Welsh Christmas

The Rooftops of Coastal Wales

With Christmas fast approaching we Stewards are heading off to our ancestral homeland for our annual kilt refit.
I know that the holiday season in the states has some of you weary with its commercialism and cost...but when you live in our little corner of Istanbul it comes early every year.
With our first vacation in a year just 10 days away we are full of Christmas spirit, the decorations went up weeks ago and Bing and Bob have been singing their way through our flat and into the hallways of our building all week.
We will box up the Christmas decorations in a few days so our flat will be Christmas free when we return from a month in our little cottage in Wales.
Just a few pics from last year to fire up our daydreaming. Thanks for allowing us to bring the season into the mix a few weeks early.
Aberystwyth


Steward Christmas Hideaway

Vacation on the Horizon

Just a note from the frequently absent hippie posing as a writer....we are pretty whacked after a busy and difficult year. BUT....our annual get-away to Wales is just a few days away and excitement is in the air. This time a full month in our hidden cottage in the "suicidally desolate village" on the coast. Why is that good? No phone, no internet, no interruptions....just our crew of four and the Christmas Season.
We will get some updates to you within days and lay out our schedule for the rest of the year soon. The Steward Travel Organization thanks you for your loyal readership.

The Republic Celebrates

Ercan, Stanley & Elle

A few days ago Turkey celebrated its 85th birthday with a party for 15 million in Istanbul. While the culture of Asia Minor is one of the oldest on the planet, the Republic of Turkey was established by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk on October 29th, 1923.
Even today Ataturk is revered by Turks as their founder and the man who saved the country from being absorbed by the allies at the end of WWI. It is illegal to even say anything negative about him...his legacy grows constantly. The truth is that without Mustafa Kemal, there would be no nation of Turkey today.
Wednesday night we headed down the street a few blocks where millions of Istanbulus had gathered to celebrate...it was mayhem. We have never witnessed the love of a country the way the Turks expressed it. It was the most nationalistic display I have ever witnessed. We had an amazing time celebrating with neighbors, friends, our Turkish family and total strangers. Here are a few vignettes from the evening...
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Remembered



Reyhan & Ann