Wetlands walk aquarena springs

Wetlands walk aquarena springs, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Glass bottom boat tour at aquarena springs

Glass bottom boat tour at aquarena springs, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Wendy and I having one last Turkish tea the night before heading home on the last night of trip, Istanbul turkey

Wendy and I having one last Turkish tea the night before heading home on the last night of trip, Istanbul turkey, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Blue mosque, Istanbul Turkey

Blue mosque, Istanbul Turkey, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Blue mosque, Istanbul Turkey

Blue mosque, Istanbul Turkey, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

View from Topkapı Palace balcony

View from Topkapı Palace balcony, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul turkey

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul turkey, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul turkey

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul turkey, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Blue mosque, Istanbul Turkey

Blue mosque, Istanbul Turkey, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul turkey

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul turkey, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Stained glass at Topkapı Palace

Stained glass at Topkapı Palace, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Blue mosque, Istanbul Turkey

Blue mosque, Istanbul Turkey, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul turkey

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul turkey, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Topkapı Palace

Topkapı Palace, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Topkapı Palace

Topkapı Palace, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Wendy and I, Blue mosque, Istanbul Turkey

Wendy and I, Blue mosque, Istanbul Turkey, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Fireplace at Topkapı Palace

Fireplace at Topkapı Palace, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Fireplace at Topkapı Palace

Fireplace at Topkapı Palace, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Head harem mothers chambers Topkapı Palace

Head harem mothers chambers Topkapı Palace, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul turkey

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul turkey, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul turkey

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul turkey, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Wendy and I at dinner, Istanbul

Wendy and I at dinner, Istanbul, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Books, hung from ceiling near library, Istanbul MOMA

Books, hung from ceiling near library, Istanbul MOMA, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Istanbuls version of time square, but about 3 miles longer.

Istanbuls version of time square, but about 3 miles longer., a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

The "grand bazaar" - hall after hall, on and on, rugs, vases, jewelry as far as the eyes can see or legs can walk

The "grand bazaar" - hall after hall, on and on, rugs, vases, jewelry as far as the eyes can see or legs can walk, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Upside down medusas head in the underground cistern

Upside down medusas head in the underground cistern, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Süleymaniye Mosque (inside)

Süleymaniye Mosque (inside), a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Underground cistern (yerebatan sarnici) - Istanbul turkey

Underground cistern (yerebatan sarnici) - Istanbul turkey, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Wendy was dressed a little risqué for the mosque (Süleymaniye Mosque)

Wendy was dressed a little risqué for the mosque (Süleymaniye Mosque), a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Süleymaniye Mosque (outside)

Süleymaniye Mosque (outside), a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Süleymaniye Mosque

Süleymaniye Mosque, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Istanbul, turkey

Istanbul, turkey, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Wendy enjoying some Turkish tea

Wendy enjoying some Turkish tea, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

After Turkish bath

After Turkish bath, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

About to get a Turkish bath (lay on hot slab of marble for 45 min, sweat like mad, then cold water dumped on, then scrubbed, then soap massage, then more cold water, then sit and drink tea) was really invigorating

About to get a Turkish bath (lay on hot slab of marble for 45 min, sweat like mad, then cold water dumped on, then scrubbed, then soap massage, then more cold water, then sit and drink tea) was really invigorating, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Passed this driving around Istanbul, aqueduct maybe?

Passed this driving around Istanbul, aqueduct maybe?, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

View from Pergamum hillside

View from Pergamum hillside, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Pergamum amphitheater

Pergamum amphitheater, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Pergamum, ancient ruin in bergama turkey

Pergamum, ancient ruin in bergama turkey, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Ellingtons, on a ferry to Istanbul

Ellingtons, on a ferry to Istanbul, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

That's an unfortunate spelling...

That's an unfortunate spelling..., a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Wendy and I at Pergamum, turkey

Wendy and I at Pergamum, turkey, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Cable car up to Pergamum ruins

Cable car up to Pergamum ruins, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Large snail

Large snail, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Start/End Alancha experience (several pictures with over 20 dishes with 3 wine pairings over the course of 3 hours) Desserts #3-6 chocolate potato, chocolate herb, crunchy sesame seeds, and whipping with cookie, and iced coffee

Start/End Alancha experience (several pictures with over 20 dishes with 3 wine pairings over the course of 3 hours) Desserts #3-6 chocolate potato, chocolate herb, crunchy sesame seeds, and whipping with cookie, and iced coffee, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Dessert #2 - honeycomb with ginger

Dessert #2 - honeycomb with ginger, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Dessert #1 - mousse with chocolate crumbs; wine pairing was Pinot noir

Dessert #1 - mousse with chocolate crumbs; wine pairing was Pinot noir, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

The chefs at work

The chefs at work, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Sweet breads

Sweet breads, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.

Fire roasted onions with goat cheese

Fire roasted onions with goat cheese, a photo by matt kettler on Flickr.