Danish 4th, Coldness & Turkey

Obviously, Denmark does not celebrate the Fourth of July, so we had to make do with making it the Fourth of July in our own special way. This was our third Fourth of July to spend outside of the US and in Denmark. It was also the only holiday we had twice the first time we lived here, so in a sense, we are pros at spending the most patriotic holiday away from "home." Originally Michael hadn't planned on going to work on the 4th but since we planned a last minute trip to Turkey that we wouldn't be returning from until the 3rd it was better that he went to work. We also had wanted to have some of his buds from TI over (especially the one who spent time in the US) for some burgers/beer and fun, but again , we got back at midnight on July 3rd so it just didn't work out for us.. Perhaps next year!!! Danes, go ahead and mark your calenders, next July 4th, you are busy! The 4th for us was like any normal day, we got breakfast from the bakery, Michael went to work, we went to the gym and came home and did the best we could to make it feel like the holiday. So we made burgers and corn on the cob and I wondered to 4 different stores looking for American beer. I found Miller , but was on a quest to find Budwiser. Finally , I found some, sitting in 7-11 for the insane price of 18 Kroner a bottle!! YIKES! (The amazing Danish beer costs 7 kroner a bottle) Needless to say, I only bought 2 bottles.

4th of July Dinner

Burgers & Beer

The All Important Red, White and Blue Dessert

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I was complaining about the heat? Well, now I'm gonna complain about the cold. The day before we left for Istanbul the high was 58 degrees! 58!! People were in jackets and scarves. A couple weeks before we left the weather had been cooler and not as sunny and since we got back, I'm starting to feel like it is about... September or October. It has not gotten above 65 and it has been raining and raining and raining..... and raining and raining even more... It's actually a little depressing because I know the longest day of the year has come and gone and now we are slowing making our way back to the cold dark winter. I'm sure there are plenty of beautiful sunny days left, but right now, its a little sad!! Please sun... COME BACK!!! For those of you that know Michael well, you know that he doesn't get cold easily. This is him going to work this morning....

Yup, long sleeve sweater

Oh wait, thats not enough, he had to put a sweatshirt on top of the sweater!!!

Now more of Turkey! Thanks to Michael being a Gold Member (which is the highest level) on SAS airlines, we now get to use the lounge when we fly SAS and their partners. We can't go back now... it was fabulous. Michaels aunt nicknamed us "The Fancies" last year on the family cruise and sitting in the SAS lounge made us feel that we were living up to that name. Free drinks (beer, wine, whiskey....and many other hard liquors as well, but we stuck with the wine...) and lots of free food, comfortable chairs and a nice area to just "chill" before catching our flight onwards to Munich.

Michael in the Lounge

Our first day in Istanbul we went to "Topkapi Palace" which was the former residence of the Sultans back in the day. These are a few pictures from inside the Palace and the Sultans Harem.

Afterwards we went and ate lunch overlooking the Bosphorus which is a strait that separates Asia and Europe.

Michael looking Cool

Me looking tired...or like the sun is in my eyes, I'm not sure which

More from Istanbul to come!!!