hope) he'll have a visiting nurse to change the dressing and be followed by a wound care doctor. 

Yesterday we did something "normal". I took in his better clothes (think his HA sweats and quilted polo shirt from the Westerdam OBC purchases), put on the heavy boot and his coat, and we left the facility for a few hours! We had our local SKAT para-transit bus pick us up and we went to the Skagit Symphony Christmas concert at McIntyre Hall in Mount Vernon, WA. DH loves music and he was in his glory. The symphony paired with the Mount Vernon High School mariachi band and a folklorico dancer for the last few numbers and it was an energetic and lovely performance. The band director was just named Washington State Music Teacher of the Year and I can totally understand that! Riding SKAT back to the facility was an adventure as we picked up someone and dropped them off as well but DH was so happy to be out it was worth it. 

We also bought our present to each other yesterday - new appliances. Will find out today when they'll be delivered and installed. It's a fridge, stove and dishwasher and then I'll also get a new sink and range hood  a bit later. Sprucing up the kitchen just a bit.

I'm off to water aerobics and then to the rehab facility to bug them about DH coming home before Christmas. He's standing more on his own and is definitely stronger. 

 

Best wishes to all!

Karen 

 

Karen, I'm very happy your DH is progressing well, and that the wounds are beginning to respond to treatment.  How nice that you could attend the concert.  A break from rehab routine is always good, unless it involves another hospital.  I hope he will be home for Christmas.

 

4 hours ago, sailingdutchy said:

Thank you also to Rich and Roy and all other contributors , I might not post often but I like to read the Daily when possible .

 

Lots and lots of pictures already from @StLouisCruisers and @Quartzsite Cruiser, thank you mine are almost the same except for ...........drumroll.............

 

Now you all are have probably been waiting " with bated breath " where the pictures are of the belly dancer in Istanbul  that StLouisCruisers was trying to find , well after some searching I found her in my thousands of  cruise pictures and luckily she slowed down a bit for me , here she is : 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was on the Koningsdam in 2016 when we made a 2 day stop . I was actually told that she was one of the passengers ........... never found her for the rest of the cruise ........

All the rest of my pictures are almost the same as posted except for the players in them .

 

Happy Monday everybody ! 

Tony 😁😁

 

 

Tony, thanks for your pictures.

 

4 hours ago, durangoscots said:

The snow has arrived here. A bit late, but I had time to give the dogs a good walk before the flakes began to fall. We are not supposed to get much in town but the passes and all roads out of town will be bad. Fortunately I am not going anywhere. Wolf Creek Pass will get about 12".... the northern passes around 10". One thing about the snows of winter.... most of those passes do not have many guard rails. When the snow is piled up, you could not go off it you wanted to.

 

Hope all of you make it to your various cruises. I will be anxiously following any blogs.

 

@grapau27Glad your surgery went well and it was less extensive than you anticipated. @kazuI know how you feel about uncertainty...especially when it comes to travel plans. Fingers crossed.

 

Susan

 

 

 

 

 

Susan, please be careful in the snow and ice.  I'm glad Colorado is getting much needed moisture.  Those passes might have snow guard rails in winter, but they are scary in the summer, especially in a large motorhome.  The scenery is spectacular though.  We usually go the long way between Durango and Ridgeway.  It's a lot safer in the motorhome.

 

3 hours ago, Cruising-along said:

Good morning all!

After 13 days I'm happy to say I'm up to probably 90% of "normal".  Never, ever, have had a flu like this one and I hope to never again.  

 

I've gotten all the cards out now, all the gifts ordered online.  DH will get the tree up this week and the grandsons will be decorating it for me this weekend when they stay overnight on Friday (must be 100% by then!)  But I'm going to let them go at it, and I'll love how it looks no matter what.  We may just have a tree with the bottom half decorated I don't care!  😂

 

@seagarsmokerVery happy to hear that you're feeling 90% too.

@grapau27Graham so happy to hear that your surgery went well.  Speedy healing.

@kazuJacqui fingers crossed that you can fly out on Wednesday!

@AncientWandererMaxine I'm so sorry to hear that you have Covid.  Prayers for a mild case.

 

We've been to Istanbul a couple times, I love Turkey.  I won't dig up my photos because they're too much like those already posted.  Thank you Sandi @StLouisCruisersand Lenda @Quartzsite Cruiser.

