POTD: Christiansborg's Tapestries

"The Great Hall stands tall,
Home of woven history.
Myths and monarchs."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 07 01 Copenhagen

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken in Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, the seat of government of Denmark. One room is filled with tapestries. Usually tapestries in old buildings are faded and threadbare. But in the Great Hall of Christiansborg Palace are "17 quite modern tapestries, one of the greatest depictions of Denmark’s history ever made."

After the jump a bonus photo shows a dark period of recent history.

POTD: Christiansborg Palace

"Palace of power,
Three branches under one roof,
Denmark's marble halls."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 07 01 Copenhagen

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken in Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen. "The palace is home to the three supreme powers of Denmark: the executive power, the legislative power, and the judicial power. It is the only building in the world that houses all three of a country's branches of government. The name Christiansborg is thus also frequently used as a metonym for the Danish political system, and colloquially it is often referred to as simply Borgen ('the castle')."

For us, visiting "Borgen" was a highlight of our trip because we had previously enjoyed the TV series Borgen.

Bad Monkey (TV 2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

asdf (TV 2024): A comedy set in the Florida Keys and Bahamas. Fast-talking, flippant detective (Vince Vaughn) latches onto a case of a human arm pulled up from the ocean by a fisherman and can't let go. Lots of oddball characters. Even the bad guys are fun. A-

AppleTV+

POTD: Farewell to Turkey

"Two weeks through Turkey,
Friendship in every smile,
Bridges, not walls."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 05 19 Ephesus and Izmir

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken along the seafront of Izmir, Turkey at sunset on our last night in Turkey. That's a warship, Turkish I believe, but I note that Turkey is a US ally, a member of NATO since 1952. Its membership was prompted by aggressive moves by the Soviet Union after WWII. It's perhaps instructive to note that Ukraine does not have NATO membership. Alliances are important. Enough said about global politics. For what it's worth, on our two weeks of travel through Turkey, we were met with nothing but friendly interactions with locals in all places.

Next stop: Copenhagen, Denmark.

POTD: Strolling the Aegean Esplanade

"Seafront in Izmir,
Sila's voice warms the cool night,
Joy flows through the square."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 05 19 Ephesus and Izmir

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken along the seafront of Izmir, Turkey. The Kordon esplanade runs along the Aegean Sea for 1, 3, 5 miles, or more, depending on who you ask. It's a great place to dine, stroll, and people watch. At night, you might be lucky enough to see a local festival, like the free Sila concert that was on at Gündogdu Square on the night of our stay in Izmir, the Turkish holiday known as "May 19th Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day".

Bonus photos after the jump.

POTD: Street Life in Izmir

"Street food delights.
Dress shop filled with modern flair.
Sweet Danger Menu."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 05 19 Ephesus and Izmir

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken in a shopping district of Izmir, Turkey, "a city on the west coast of Anatolia, the third most populous city in Turkey, and the largest urban agglomeration on the Aegean Sea."

Bonus photos after the jump.

POTD: Walkable Ephesus

"Columns line the way.
Gentle slope and stone beneath
Worn by countless feet."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 05 19 Ephesus and Izmir

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken in the ancient Roman city of Ephesus, Turkey. It shows Curetes Street, which is "one of the three main streets of Ephesus. It runs between the Hercules Gate and the Celsus Library. The street was an archaic Processional Way, an important sacred route that lead to the Temple of Artemis. Therefore, it takes its name from the priests that would walk the street during religious ceremonies."

POTD: Lunch on the Turkish Riviera

"Sun and turquoise sea,
Relaxed lunch by quiet waves,
A perfect escape."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 05 16 Bodrum

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken at the Flamm hotel on the beach in Bodrum, Turkey.

Bonus photos after the jump.

POTD: Doner Kebab and Pide

"Sizzling doner meat,
Lamb and herbs in harmony,
Bodrum's bustling streets."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 05 16 Bodrum

Today's photo-of-the-day is of doner kebab in Bodrum, Turkey. "Doner kebab is a dish of Turkish origin made of meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie. Seasoned meat stacked in the shape of an inverted cone is turned slowly on the rotisserie, next to a vertical cooking element. The operator uses a knife to slice thin shavings from the outer layer of the meat as it cooks."

After the jump, another Turkish savory treat.

POTD: Souvenir Hunting in Bodrum

"Crowded stalls abound,
Colors, scents, and voices call,
Bargains all around."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 05 16 Bodrum

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Bodrum, Turkey. "L" is souvenir hunting in the Bodrum Grand Bazaar.

POTD: White Peacocks are not Albino

"Feathers pure as snow,
Against Bodrum's ancient walls,
Graceful as the past."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 05 16 Bodrum

Today's photo-of-the-day is of a white peacock on the grounds of Bodrum Castle in Bodrum, Turkey. The castle was built "by the Knights of St John (Knights Hospitaller) as the Castle of St. Peter or Petronium. A transnational effort, it has four towers known as the English, French, German, and Italian towers, bearing the names of the nations responsible for their construction. The chapel was built around 1407 and the first walls completed in 1437."

Oh, yeah, about that white peacock. "These birds are usually not albino, as they're sometimes called, but rather leucistic, meaning they're born with a genetic condition that strips them—or parts of them—of pigment."

POTD: Old Men Dancing on the Bar

"Where marble tomb stood,
Pride of an ancient empire,
Now old men play games."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 05 16 Bodrum

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the port town of Bodrum, Turkey. "Known in ancient times as Halicarnassus, the town was once home to the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, also known as the tomb of Mausolus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World." Nothing from the tomb remains.

