Ancient Ruins of Noto

It has been quite some time since we went exploring on the island.  After a morning spent around the house, we loaded up and made our way to the ancient ruins of Noto.  The town was abandoned and a "new" Noto city was built several miles away.  The "new" town certainly charming as we passed through, but the first order of business were the ruins.  A real city with functioning shops, churches, and restaurants is the usual route, but ancient ruins are much cooler!  As it seems Sicily likes to do, there were maybe 2 signs pointing the way.  Most of the time, we weren't sure we were going the right way, but thanks to my husband/ driver/ navigationalist/ extroidenair, we made it!  We walked (I use the term loosly because it was more like a crawl on 2 feet-- Brady loves rocks and likes to investigate every rock on the trail because it's probably the perfect one to go in his pocket) down the path and found ourselves at the castle ruins.

 

 

It is so much fun to climb the stairs and stand in the place others did Centuries ago.  Brady wanted to go inside the castle, but it was blocked off, so he decided we should rebuild it.  He pointed to a rock and told us to grab rocks so we could put them back in place.  I love the mind of a 5 year old!  Endless possibilities and logic.  I want to go inside the castle.  The castle doesn't have walls.  Let's rebuild it!  Then, I can go inside.

 

 

Homes, a hospital, chapel, and other buildings built to support every day life were broken down and overgrown, only allowing peeks into the past.  It added a sense of charm having to look past what was directly in front of us to find the jewel  hidden behind. 

 

 

                                       Early Christian catacombs

 

As evening began to creep upon us, we followed the winding road back down to the "new" Noto.  One of the restaurants our guidebook suggested did not disappoint, we filled our bellies with goodness!  There were two geleterie the book suggested were in rivalry to which had the best gelato.  We all had gelato, but Greg had a gelato cone from each place! 

It is times like this we recognize how blessed we are.  We are blessed to spend time as a family, exploring ruins and walking towns eating "the best" gelato while gazing on magnificent old churches... on just another Saturday night.

Final day in Istanbul

Our final day in Istanbul was an easy one.  This has been an amazing vacation and it was nice to take the last day to keep things simple.  After talking to a couple who visited the palace, we felt like we should try it again.  This time we found the ticket counter!  We walked through the Haram quarters where girls from neighboring villages were bought from their parents or given as gifts from nobles, and sent to live at the palace. 

The palace grounds were very busy and lines were around every corner.  We chose to wait in one line to enter a treasury containing what they said was St. John the Baptist’s arm covered with gold, his skull encrusted with jewels, David’s sword, and Moses’ staff.  We saw a sword, a staff, an arm bone covered with a golden glove, and a portion of a skull covered with jewels.  Were all of these things actually real relics?  Umm, I’m going to go ahead and say no!

 

 

And of course, there were ice cream breaks!

 

The day ended with some Turkish Pizza and an early night.  After 10 days, 9 nights, 8 cities, 6 flights, 5 apartments, 4 people, 2 countries, 2 suitcases, there was 1 family ready to get back to Italy!

Istanbul, Day 2!

Our second day in Istanbul, we decided to take it easy.  We did just that until we decided to walk up to the Topkapi Palace.  The goal was to tour the palace and we walked for quite some time through the palace gardens looking for the ticket counter.  We arrived at the end of the road at a dead end.  Devastation set in.  Our backs and feet were tired from carrying children and walking, and all we had to show for our efforts was a picture of what would have been where we were standing hundreds of years ago.

 

Deciding to forgo the palace tour, we stopped for drinks at a nearby café then took the kids to the playground.

 

We stopped for lunch and since we were almost halfway there, decided to venture on to the Spice Market. Oh the spices! Mounds of cumin, saffron, cinnamon, spice blends, the list could go on and on. Along with the spices were dried fruits, nuts, and various tea blends.

Greg bought a Genuine Fake Watch and it stopped working about an hour after he bought it. I couldn’t resist the spices and some Apple Tea, of course!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Istanbul, Turkey Pt. 1

I was convinced we were going to miss our flight.  We busted through a toll booth we couldn’t figure out how to work, drove past our exit, went a looong distance out of the way, were held up by the rental car people telling us the gas tank wasn’t full (thankfully they didn’t mention the crack on the windshield and didn’t seem to notice the carseat we left in the car), and had to pick up Brady’s lost booster seat that was found days later.  And so began the hurried, dragging our children behind us, run to the gate scenario we know so well.  Thankfully, we got in line just as they were boarding the plane!

On to Istanbul, Turkey.  In the early afternoon we walked up to the AyaSofya museum.  Building was completed in 537 and it was the “greatest church in Christendom” until it was converted to a mosque around 1453.  The mosaics were exquisite and there was a beautiful collection of calligraphy.  I stuck my finger in the “weeping column” and the story goes if your finger comes out moist, ailments can be healed.  My finger wasn’t wet, but I felt just fine.

 

Across from the AyaSofya is The Blue Mosque.  The man who built it intended to outdo the interior beauty of the Sofya with the beauty of the outside.  It was big, but I wasn’t terribly impressed.  When we arrived prayer service was taking place, so we were unable to view the inside. 

From there we went to the Grand Bazaar where we walked forever, got turned around- a nice way to say we continued the tradition of roaming the streets of a strange country, and bought Brady a Superman costume.  We ended the evening with very tired feet, but enjoyed a delicious meal of Turkish pizza and kebabs. 

         Of course we had to take a break to eat grilled corn and chase pigeons!

I must make special mention of my children.  I’m telling you, they were the best perhaps I have ever seen them… and I see them A LOT!  Juliette was a trooper in her backpack carrier, only complaining when Brady got an ice cream and she didn’t.  Brady walked and walked with very little complaint and didn’t ask for anything except ice cream and a Superman toy.  Our entire trip, they were treated like rock stars.  People asking to take pictures of and with them, giving them candy and fruit, and there was also a great deal of cheek pinching and high fives.  When Juliette wouldn’t sit still for dinner, waiters would entertain her by walking her around the restaurant.  Both Brady and Juliette were a pleasure!

Kindergarten!

“O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.  You know when I sit and when I rise, you perceive my thoughts from afar.  You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.  Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.  You hem me in- behind and before;  you have laid your hand upon me…Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.  If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your hand will hold me fast.”  Psalms 139 1-5, 7-10

There have been times in my life I have held on so tightly to the words of the 139^th Psalm, words so close to my heart and in the words I see a reflection of my life.  I now have the joy of passing these words on to my son.  Brady, my joy and treasure and who was “fearfully and wonderfully made.” 

I have had him in my care for 5 years and every day has been full of challenges, joys, laughter, tears (usually when he wants a snack as a meal or dessert first and I tell him “no”), and LOTS of arts and craft time.  There have been so many lessons Greg and I have tried to teach him about teamwork, consideration of others, kindness, goodness, love, standing up for himself, and a much longer list you would get bored of reading.  God has entrusted Brady to us, and we have loved and taught him the best way we know how.  Now, he begins the first step in his life beyond us.  Brady is in Kindergarten!

I am not sad about this day.  I am a firm believer in raising independent children who by the grace of God make this world a better place.  I am looking forward to this school year and to what Brady’s future holds.  What I know for sure is God is holding on to my sweet boy, hemming him in from behind and before, and will guide him.  As Brady makes his way through life, as he rises on “the wings of the dawn,” I will be better for having him in my life.