 

Carolyn, I'm glad you are 90% back to normal.  Enjoy your weekend with the grandsons.  The tree will be special since they will have decorated it.

 

14 minutes ago, JazzyV said:

Good afternoon. Thanks for the Fleet Report/Daily.

I like seeing decorated gingerbread but haven't done any myself. I haven't had any ambrosia in years. I looked at poinsettias today, but didn't buy one. Often true on the quote.

I like the meal (it's lower carb). I'll pass on the drink and the wine is over my budget. 

I haven't been to Istanbul. 

 

It's a cloudy, grey and chilly day today. We aren't getting out of the 30's. No snow in the forecast, unlike a lot of the Dailyites. I ran errands this morning. The final stop was at the big box store; what was I thinking, it was a madhouse! I ran into a friend who mentioned there was a great low price on gas (about 60 cents a gallon cheaper than my usual place), but the lines were long. I took a look after I'd put all my stuff in my car, and it wasn't bad, so I filled up the car.

 

@seagarsmoker Good news that you're feeling better.

@rafinmd I'm glad the lips are looking better. 

@grapau27 I'm glad the procedure went well, and only 1 required excision. That's a good bit of snow you got. 

@kazu Sorry to hear the storm is moving faster towards you. Fingers crossed you can get out.

@StLouisCruisers Thank you for the great Istanbul photos.

@smitty34877 I'm pleased to hear of small steps of progress for Tana. 

@kochleffel The receptions sound nice with your additions to the wine and challah.

@HAL4NOW How scary that must have been with DD and her boyfriend at the Turkish airport.

@AncientWanderer So sorry to hear about Covid affecting you.

@ottahand7 That sounds like a pretty good skin checkup. Sorry to hear your furnace is acting up and hope it's fixed quickly. 

@Quartzsite Cruiser Excellent Istanbul pictures.

@Norseh2o That sounds like a very nice family gathering.

@luvteaching Good to hear of DH's steady progress. It's good you were able to talk to the NP and get more information. So nice that DH got to go out and enjoy the Christmas concert; I'm sure it was good for his spirit. Nice Christmas gifts!

@sailingdutchy Thanks for the belly dancer pics.

@durangoscots Those passes sound scary in good and bad weather.

@Cruising-along I'm glad you're feeling better, finally. Another reason I still wear my mask when out and about is trying to avoid the flu, even though I had a flu shot. 

@Vict0riann I'm glad Pat is getting those looked at. Nice photos.

 

 

Prayers for the Care List and Cheers for the Celebration List.

Stay safe everyone.

 

 

Vanessa, it's always good when you get a great price on gas, especially these days.

 

1 hour ago, marshhawk said:

Happy Monday Afternoon Dailyites!  Got up early as DH had an appointment, sat down at the computer, and the phone rang, since I didn't know the name, I didn't pick it up, but realizing it was too early for a telemarketer, I did, and his appointment was cancelled for today.  So we ran over to the grocery store, bought some low carb yogurt and strawberries, some nuts and berries,  and a cucumber and salad yummies, cranberries, and walnuts, and onion rings, and now I'm set to go for another few days.  Had lunch, and got home in time for Dh to start work, and the computer system has crashed.  Not here, but for all the telemarketers. 

 

Who knows, I may get a night off??

 

It's quarter of two in the afternoon, and the sky is once again DARK!  We had 25 minutes of sun today, that's it, long enough for the dog walk.

 

When i was cutting down the dry shrubbery last week, I know that I got into some poison ivy, and that  is what was making may hands itch, but on further inspection, every bump has a tiny bite in it, so it was ants or spiders.

 

I have loved everyone's pictures of Turkey and Istanbul.  

@grapau27I am glad that things went so well today at the docs.

@kazuI am keeping the prayers going for you to be able to get that cruise in.

@durangoscotsstay safe even though town wont get much snow. My BFF said about Providence RI last night, even a half an inch of snow and ice, can make you fall.  I said it was much better to have a good three feet of snow, that way it wont hurt. 

@AncientWandererI'm so sorry about the Covid, it really seems to have raised it's ugly head again.

