Thinking Allowed: Farewell Turkey

We were all sad to leave Fethiye as it won all of our hearts. The combination of beachside living, mountains, playgrounds galore, great food and culture, and a community of the best people we could imagine was hard to leave. Tova has an addiction to playgrounds that Fethiye satisfied. For some reason Turkey really knows how to create fun spaces for children. And lots of them. Even the small out of the way playgrounds are exciting enough that Tova never wants to leave. The playgrounds also have activities that are fun for teeneagers - large rope swings, high towers, hammocks, sections for skateboarders, workout zones, and more. I think it is also that the playgrounds and parks are really nice places to be for the whole family. For example, in the large park there are rivers and sculptures and libraries and tea vendors to keep everybody happy. Even in run down areas the parks are well maintained and pleasant. When asked by a gentleman in the airport what her favorite part of Turkey was, Tova didn't hesitate to reply, 'playgrounds.' We think all countries should invest in their parks and playgrounds and subsidize meals at park cafes to encourage the young and old alike to play and sit outdoors.

We ended our time in Turkey in Istanbul - a charming and overwhelming city. Tova and Zadie enjoyed talking with the local shopkeepers who would regularly strike up conversations with them. Zadie took all the cheek pinching in great stride and humour. We ate a lot of baklava and lentil soup. We learned that large open spaces inside mosques are appealing places to do cartwheels and that the top place for Istanbul children to play soccer are the courtyards just outside the mosques. We journeyed along the Bosphorus to a town near the Black Sea where there were no less than three playgrounds Tova adored.

And now we just arrived in Salzburg - the complete opposite of Istanbul. The buses are half empty, the streets tidy and wide, the shops posh and the castles and old buildings numerous.