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FLY ON

My elderly mother flew to Turkey yesterday for a brief holiday. Was she concerned by recent bomb attacks? Not particularly. She’s a tough old lady, unwilling to let others dictate her behaviour. Besides which, she’s lately developed a fascination with Turkey. Couldn’t wait to visit.

It isn’t saying much, I suppose, but this makes her braver than Phillip Adams.

(In other travel news: turns out France is the global capital for enormous door serpents!)

Posted by Tim B. on 09/18/2006 at 10:36 AM

  1. Hmmm, apart from Anzac Day, I can’t quite see the attraction of Turkey…  Not these days anyway???  I’m sure it has a few good points, but so do lots of other places???

    Posted by casanova on 2006 09 18 at 10:50 AM • permalink

  2. Good for her!  I hope she enjoys her trip.

    Posted by RebeccaH on 2006 09 18 at 10:50 AM • permalink

  3. In re: the door snakes, no surprise there. They help keep out the aroma of burning automobiles and Pepe LePew. On the down side, they keep in the smell of Frenchmen and their garlic-y conversations on existentialism and the most expeditious methods for signaling one’s intention to surrender.

    Posted by paco on 2006 09 18 at 11:29 AM • permalink

  4. I was in Turkey last year just a week after some terrorist attacks.  I love Istanbul and crossing the Bospherous blows me away - going from Europe to Asia and still being in the same city.

    Posted by Melanie on 2006 09 18 at 11:38 AM • permalink

  5. If she wanted to see the place, it is probably a good thing that she has not waited.  Slowly, but ever so surely, Turkey is reverting, rediscovering their Islamic roots.  They’ve worn the veneer of a Western type civilization, but Islam is explicit in its theocracy and won’t continue to countenance this pretense.  Remember that they once had a civilization that was beyond anything the West enjoyed at the time, thanks to the influence of Aristotle.  In the West, philosophy spurred the Enlightenment, bringing with it an unprecedented progress and furtherance of life.  Islam rejected it, choosing instead the barbarity they enjoy today. 

    I dislike the whole collectivism behind the EU, but they are correct to keep Turkey out.  Too bad.  It is a fascinating country with a very long history—little of which is Muslim.

    I hope she has a marvelous time, and I envy her the trip.

    Posted by saltydog on 2006 09 18 at 12:16 PM • permalink

  6. Are they plastic snakes?

    Posted by andycanuck on 2006 09 18 at 12:26 PM • permalink

  7. Sorry, “serpents”.

    Posted by andycanuck on 2006 09 18 at 12:26 PM • permalink

  8. Here was my introduction to Turkey:

    http://www.amazon.ca/Istanbul-Memories-City-Orhan-Pamuk/dp/1400040957

    Posted by chinesearithmetic on 2006 09 18 at 01:31 PM • permalink

  9. Hope she enjoys the trip. Aussie mums have had to put up with Aussie kids, so they are generally tough broads. I’d like to see a religious extremist deal with an Aussie mum who thinks he hasn’t done his homework or tidied his room.

    Posted by abcd on 2006 09 18 at 06:17 PM • permalink

  10. My Mum visited Turkey some years ago. I was fascinated by her photos and background stories of Ephesus (virtual tour, and photos)
    Though Mum brought back a video which was unwatchable it’d been copied so many times, which was disappointing.

    Posted by kae on 2006 09 18 at 07:13 PM • permalink

  11. She may not be quite so taken with your description of her as ‘elderly’, Tim. Can’t you just say she’s your mum and leave it at that?

    You’re no spring chicken yourself, son. We can do the math.

    Posted by Racing on 2006 09 18 at 08:21 PM • permalink

  12. Is wogblogger on the ‘road to Rouen’?

    Posted by Nic on 2006 09 18 at 09:05 PM • permalink

  13. Good on your Mum, Tim. You know, one of these days, your mother is going to sit you down and ask, “Now then, do you have one of these ‘Web Logs’? I read about them just the other day in local paper, and they sound like they could be a fun thing for a boy your age ...”

    My folks are currently spending out all their life insurance on various trips around the world. Next one’s to Japan ...

    Posted by TimT on 2006 09 19 at 06:06 AM • permalink

  14. Hey Tim—My family and I are currently living in Istanbul, is your Mum making it up here, or staying down on the southern beaches?

    Cheers, hope she enjoys herself.

    Posted by Clubbeaux on 2006 09 19 at 03:50 PM • permalink

  15. If she wants Turkey, she can just read Philip Adams.

    Posted by Dminor on 2006 09 19 at 05:59 PM • permalink

  16. I hope she has the time of her life and all is safe and she is well.

    Be sure to let us know when she’s home safe and sound.

    Also, it is said that Miracle Whip is the condiment of choice for Turkey in casual dinning fare.

    Posted by Grimmy on 2006 09 20 at 03:32 AM • permalink

  17. Don’t know where you heard that, Grimmy, it’s not true anywhere I’ve seen here

    Posted by Clubbeaux on 2006 09 20 at 04:36 AM • permalink

    18. Page 1 of 1 pages

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