@sailingdutchy Your belly dancer was beautiful.  I cant be a ballerina, or a modern dancer anymore, not skinny enough, but belly dancers are not skinny, if they were they would be called stick dancers.

@smitty34877I was very happy to read that Tana had some PERKINESS today!

@Quartzsite Cruiser Your cookies picture from last night, was food porn to the max.  I did see some cookies at Walmart that I contemplated purchasing.  Ugly Christmas Sweater cookies.  You made the design on a pre shaped cookie with colored sprinkles, rebake the cookie and the color from sprinkles melted, giving you the ugly Christmas sweater.  I didn't buy them.  But I am wearing my ugly Christmas sweater today.

 

 

 

Annie, does the computers being down mean it's safe to answer the phone today?  🤣 

 

1 hour ago, grapau27 said:

Great photos Lenda.

 

Thank you, Graham, for you nice comment.

 

3 hours ago, bennybear said:

Good morning and thanks all!
@AncientWanderer sorry to hear you have Covid,   Did you get it in Maui?  
@Cruising-along and @seagarsmoker glad you’re both up to 90%!  Continued healing! 
Glad your skin checks went well, @grapau27 and @ottahand7  the good thing is most are easily treatable and so very common as we get older.  As long as not the dreaded melanoma, but that too can we well treated if caught early, so good that you get those skin checks done! 

 
Great photos,  for some reason my Istanbul photos are not cooperating, had hoped to show you the cisterns. 
 

 

We didn't get to the cisterns when we were in Istanbul in 2008, and missed our chance in 2016 when the itinerary was changed.  Maybe we'll get there someday.

 

8 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

Thank you Vanessa.

The surgeon put 7 stitches in a vertical cut on the cheek on the left side of my face.

I have an appointment next Monday to get the stitches out.

Graham.

 

Graham, if you haven't tried putting vitamin E cream on incisions after the stitches are out, you might want to think about it.  We're doing that with DH, and the therapist suggest massaging the area to help promote healing.

 

Lenda

[grapau27]

1 minute ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

Good afternoon from a windy and misty central Texas.  We are expecting rain, thunderstorms and high winds this afternoon and through tomorrow morning.  

 

The cookies are all off the table and either stored for when the DDs are here, or in containers to take to the neighbors.  The two boxes of cookies have been mailed, and I hope not many are broken.  I always mark the boxes Fragile, and over the years have had good luck getting them to their destinations in one piece.  

 

This time of year, I especially like the Click and Ship feature that USPS offers.  I can print the labels and pay the postage on line.  Then all I have to do is walk into the post office and drop them off.  No standing in line!  👍 This year, I could have had them picked up for free tomorrow, but with DH's doctors appointment tomorrow, I decided to take them in.  DH went along for the ride even though it was not the best weather.  He is making good progress, and is about ready to graduate from the walker to a cane, at least part of the time.  He can even walk short distances without either the cane of the walker.

 

 

Karen, I'm very happy your DH is progressing well, and that the wounds are beginning to respond to treatment.  How nice that you could attend the concert.  A break from rehab routine is always good, unless it involves another hospital.  I hope he will be home for Christmas.

 

 

Tony, thanks for your pictures.

 

 

Susan, please be careful in the snow and ice.  I'm glad Colorado is getting much needed moisture.  Those passes might have snow guard rails in winter, but they are scary in the summer, especially in a large motorhome.  The scenery is spectacular though.  We usually go the long way between Durango and Ridgeway.  It's a lot safer in the motorhome.

 

 

Carolyn, I'm glad you are 90% back to normal.  Enjoy your weekend with the grandsons.  The tree will be special since they will have decorated it.

 

 

Vanessa, it's always good when you get a great price on gas, especially these days.

 

 

Annie, does the computers being down mean it's safe to answer the phone today?  🤣 

 

 

Thank you, Graham, for you nice comment.

 

 

We didn't get to the cisterns when we were in Istanbul in 2008, and missed our chance in 2016 when the itinerary was changed.  Maybe we'll get there someday.

 

 

Graham, if you haven't tried putting vitamin E cream on incisions after the stitches are out, you might want to think about it.  We're doing that with DH, and the therapist suggest massaging the area to help promote healing.

 

Lenda

Thank you Lenda.

These are the 2 creams I have been using on my scar off last year's BSC removal.

Graham.