Today, restaurants line the waterfront where tourists dine and old men gather to play backgammon. Playing board games dates back to before the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. I like to think old men like those in this photo have been gathering here ever since.

A bonus photo is after the jump.

POTD: Mighty Aphrodite

"Under Augustus,
Prosperity built temples.
Aphrodite reigned."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 05 15 Hierapolis

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the ruins of Aphrodisias, an ancient Roman city in southwestern Turkey. "Aphrodisias, named after its patron goddess Aphrodite, was founded in the 2nd century B.C. on the site of a rural sanctuary of Aphrodite. In the 1st century B.C., Aphrodisias came under the protection of the first Roman Emperor, Augustus, and this initiated a period of prosperity and growth. A nearby marble quarry supplied the ancient city and sites around the empire such as Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli, with a supply of high-quality white and blue marble."

"The monumental gateway to the city's main sanctuary, the Tetrapylon at Aphrodisias is one of the city's most impressive monuments. The remarkable preservation of the structure—about 85% of its physical fabric survives—allowed for a complete scientific reconstruction, which was completed in 1991."

POTD: An Ancient City of Hot Baths

"Hot springs still bubble.
Terraces gleam in the sun.
A city of spas."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 05 15 Hierapolis

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the ruins of Hierapolis, Turkey, a city that dates back to ancient Rome, and before that to ancient Greece, and even before that to peoples lost in the Iron Age. What drew everyone to this site then, and still does today, are the hot springs and the limestone terraces deposited by them. Even today tourists soak in the hot pools. The Romans went all out at Hierapolis, building a city that exceeded 100,000 inhabitants between 100-200 CE.

P.S. I first visited Hierapolis in 1977. It looked great then and it's even better today, if more crowded.

Bonus photos after the jump.

POTD: On the Turkish Riviera

"Turquoise waves embrace
Antalya's cliffs standing tall.
History meets now."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 05 14 Antalya

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Antalya, Turkey, an ancient city on the Turkish Mediterranean coast. Turkey is such a delight to visit because of its diversity of tourist attractions. Antalya is a microcosm, with historic sites dating to ancient Rome paired with beaches and resorts. Antalya is "recognized as the 'capital of tourism' in Turkey and a pivotal part of the Turkish Riviera."

Bonus photos after the jump.

POTD: Mevlana Museum

"Rumi’s words take flight,
In the Mevlana’s calm halls,
A soul’s journey ends."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 05 13 Konya

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Mevlana Museum in Konya, Turkey. Originally it was the dervish lodge of the Mevlevi order, better known as the whirling dervishes. It houses the mausoleum of Jalal ad-Din Rumi, a Persian Sufi mystic who founded the order. He died in 1231.

Bonus photos after the jump.

POTD: Caravanseria in Central Turkey

"Old walls hold the tales
Of journeys made long ago
Along the Silk Road."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 05 13 Konya

Today's photo-of-the-day is from a caravanserai halfway between Cappadocia and Konya in central Turkey. A caravanserai is an ancient roadside inn where travelers (caravaners) could rest and recover from the day's journey. This particular one has been restored and serves as a museum.

Bonus photos after the jump.

POTD: Merry Christmas

"Gilded faces shine,
In Hagia Sophia's hush,
Lost in time's embrace."
— h/t ChatGPT

Virgin and Child, Hagia Sophia, ca. 1134

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey. The Hagia Sophia is the last of three church buildings to be successively erected on the site by the Eastern Roman Empire. It was completed in AD 537. For almost a thousand years, it was the world's largest cathedral. It was converted to a mosque in 1453 after the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans.

The photo shows a mosaic of the Virgin and Child from the south gallery. It dates from ca. 1118-1134. The full mosaic (not shown) has Emperor John II and Empress Irene of Hungary flanking the Virgin and Child.

Enough art history. To all readers, neighbors, friends and family, Merry Christmas! And thanks for visiting.

POTD: Whirling Dervishes

"Within ancient walls
A sacred dance fills the room.
Faith in motion swirls."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 05 13 Konya

Today's photo-of-the-day is from a caravanserai between Cappadocia and Konya in central Turkey. A caravanserai is an ancient roadside inn where travelers (caravaners) could rest and recover from the day's journey. This particular one is now used as a religious center that opens its doors for tourists to witness the sacred dance and prayer ritual known as the sema, performed by whirling dervishes, members of a Sufi Muslim religious order founded in the 13th century by Rumi, a Persian poet who believed that dance and music are a path to enlightenment. Accordingly, the dance and music are a religious ritual, not a "show". The audience doesn't clap. It's an altogether calming and moving experience.

Bonus photos after the jump.

POTD: Balloon Ride over Cappadocia

"Balloons in the sky,
Over rocks and valleys wide,
Soaring at sunrise."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 05 11 Cappadocia

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Cappadocia, a historical region in central Turkey. It is a tourist draw for its natural wonders. A highlight of any tour is a hot air balloon ride at dawn over the other-worldly landscape. What a view. We were lucky not to miss it. We were in Cappadocia for three mornings. On the first, our scheduled balloon ascent was canceled because of wind — there wasn't enough of it. On the second morning, our rescheduled ascent was canceled because of rain. On the third morning, our departure from Cappadocia delayed to give us one final chance to ascend, everything worked out for a glorious balloon ride.

Bonus photos after the jump.