The Spice Market

This is the main enterance to the Egyptian Bazaar also known as the Spice Bazaar. It's not as big as The Grand Bazaar, which we also walked through, but it does have plenty of interesting items for sale. I didn't find any carpets that I needed and all of the flying models weren't available for a test ride.

As part of a cooking class we took, we also had a tour through this bazaar and stopped at some of the preferred shops inside. Alexandra and I bought tea and spices from Ucuzcular Baharat,

http://www.ucuzcular.com.tr/.

Tea is available at almost every corner. Whether it's a newspaper stand or shoe store, if you need a hot tea it's available. The teas comes served in glasses like those on the left. It's strong and best with some sugar.

adadis, so close to the real thing but not really

All kinds of knock off items can be found in a city of 17 million, name your price and start bargaining.

We saw this outside of a shop while walking back toward our hotel, I'm not sure this would make me want to shop there.

Interesting parking, I'm not sure if there was going to be some work done later or the car just needed to be off the street.

Inside of one of the cisterns in Istanbul, the picture does not need to be turned. The Madusa head was placed on its side, look at the water line on the bottom.

Kumpir = potato

These potato bars were great, you could get a big baked potato with all kinds of fillings. Corn, cheese, salsa, ham, olives, garlic yoghurt and peppers.

One lost little shoe. This was on the Asian side of Istanbul, we had walked up from the ferry terminal and were looking for a street.

Spring Snow in Austria

We went to Austria for the weekend with a group of Alexandra's co-workers. We stayed at Lukashansl Hotel. We where in the Salzburg area of Austria.The ski area we were at was Zell am See, on the Kitzsteinhorn.

http://lukashansl.typo3server.net/en.html

http://www.zellamsee-kaprun.com/index.php?id=14&L=1

This is looking mostly north, elevation 3029 meters.

There are cross county tracks in the snow for those who want to practice their form year round at high elevation.

Alexandra enjoying the sun at the top of the lift station.

Heading down off the snow, we stopped at mid mountain for some refreshments. This photo was taken by the area's local judge. He was enjoying the weather and refreshments as well.

Last part of the gondola ride down from mid mountain. In the upper right corner is the top of the Kitzsteinhorn, the lift station is to the right at the saddle beginning.

When we got to the bottom we met some Austrians who were having a good time. Three brothers, a cousin and an uncle.

Singing and dancing followed. Alexandra and the dancing uncle.

Steigl beer in the red and white can. Stiegl comes from an old brewery in Salzburg, dating back to 1492. It's not just a local beer, it's THE local beer. For the entire country.

Youngest brother sitting, cousin standing and the oldest brother.

We enjoyed some refreshments, but not as many as were on this table.

Almost time to get on the table and sing and dance.

The middle brother looked like Bam Margera, sort of.

I thought the cousin looked like a younger Rowan Atkinson.

Nice rack on the moose, this was back in Kaprun at a pizzeria.

Sunday afternoon, back at he base of Zell am See. Accountants waiting for the rest of the group before heading back to Bratislava.

Kitzsteinhorn Austria video

Here is a video from the top lift station at Kitzsteinhorn, Austria. The area with the snake like curves is for cross country skiing. As the video pans from left to right, you are looking at the glacier. The small train shuttles skier down if they aren't up to the short run down from the top lift station. The glacier extends around to the right on the other side of the rock outcrop. The top of the lift station is 3029 meters.