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Can You Believe This

Tory told me last night that she's heading for work this morning. Is that a crazy girl or what??!! Regardless, she says she's safe and sound, so I'm happy and looking forward to her sharing some of those terrific pictures of which we've only had a tiny taste.

Safe & sound

From: Diana V Thompson [mailto:diana.thompson103@gmail.com]

Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2009 11:47 PM



Subject: Safe & sound



Hey Family! I'm back safe and sound from my adventures. It was the best vacation ever. Thank you so much for your notes along my way so I didn't get lonesome. Look for tourist crap in your Christmas stockings!



Love T

About Time!!!

Gosh Sandra - it has been awhile since I've read your news on the blog. I imagine that you've been working like a dog--I know you've been saying that work has been incredibly intense. Your attempts at the hula hoop made me laugh out loud. I'm sure it was a frustrating experience for you, but reading about it was just plain fun. Thanks for sharing and brightening my day.



Tory's been keeping Tom and me entertained with her stories as well. She's such an adventurer. I'm so glad that she's in the pictures--the scenery is nice but it's even nicer to be convinced she's actually there, getting her feet wet in the calcium falls. According to her note, she'll be home soon--she might be in the plane already. It will be a l-o-n-g flight for the little chick-a-dee.



I love Bop's new car too. I think she made a great choice. I look for blue Rav4's on the road. I haven't seen any. Thank goodness Sid put a picture on one on the blog so I could see what it looks like.



Hope Joey's healing quickly. Poor guy. Lots of good healing thoughts his way. And of course, healing thoughts for Dee's cheek as well. All in all, some quick recoveries.



Love to all.



Back in Ist but not for long....

From: Diana V Thompson [mailto:diana.thompson103@gmail.com]

Sent: Monday, September 28, 2009 4:03 PM



Subject: Back in Ist but not for long....



Hey family! It's late, and I'm exhausted but safe and sound back in Istanbul. My last day in Goreme was the best yet, but I will share details later as I am off to bed! My flight leaves tomorrow morning at 9am and I am scheduled to land in Seattle at around 10. Until then!!



Love T

No Comparison

Hello everyone,





So sorry I have't kept up with writing. So many new posts on the blog. So much excitement, especially Tory's adventures. It really seems she is enjoying herself doesn't it? She looks quite happy and healthy. As always I love her descriptions and she really brings it alive. It really is great to have seen as much of the world as she has. It's admirable how she just ventures out on these trips. Can you imagine all the great stories she has to tell. Thanks KC for forwarding everything to us. At least we get to live some of her adventures. Hope your trip to Germany was spectacular. I assume you are back, correct?



Diana, I am so glad you are feeling better and the swelling looks much better. That is quite a fall you took, but boy were you ever a good sport about it. I don't think I could have ever been as calm and low key as you were. Hope you are feeling pretty good.



Bopcha, your car looks spectacular. That looks like a great model. See the positive side of having your accident is you got a new car :-)

I think you will really enjoy it.



I had a funny experience one day at the gym. There was an instructor who was trying to recruit people to come into her class. Well of course I could never say no to anyone, so I joined her class and I was curious about it. It was a "hulla hoop" class. Oh my, am I ever uncoordinated or something. The instructor kept saying that there is no one that she hasn't been able to teach "hooping" to. Well I think I may have broken her record. i was trying really hard and everyone else seemed to be getting it. Supposedly after a few minutes of doing it correctly it all come together and you can start swirling that ring around your hips. Not me! I always seem to be the exception, I just wish I could sometimes be the exception for something extraordinary rather than puzzling. She kept saying that I will get it in a few minutes because I think she based that on her experience. well I went for 45 minutes not really being able to hula hoop. Oh I forgot to mention that at one point, I even hit myself with the hoop - hitting the bridge of my nose really hard. It made my eyes tear but I kept going because I was so embarassed. I think the instructor was sort of baffled by my inabilities. Well I decided that I would not return to the class - surprising isn't it?



I am pretty sure that at some point in my childhood I twirled that hula hoop around, but why am I so uncoordinated now. The whole session was kind of funny though because I just don't care that much about being good at. I could definitely laugh at myself.



So are any of you good hulla hoopers? You probably are!



Hope everyone is well.



With love,



Sandra











Pictures

The pictures are the frosting on the cake. Thank you so much for sharing the letters and the pictures. Love, Bopcha

WOW

What great shots of Tory with or without all the wonderful background. She appears to be as photogenic as her mum.



Judi, Cheryl and I took in the Fall Festival today. Lots and lots of booths but most of the artistic endeavors were way out of my budget. We had a good time and ended the day by eating at the Woodsmen.



Thinking of putting in a job application at an adult day care center just a few blocks away. My preference would be parttime. We will see because I really haven't hit the "I am bored and need a job" level quite yet.



When is Tory due home?



Pictures from Tory's Adventures

Finally, here we go--pictures that Tory just sent of her adventures. They don't appear in exact chronological order, but I think some of the names will be familiar from her emails.



Pammakule -- Tory wading. This must be one of the occasions that she took a swin with teeshirt and shorts.




Pammakule again -- these are the calcium falls I think Tory said.




Istanbul -- the Hague Sophia with dear Tory posing. Doesn't she look relaxed and happy?






Tory says this is the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. She walked around the entire perimeter but couldn't go in because it was the prayer time.




