This week, I've been running all over Istanbul to show our first guests of 2012 an insider's view of this magnificent city.
Here's a glimpse of our week:
Random Turkish marching band in Taksim.
Eating fried mussels as a snack near Cicek Pasaji.
Meeting an art historian and a new friend.
Discovering the antique neighborhood of Cukurcuma.
Dancing after midnight in Taksim.
Photogenic street cats everywhere we went.
Capturing the "golden hour" along the Bosphorus.
Continuing to impress the Turkish shopkeepers with my language skills.
Eating a variety of kebaps and kofte nearly every day.
Pointing out the sights in Istanbul (I make a pretty good tour guide.)
Sharing the raki and balik experience followed by nargile with our U.S. friends .
Helping my friends buy a true kilim in the Grand Bazaar.
Sharing the joys of Istanbul with our friends - priceless!