Travel Writings by Turkey RPCV Tom Brosnahan



Travel Writings by Turkey RPCV Tom Brosnahan

Tom Brosnahan
Mavi Ev (Blue House) Hotel
Istanbul
The family-owned and -operated Mavi Ev (Blue House) Hotel is right across the street from Istanbul’s Blue Mosque. The city’s other premier sights--Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Byzantine Hippodrome--are almost as close, just a few minutes’ stroll...

Sari Konak Oteli
Istanbul
The Sari Konak Oteli ('Yellow Mansion') is a fine, comfortable, moderately-priced small Ottoman-style inn on a relatively quiet street less than five minutes' walk from the Blue Mosque and Hippodrome...

The Bread of Ramazan
Turkey/food
No good Muslim in the city let anything pass the lips during daylight hours, not a bracing glass of tea, not a savory kebab, not a dish of tangy eggplant or sheep's-milk cheese. People strolling along Istiklal Caddesi had no pistachios, hazelnuts, or sweet dried fruits to munch, a strange sight on this street of shops selling every variety of delicacy.

Taking Tea in Turkey
Turkey/general
When the Ottoman Empire collapsed in 1923, the Turks lost Mocha and suddenly coffee was an expensive import. Bereft of the traditional high-octane stimulant, Turks turned to tea...

Hagia Sophia: Wisdom of the Ages
Turkey/Istanbul
On a hot Istanbul afternoon, Hagia Sophia is an oasis of cool silence broken only by the spiel and patter of the multilingual guides. Their flocks of curious Europeans, Americans, Japanese and Greeks feel what the guides by this time ignore: awe.

The Rebirth of Istanbul
Turkey/Istanbul
Today Istanbul is still the place where everything and everyone comes together. Walk through the Byzantine Hippodrome, now a grassy park, and the city's past and present surround you in invigorating disarray.

Why Go To Istanbul?
Turkey/Istanbul
After 16 centuries of urban life, Istanbul is a marvelous mixture of triumphant mosques, artsy cafes, spooky subterranean cisterns, stalwart fortresses, treasure-filled museums and plenty of pastry shops.

The Worst Hotel in the World
USA/Bethlehem
As a guidebook reader, you never get to see all the rejects: the restaurants that gave me food poisoning, the tourist ripoff 'attractions,' the terrible hotels.

The Shot Heard Round the World
USA/Concord MA
The Rev. Gary Smith, senior minister at First Parish in Concord, was on the phone, applying for a corporate credit card for church expenses. The card company agent asked the usual questions: name, address, type of business. Then, "How long has this business been in operation?" the agent asked. "Three hundred and sixty-three years," Smith replied. Silence on the line. "I'm gonna have to get my supervisor."

When this story was posted in December 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Changing of the Guard With Lloyd Pierson's departure, Marie Wheat has been named acting Chief of Staff and Chief of Operations responsible for the day-to-day management of the Peace Corps. Although Wheat is not an RPCV and has limited overseas experience, in her two years at the agency she has come to be respected as someone with good political skills who listens and delegates authority and we wish her the best in her new position.

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December 18, 2004: This Week's Top Stories RPCV remembers Deborah Gardner's murder in Tonga 17 Dec Maoist insurgents in Nepal release Swiss aid worker 17 Dec RPCV Alison Williams exhibits portraits of Malian people 16 Dec Former Brazil Medical Director convicted of drug charges 16 Dec RPCV Joseph Opala researched slave trade in RI 15 Dec Vasquez sees resurgent interest in PC 14 Dec Senator who wanted duel with RPCV joins Fox 14 Dec NPCA planning National Day of Action for PC funding 13 Dec RPCV "Harry" Chandler votes in Electoral College 13 Dec Critic says Moyers delivered neo-Marxist propaganda 13 Dec Micronesia RPCV Walter Cavanagh has 1,496 credit cards 13 Dec PC "Survivor" Julie Berry headed for California 11 Dec more top stories...

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Our debt to Bill Moyers Former Peace Corps Deputy Director Bill Moyers leaves PBS next week to begin writing his memoir of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Read what Moyers says about journalism under fire, the value of a free press, and the yearning for democracy. "We have got to nurture the spirit of independent journalism in this country," he warns, "or we'll not save capitalism from its own excesses, and we'll not save democracy from its own inertia."

RPCV safe after Terrorist Attack RPCV Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, the U.S. consul general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia survived Monday's attack on the consulate without injury. Five consular employees and four others were killed. Abercrombie-Winstanley, the first woman to hold the position, has been an outspoken advocate of rights for Arab women and has met with Saudi reformers despite efforts by Saudi leaders to block the discussions.

Is Gaddi Leaving? Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors.

The Birth of the Peace Corps UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.

Vote "Yes" on NPCA's bylaw changes Take our new poll. NPCA members begin voting this week on bylaw changes to streamline NPCA's Board of Directors. NPCA Chair Ken Hill, the President's Forum and other RPCVs endorse the changes. Mail in your ballot or vote online (after Dec 1), then see on how RPCVs are voting.

Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying Congressman Norm Dicks has asked the U.S. attorney in Seattle to consider pursuing charges against Dennis Priven, the man accused of killing Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner on the South Pacific island of Tonga 28 years ago. Background on this story here and here.

Your vote makes a difference Make a difference on November 2 - Vote. Then take our RPCV exit poll. See how RPCV's are voting and take a look at the RPCV voter demographic. Finally leave a message on why you voted for John Kerry or for George Bush. Previous poll results here.

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