Tory in Istanbul.




Tory in Herodius. I remember King Herod from the Bible--and now Tory's walking the same earth.




Tory in Ephesus.




This is also Ephesus.




Tory on her rented by in Cappadocia.




Here's a scene in Capadocia. Looks like a moonscape in a way.

Balloons & etc

From: Diana V Thompson [mailto:diana.thompson103@gmail.com]

Sent: Sunday, September 27, 2009 5:37 AM



Subject: Balloons & etc



Hey Family,



It's only 2 in the afternoon and I am exceptionally ready for a nap. The balloon ride was at the break of dawn, and I was really excited. However, after the inital excitement, the takeoff and everything, I admit it got kind of boring. We just sort of floated up and then down and then up and then down. I was pretty happy to be back on the ground again in one piece, though I think I got some excellent photos.



After breakfast, I took a hike after breakfast up into the rock formations. There were so many fruit trees, grape vines, squash plants, etc. Walking through it all made me think of Uncle Matt and miss him very much. It was a bit of a scramble to get to the top of the cliffs that bound the valley, and even more of a dicey thing getting myself back down again. I had to resort to sliding on my rear end a couple times, resulting in a large amount of the Turkish countryside pouring down into my blue jeans. There was no way I could walk with the thistles and rocks in my drawers, so I ducked into one of the caves in the rocks and stripped. I felt very bold standing there in my undies, shaking out all the dirt and grass. Thank goodness no one wandered by to catch me in the act!



I hiked into town and rented a bicycle to do more exploring, and now my poor bottom is feeling quite abused and done in. Tomorrow is my last day in town but my flight's not until late in the evening, so I've signed up for another day tour, this one of the valley to the south, used for the Star Wars set (I think). I got more photos burned to CD so I will try to send them over.



Love T

Oh my, oh my!!!

First of all -- what a beautiful little Rav Bopcha!!! What a pretty color and pretty shape. I like it a LOT!!



Also Dee--I had no idea judge's had a sense of humor. What a truly amazing thing to say. Made Tom and me laugh. You are beginning to look normal again although it will take some getting used to you carrying that plum in your cheek (tee hee).



We learned today that Zoiboyz Perfect Storm (belongs to Dagmar and Herbert in Germany) just won the German Coursing Championship 2009 today. We are so proud of him. He's the brother of Tornado and Nitro, and is Ambassador's son. Also, Jazz (Ambassador's grandson and Nitro's son) won a major AKC coursing competion with Carlo a very close second. Challenger won the champion class and Comet placed second. Challenger won the best of breed. The other hounds there were very good, but not good enough to beat the Zoiboyz on this Sunday.

Diana's face after two weeks

I had to go to court yesterday, and the judge told me that if the other attorney beat me up again to be sure to call him!

Goreme, at last!

From: Diana V Thompson [mailto:diana.thompson103@gmail.com]

Sent: Friday, September 25, 2009 3:02 PM



Subject: Goreme, at last!



Hey family!



I made it to Goreme safe and sound and am quite contentedly installed in the prettiest hotel room I have ever reserved -- two floors with a bathroom to die for. This region is absolutely spectacular, with unusual rock formations not unlike Garden of the Gods in Colo Spgs, only white instead of red. I can't wait until daylight so I can explore.



This morning I toured the Hague Sophia, marveled at the tile work, and even stuck my finger in the 'weeping column' (if your finger comes out wet, your wish gets granted; mine was dry as a bone. grump). After that I made my way to the Blue Mosque, not far away. Unfortunately I couldn't go in because it was closed for prayers, but according to the other tourists I've talked to, the inside is really boring -- it's the outside that is spectacular. So I made a complete circumnavigation of the exterior grounds, snapped tons of photos, and called it a day. I was thrilled to find a Mexican food restaurant for a late lunch -- not half bad -- and then undertook a complicated and dull commute to the domestic airport for my flight into Cappadocia.



Tomorrow I am scheduled to take a brief guided tour of this area to orient myself, and after that, I hope to avail myself of the Turkish hamam -- so long as they don't try to beat my skin with eucalyptus leaves or something weird like that.... !



Love T

Istanbul!

From: Diana V Thompson [mailto:diana.thompson103@gmail.com]

Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2009 12:20 PM



Subject: Istanbul!



Hey Family!



Gosh, a 12 hour bus ride through central Turkey into Istanbul is a once in a lifetime event -- MAXIMUM once in a lifetime. But I made it! I think it was pure adrenaline that got me though the night and that traffic!



Unfortunately, upon arrival it took me almost 2 hours to find my hotel, and I was one tuckered individual. I had studied the maps to find this place before I left, but when faced with the genuine Istanbul, I was in a daze!



But, after a much needed rest, I made my way to the Grand Bazaar-- from which I could have bought just about any Gucci, A&F, Mont Blanc, Cartier anyone desired -- but I kept up a modicum of restraint, knowing tomorrow I will have additional opportunities to buy excellent quality knockoffs tomorrow as well (note, for your Christmas presents, please just don't look too closely at the labels :-).



Tomorrow morning, I plan to get an early start to tour the famous Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, and wander around the Sultan's palace. In the afternoon I have a flight to Cappadocia, which is supposed to be incredible. In the meantime, Love from Istanbul!



Love T