Lister/Denson Family Versus Athens

Listers/Densons 1: Athens 0. Athens thought it would win. Not even close.

So, we arrived safely in Athens on Tuesday. We had been warned previously that May 1st is a day of protest in some countries, particularly Athens which has been protesting alot here recently. So, being the prepared tourists that we are, we asked our hostel front desk if this was true and was there anything we needed to know in particular. We even told him we had a day and a half, so we were on a pretty tight schedule. We were informed that protest day had been moved to later in May, so we were good to go. "Go have fun guys." Therefore, we went on a self-guided Athens walking tour (thank you Rick Steves), which took us on a quick loop around the city. We could see the Acropolis from afar from several different vantage points. It was pretty great! 

However, upon returning to our hostel and researching the posters we saw of angry young adults shouting with a date of May 1st, we found out that May 1st is Labor day in Athens. Labor Day is a day of no activity. Athenians head to the country. All museums closed. You catch my drift. Needless to say, we were frantically trying to find a blog that told us otherwise. But to no avail. Wednesday morning, we headed out to see what we could see. On our way out, the guy at the front desk said, "So, I researched more about that Labor Day thing, and you were right. Everything is closed. Sorry about that." Take a couple of breaths and keep walking. We walked as far as we could up to the Acropolis and read the Acropolis tour and acted like we were walking around looking at the monuments. We did get to climb Mars Hill though, the location where Paul spoke to the Athenians in Acts 17! Then we went to the first modern Olympic Stadium, and finally, the beach. So, maybe we went all the way to Athens and did not get to see Parthenon. We were pretty stinkin' close to it though. We ate some great food. And got a Grecian sunburn. All in all, the trip was a success. So take that Athens. Bazinga.

Mary Margaret and Jonathan in front of the Arch of Hadrian

Chicken gyro. Don't worry. I removed that tomato.

Feeling artsy in Athens

Jonathan's path he found through a hillside community

Eating dinner in Greece

Jonathan and Mary Margaret in front of the entrance to the Acropolis

Marching at the Acropolis

Nikes in front of the Temple of Athena Nike. Nike, email me for the rights to this picture.

Acropolis

Mars Hill

Nathaniel and I in front of Paul's address to the Athenians (in Acts 17) on the side of Mars Hill

The Densons and Listers in front of the Acropolis

The first modern Olympic Stadium - originally hosted in 1896 and then again in 2004 for the end of the Olympic marathon.

Jonathan and Mary Margaret in front of the Mediterranean Sea

Nathaniel and I in front of the Mediterranean Sea

I am currently sitting in the Charlotte airport. We left our hostel in Athens at 5:15am (which was really 9pm in Memphis, Tennessee). I watched three movies on my flight from Frankfurt. And drank too much coffee. But we are back! So glad to be home safely. Thank you again for all of the prayers and support and encouragement. Mary Margaret, Jonathan, Nathaniel, and I are so blessed to have such amazing family and friends.

Shout out to all of you active bloggers. This is hard work. So, I will probably take a hiatus. No one wants to read about how great I think my beagle is every day anyways. Thank you for reading and for keeping up with our adventures.

Love,
Brooke

Until We Meet Again Istanbul

Yesterday (April 29th) was our last day in Istanbul. I can not believe this adventure is over. We are excited to visit Athens, Greece, but I believe any city would be a let-down after Istanbul (except maybe home, of course). Mary Margaret and I both highly recommend visiting Istanbul if you ever get the opportunity. The history, the food, the people: everything is incredible and more than we could have ever dreamed.

On our last day in Istanbul, we brought Nathaniel and Jonathan to see the old city walls of Constantinople and Chora Church. We went to visit Seonkyeong and Mustafa's jewelry shop, and then Nathaniel and I climbed Galata Tower for a great late afternoon view of Istanbul. We met our friends for a farewell dinner. Goodbyes are absolutely no fun, but Mary Margaret and I are extremely blessed to have made such wonderful friendships while here. Oh and I ate lamb skewers. Delicious.

Jonathan climbing the old city walls of Constantinople

View from the old city walls

In the lookout tower of the old city walls

One family member decided she had enough heights for a while

Old city walls of Constantinople

Mary Margaret and Jonathan in Chora Church

At the top of Galata Tower with the Bosphorus Strait in the background

The sun setting on the old city

Reading my Turkish coffee fortune: I'm going to own a yacht

Reading Mary Margaret's Turkish coffee fortune: Something about a horse and eight children

Sweet friends at our farewell dinner

Galata Tower at night

Off to Athens.

Love,
Brooke

When Arkansas Met Istanbul

Nathaniel made it to Istanbul safely! There might have been some tackling action in the Ataturk Airport. This is Nathaniel’s first European trip (he has visited the Philippines twice). We also keep saying this is our first family vacation. I think next time, we are all going to wear matching hats: it can be difficult to keep four people together in a city of 17 million (plus or minus 3 million depending on who gives us the statistic). Again, the weather is beautiful here, which makes sightseeing even better, if that is possible. I have taken a few pictures in the past two days… yeah… just a few. 

Taking a Bosphorus Cruise

Eat at a fish restaurant on Galata Bridge. Check.

Fresh fish sandwich

The Blue Mosque is pretty impressive at night too

So excited to be in Istanbul

Jonathan and Mary Margaret in Hagia Sophia

Nathaniel and me in Hagia Sophia

Blue Mosque

Jonathan and Mary Margaret in the Blue Mosque courtyar

Underground Cistern

"You look like a little kid." Don't I always?

On Galata Bridge in front of the Bosphorus Strait

Chicken kebab

Jonathan's Iskender

One more day in Istanbul!

And our hostel on the European side has three pet birds flying around the lobby. They keep swooping beside me while I am using the internet. Interesting place.

Love,
Brooke

Making Our Friends Think We Are Locals

Our friends are here! Our friends are here! Kirsten and Amanda arrived in Istanbul late Wednesday night, and Jonathan arrived in Istanbul late Thursday afternoon. It has been so fun showing our friends around the city we have come to love, and the weather has been absolutely beautiful. We have also enjoyed letting them experience how delicious the food is. They agree… unlike anything you have ever tasted! I think Kirsten even had another "close your eyes good" moment with her kebab. Kirsten and Amanda left for Athens a couple of days ahead of us (after a little flight over-booking and an airline monetary gift). Mary Margaret and I were sad to end our travels with them. We are really blessed to have sweet friends to enjoy traveling and spending so much time with.

Here are some pictures of Mary Margaret and me expertly guiding our friends through Istanbul...

Me, Kirsten, Amanda, and Mary Margaret touring Topkapi Palace

Kirsten, Amanda, Jonathan, Mary Margaret and me: The Sultan and His Wives

Just lunching in Gulhane Park

Chicken schnitzel

Mary Margaret and Jonathan in front of the Bosphorus Strait

Jonathan and Amanda both wore purple... obviously we know who the favorite wife is

Kirsten, Mary Margaret and Amanda at the top of Galata Tower with the Old City in the background

Jonathan and Mary Margaret at the top of Galata Tower

St. Anthony's Cathedral

Inside St. Anthony's Cathedral

Buying chestnuts from a street vendor

Of course we had to introduce Memphis friends to one of our new friends Aysu

Meat, mozzarella, pistachio, and mint kebabs

A sweet Arkansas boy may or may not have made his way here as well. We shall see...

Love,
Brooke