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hbanziger
Sep 5, 20224 min read
F + 21: A Storm is Brewing - Nafplio
Last night, we anchored in a bay at the northern tip of Spetses. The island is nowadays know as a place for the rich and famous. Indeed,...
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hbanziger
Aug 25, 20224 min read
F + 10 : Sunrise with Coffee - Ephesus
The Sun rose at 6.45 am today - Sunrise with Coffee There is no better way than starting a day with coffee. That is exactly what we did...
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hbanziger
Aug 23, 20223 min read
F + 8 : Some Reflections on Chios and a 85 Miles Journey
We had company today from a Family of Dophins Not being able to go to Chios has its advantages. Whilst we miss out on Mastic we now have...
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hbanziger
Aug 22, 20224 min read
F + 7 : Fire in the Bay - Sibyl on the Hill
The Sybil of Erythraia - painted by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel It is rare hat we visit places where world history changed...
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hbanziger
Aug 21, 20224 min read
F + 6 : What do Marseille & Alum have in common? Phocaea or Foça!
Lazy Sunday today. Nobody got out of bed before 9 am. The gentle rocking of the waves was just too tempting. The coffee tastes almost as...
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hbanziger
Aug 18, 20224 min read
F + 3 : Where Agamemnon hid his Fleet
After two days of touring, we decided to take it easy today. Last night, we crossed over to Bozcaada or Tenedos as the island is called...
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hbanziger
Aug 16, 20224 min read
F + 1 : The Revenge of the Trojans
At 4 am, the rattling of our anchor chain woke me up for a brief moment. The captain was lifting anchor. It was time to sail to Cardak on...
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hbanziger
Aug 9, 20223 min read
F - 6 : Istanbul's Tunnels
When I tell people about Istanbul’s tunnels, they usually expect a story about the Marmaray Project, the 13.6 km long rail link between...
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hbanziger
Jul 25, 20226 min read
F - 20 : Montreux Convention - More than just a Piece of Paper
One of 50 Russian Warships which sailed in 1921 through the Bosporus to the Mediterranean Standing on the Four Seasons’ terrace that...
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hbanziger
Jul 13, 20225 min read
F - 32 : On the Origin of Spices
The pleasure of sniffing spices in the market is never getting old. The sensual whiff of flavors is always surprising, the vibrant color...
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hbanziger
Jul 11, 20224 min read
F - 34 : French Tanks in Istanbul
From the Ferry Terminals at the Golden Horn, all day long, thousands of commuters and tourists arrive or depart for a trip over the...
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hbanziger
Jul 1, 20225 min read
F - 45 : A Palace too big for a shrinking Empire
Most people know about the Palatium in Rome, the home of Roman Emperors since the time of Augustus. The Palatine Hill gave us the name...
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hbanziger
Jun 27, 20222 min read
F - 49 : Kedi in Istanbul
Kedi is the Turkish Word for Cat Two Free Living Cats Cuddling on the Shores of the Bosporus One of the things you notice when in...
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hbanziger
Jun 7, 20223 min read
F - 74 : Ataturk and his Tea
Had it not been for our friend Ibrahim, a merchant in the Grand Bazaar, we would never have learnt about the origin of Turkish Tea. As...
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hbanziger
Jun 2, 20225 min read
F - 79 : The Unintended Consequences of Coffee
Turkish coffee is boiled slowly, not filtered. Sugar is mostly added during Boiling How coffee was discovered has become well known...
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hbanziger
May 29, 20224 min read
F - 83 : Who invented Belly Dancing?
Given that only four people signed up for the Belly Dancing Class, I thought propping up the activity may be a good idea. Now that...
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hbanziger
May 25, 20223 min read
F - 87 : The Story of Turkish Delights
It is almost impossible to visit Turkey without seeing a shop with Turkish Delights. Lokum, as they are called in Turkish, got their...
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hbanziger
May 20, 20226 min read
F - 92 : Three Emperors - Three Temples
Emperors assemble armies, build fleets, conquer countries, build new capitals and have a knack for leaving behind monuments – Napoleon...
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hbanziger
May 8, 20227 min read
F - 104 : Legacies of Byzantium II
A good two months ago, I wrote about the legacies of the first Christian Empire, Byzantium. During my research, I found many more topics...
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hbanziger
Apr 20, 20224 min read
F - 122 : Once Cosmopolitan Istanbul
Balat, Istanbul's old Jewish District, is today a bohemian, chic neighbourhood Most travel brochures describe Istanbul as a vibrant,...
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