In this latest edition of our Blog, We are going to take a look as to what our goings on were in Vienna along with a Thanksgiving trip...

November came after the before mentioned Adriatic Excursion, and we had to say goodbye to Alice and Shawn, But not before a trip to the Belvedere Museum where we got to admire a few painting from Monet, Van Gogh and of course Gustav Klimt. We were not dissappointed with the famous kiss. The Museum itself is also something to see, built in the 1700's the grand halls and staircases make looking at art almost a side note. We really enjoyed it.

But soon enough after an amazing trip, our partners in crime siblings had to head home. The parents however stayed in town and though it was bitter cold, they got a chance to settle back in to life in Vienna. Ciara headed back to school so I was in charge of tourism; we took strolls around the city and enjoyed many meals together at local restaurants and ones we cooked ourselves. My sweet mother gave me a cooking lesson on how to make chicken cacciatore and apple crisp. I got a chance to work in our kitchen with a great mentor and we had a blast cooking together. We got to spend some quality time together and went to see Arsenic and Old Lace at an English Theater, and went to the Vienna Symphony at the famous Musikverein.

Back to our normal life after quite a stretch of "vacation," we got back into our routine. Things in Vienna where changing though. The Chrismas markets were out in full effect. If you haven't been to Vienna during Christmas time, it is something you have to see. In every neighborhood square, including the Rathouse and Schonbrunn Palace, streets are lined with lights, decorations, and huts selling crafts, Christmas treats and mugs of gluwein and a varieties of punsch (all delicious hot beverages). Strolling though the markets is quite an experience especially with all the chestnuts roasting on an open fire. We got a chance to spend some quality time with some friends that we heading back to the states. Friendships we made in a short time that will last. And then came Thanksgiving......

Thank goodness for teaching at an American school because we get Thanksgiving break! So where better to go on Thanksgiving than... Turkey for Turkey Day! We booked a flight to spend the holiday with another expat friend who is teaching in Istanbul, Andrea. It was quite an experience. Our flight got delayed so we didn't get in until about 10:30 so we had to catch a cab to Andrea's house. This city is huge, we drove from the European side over one of the bridges that crosses over the Bosphorus to the Asian side where she lives. This city covers two continents, so needless to say traffic is intense and the cab drivers, nor most people driving have much respect for rules of the road, if there are any. We made it though, in a fiat cab playing frogger with semi-trucks and oversized tour busses-what lane?-pick a lane, any lane. At one point our cab driver answered his cell phone while we were sandwiched between two semi-trucks in a space where I'm pretty sure at one point we fit underneath the trucks.

After a good nights sleep we headed out into the city from the Asian side where Andrea lived on Acibadem in Kadikoy. We took a local bus down to the ferry where we took the first of our many ferry rides across the water to the European side. Quite a scenic place once to the otherside, we headed into Sultanamet, the old part of town. The buildings in this area are breathtaking. The Hagia Sophia is opposed by the Blue Mosque both are marvels. We spent the day touring the area visiting the Grand Bazaar enjoying the day. But then we had to get prepped for Thanksgiving. We headed back to Kadikoy and did some shopping and did our best at a local market. Not that they didn't have an abundance of beautiful food, but we were short a few things. We made due however and ended up with a chicken, some mashed potatoes, carrots, dressing, gravy and some turkish dishes. Quite an event we enjoyed our dinner and enjoyed wine and each other's company, just like the holiday should be. Of course we missed family but we had a enjoyable Turkey day!

The rest of our time in Istanbul we did touring about the city the Blue Mosque the Cistern both of which were quite impressive. We walked the Galata bridge and check out the Galata tower. We went and had a cocktail in Orikoy which is a great little community with a view of the first bridge. It is full of shops and restaurants. I (Ciara) enjoyed a Hamam (Turkish Bath). This was a scrub-down experience like no other. I won't get into all the details, but basically I was slipping and sliding on a warm marble slab as my entire body was exfoliated thanks to a strong Turkish woman. In a big marble room with a big dome in the center letting in beams of natural light, I was bathed from head-to-toe. I can check-off this experience in the "1,000 Places to See Before You Die," book and I would do it again and again.

Last but not least we did a turkish dinner off of Istikal street and area that is bustling with people shops, cafes, restaurants and bars. As the streets narrowed the more people there were. once we finally found the place we were looking for called Cardak. We entered the place early for our 8 o'clock reservation. We were the first ones there so we sat down to starter food and all you could drink, slowly people started streaming in to the place. We got our food and the drinks were flowing, we grew to really love the Raki-a Turkish favorite. Before too long with the place packed at this point the music started and things started to really pick up. People began singing and dancing. Every single song, the entire restaurant (of about 100+ people) were belting out every word to every song and dancing like nobody's business. There were people standing on their chairs and they were encouraging us to get up and dance. Of course, we did. It was quite a time a true turkish dinner.

The next day we had to bid far well to this amazing place. Such vivacious place, proud and buzzing. Like no place we've ever been. The call to prayer every 5 hours echoing across the neighborhoods from mosque to mosque. The people were very friendly. The "Evil Eye" ever present. A historical place truly important in the shaping of human civilization.

The experience was also made special due to to the hospitality of our great friend Andrea, it allowed us to navigate this trip with ease and enjoyment. Hopefully, we helped her enjoy being a tourist again.