News from Boston (Friday morning, April 19)
Here's one advantage of the eight-hour time difference between here and home. While Minnesota was sleeping last night, one of the Chechnyan terrorists was killed near Boston and a manhunt for the other one began. Over here it was morning, and for hours on Al Jazeera television we could watch the night's events unfold live in real time. We probably learned about all of that before most of America did.
Fishing
Here's one advantage of the eight-hour time difference between here and home. While Minnesota was sleeping last night, one of the Chechnyan terrorists was killed near Boston and a manhunt for the other one began. Over here it was morning, and for hours on Al Jazeera television we could watch the night's events unfold live in real time. We probably learned about all of that before most of America did.
Fishing
The Galata bridge is always lined with fishermen (and one fisherwoman so far). You rent a clever little wooden stand to hold your rods. What they catch is rarely longer than six inches but, hey, at least it's more scenic than fishing through the ice in Minnesota.
Shopping
In addition to the glitzy seven-story indoor mall on the big pedestrian street nearby, there’s a historic mall of sorts right beside the Blue Mosque, the Arasta Bazaar. It still emphasizes traditional Turkish crafts .. rugs, pottery, fabrics, jewelry, spices, tiles .. as when we were there once before. But it’s become far more upscale and totally hemmed in by tourist restaurants and hotels. It's still interesting shopping but now in an almost Disneyland environment. Too bad. But even the locals shop there.
On the other hand, there wasn't a decent public restroom there before, and we did enjoy a fine lunch .. lentil soup, rice pudding, apple tea. And nearby for the first time we saw postcards for sale. So while we lingered briefly to write to Sophia and Cooper, the waiter brought us two more apple teas, free! Not too shabby. Now .. where to mail them???
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