This was an interesting trip beginning with an unexpected (and unwanted) stayover in Istanbul thanks to my least favorite airline in the world - Turkish Airlines. Upon arrival, what lttle I saw of Ankara was typical of any large modern city (high fashion and tourist traps). Sadly, I never found Turkish coffee, and to add insult a Starbucks Grande Latte cost $8 US thanks to the ever declining US dollar.
Here is a shot taken from my hotel room window (Hilton Ankara) of the Blue Mosque. I didn't have time to tour it on this trip. There are many minarets visible in and around the city.
Despite our plan to keep a low profile due to reports of anti-US sentiment following the Turkey-Armenian genocide resolution being debated by the US Congress, I slipped and told the waiter at a restaurant we were from the US and he proceeded to honor us with customized flatbread. An unexpected suprise was having a fantastic dessert called Dondurmali Irmik (warm semolina with ice cream) at an excellent restaurant that I am still googling to find the name of.
Israel was an amazing experience for a heathen like myself, and I highly recommend it. We stayed at the David Intercontinental hotel, which was just OK. We felt safe, and had a great tour guide after the event (a fellow employee) to show us around Jerusalem for an afternoon/evening. We toured inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The old city as you drive into Jerusalem.
The Stone of Anointing, believed to be the spot where Jesus' body was prepared for burial
Brian and I at the West Wall, and a really cool Emergency Scooter.
Oh yeah, Brian made this trip on crutches and had gotten a little grumpy by the end.
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