On her first day in the Bay Area, Jacob and I took Kayla for a hike on Russian Ridge. After a short climb, we reached the top and could see both the San Francisco Bay and the Ocean. Over the Bay, you can see Mt Diablo in the background; it was a clear day. The ocean had a cooling layer of fog, and thus our hike was 10 degrees cooler than the temperature at our house. We hiked the Ancient Oaks trail, a shady path with gnarled trees. ...
On Sunday afternoon, Audrey and I went to see the summer gardens at the Filoli Estate. We enjoyed the most fragrant roses, boldest dahlias and biggest hydrangea. I recently got an e-bike. I was excited to test it out by riding the 10 miles to Filoli while Audrey drove. The ride is all on backroads through Portola Valley and Woodside, then along Cañada Road. I got there in about 35 minutes, which was an average of 17 mph. It was a beautiful ride. On the way back there is hill that lasts for several miles, and I definitely enjoyed the battery boost. ...
In Istanbul, we stayed in the colorful Galata Tower neighborhood. There were so many fun opportunities to take photographs of the local streets! One morning I wandered through an area where each shop carried one type of part, for example, a wheel shop or a rope shop. I met a guy feeding a cat from a can and saw many cats perched on awnings. Motorcycles cruised up and down the steep cobblestone alleys. And at night, when the storefronts rolled down their garage doors, they revealed wonderful murals. ...
One day we travelled from Istanbul to Ephesus, an ancient Roman city. One highlight is Library of Celsius, pictured above. So much detail, beautifully preserved! There is also a huge amphitheater, still used today for concerts. But the clear highlight was the archeological dig that was uncovering the Terrace Houses. Here wall paintings and mosaics were exceptionally well preserved, enabling us to imagine how rich Romans lived. The wide boulevards and huge agora emphasized how important and wealthy this city was. ...
Following our amazing trip to Africa, Micah, Jacob and I spent a week in Istanbul, and thus also visited Europe and Asia. City Views We loved how Istanbul is situated on the water with spectacular views around every bend. All the major mosques are situated atop hills. From the hills, you can always see the sparkling Bosphorus. After a night ferry ride, we looked out on restaurants and mosques. ...