Hello, again, Blogonauts! I'm off on another 2-week jaunt, this time to a panoply of European capital cities. We're starting in Turkey. And if first impressions count, Istanbul is toweringly IMPRESSIVE! It is a park-filled, flower-festooned capital. They seem to embrace both their ancient history, which is extensive, and the modern world. And after wandering through various other cities around the Mediterranean, Istanbul stands out from its peers for the seeming absence of graffiti, and the near absence of litter. But not to worry; it isn't perfect. What they lack in clutter, they make up for in automobile traffic. Several gents have even turned the near constant back-ups into business opportunities by selling bottled water and snacks to the drivers stalled along the way.  Our plane touched down almost an hour ahead of schedule. We spent the waining moments of sunlight walking around the neighborhood where our hotel is located. I've included a few photos of the area to expressly orient you to our surroundings. (Pun intended.)   So, now off to explore. Read on and send the link to others, as you deem appropriate. Blog to you later!