Master Builder

It's been a long absence from writing the blog and for good reason. One of my posts coming up will feature the cause of my distraction but the reason for the hiatus is that Gerry and I have been diligently working away on our new building, preparing our new office space for the move coming up in January. It's a fantastic building located just off Blackfoot Trail near 38, with glass all around and a great view looking toward down town and the Rocky Mountains.

Though we are not master builders of any kind, we're both pretty handy guys and with some design influences from Blue Circle team members Kyla and Sarah, we've managed to construct what we think is going to be a really awesome work environment.

Of course, as proud as we are of what we've accomplished so far, Mother Nature has reminded me of just where I rank in the grand scheme of things when it comes to things like this. Take a look at these photos that were sent to me of some real master builders, who have managed to construct themselves a great little family home, complete with windbreak doorway, and using no hands. And let's not forget the effort to mix and transport the construction material, one tiny bit at a time. It certainly humbles me, that for sure! 

Remembrance

Our family always attends the Remembrance Day Ceremony held at Burnsland Cemetery on Spiller Road. Not only is there a personal connection, but one has no doubt about the sacrifices made when standing among the "crosses row on row". This is the home of the Military Field Of Honour and there are headstones of many soldiers, most of whom died during the Second World War.
Today was a bitterly cold one yet the honour guard stood, in their parade dress, unflinching in the freezing temperatures. It's a tradition for the troops to disperse during the ceremony and pay tribute to their fallen comrades, always a moving moment.
As well, on Thursday past there was a ceremony in this historical site that saw students and military personnel place a poppy on each of the headstones in what was called "No Stone Left Alone". A way for young people to have a tangible connection to those that served or serve on our behalf.
Perhaps we'll see you there at one of ceremonies these next year.

November 11th Is Not A Holiday!

By definition, a holiday is a day of festivity and recreation. I never look at Remembrance day as such. Rather, it is a day of reflection and recollection, lest we forget the sacrifices made on our behalf such that we could, indeed, have the privilege of freedom that allows us to actually take a holiday on other occasions. Though I have the day off and am extremely grateful, my mood is sombre and a few tears will be shed during the ceremony I will attend later this morning.
Thank you to all of the military personnel, for putting yourself in harm's way for all of us here today. And to their families, who suffered, or are suffering, the stresses and strife of their loved ones being involved in such a dangerous duty. I, for one, will never forget your sacrifices.

The Flanders War Memorial for Canada, near Ypres, Belgium

Nova Scotia

Beautiful evening  on the South Shore  of Nova Scotia. 

Scary Stuff

Here's a few of my photos to help get you in the mood for Hallowe'en!

Cenotaph

A group of riders from the 'Ride For Dad' crew joined up with some members of the 'Red Knights' to show support and solidarity with  our Canadian military on Sunday. After the cowardly murder of  two members of the Armed Forces, many Canadians literally took our national anthem to "stand on guard for thee" and placed themselves on the steps of their local cenotaphs.
Here's a few photos from that day.

Historical Turkey

Here's a few more photos of the trek through Turkey, most being from the north west area of the country. One of the highlights was the ancient city of Ephesus, which was built by Greek colonists in the 10th century B.C. and really flourished when the Romans took it over around 129 B.C..It was famed for the Temple of Artemis which was one of the Seven Wonders Of The Ancient World. It always fascinates me to know I am walking on the same marble roads and touching the same columns that Roman Emperors and Generals, or other historical figures also did over 2000 years ago. 

Of course, some things never change, like appearances, and it was pretty funny to find out that there was a tunnel that ran from the library to the brothel across the street. We had also visited Hierapolis, another Roman influenced city. The road into Hierapolis is lined on either side with tombs of the Romans who lived and died there, having come to the city to heal themselves in the mineral waters of Pamukkale. Obviously, as lot didn't make it and it was pretty eerie to be walking past all these stone caskets, with inscriptions etched into the sides.

Not that i didn't love swimming in the very salty Mediterranean and sipping the locally made Efes beer but the historical significance of Turkey was a real experience as well.

We visited the ancient city of Ephesus, built by the Greeks but flourishing when the Romans took it over in 129 B.C.

There were cats everywhere we went in Turkey and this guy obviously has no regard for the countless Roman emperors and Generals who marched past this column with their armies

The amphitheatre likely saw gladiators in action

The Austrian Archaelogical Institute is heavily involved in the restoration of the city of Ephesus

We went to a sulpher spring and mud bath for 'spa day'

Another Tturkish tradition is backgammon, which we enjoyed with the local drink "Raki" at an streetside cafe

The Turkish flag for sale in an Istanbul street market

If the smell of the spice market doesn't lure you in, the amazing colours will certainly do the trick

The Basilica Cistern was built in the 6th century and can hold 80,000 cubic metres of water

Yes, that is how close the street car comes to the sidewalk, and no barriers either!

Modern city with traditional dress code in some neighbourhoods

Another Taste Of Turkey

I just spent  a couple of weeks travelling through the beautiful and diverse republic of Turkey, which is the gateway between Asia and Europe. In fact, the major city of Istanbul straddles both continents, with the Bosphorus Strait linking the Black Sea to the Mediterranean and, from days of yore, the historical Silk and Spice Roads leading to the city. What makes Turkey so unique and fascinating isn’t just the landscape but also the people and their political positioning, which separates it from so many other countries in this region.

With many European countries meddling in Middle East affairs during the Colonial era, the then ruling Ottoman Empire aligned itself with Germany, as they had been relatively uninvolved in such interference. Of course this meant affiliation during World War One and was the final straw in the demise of the then governing Ottoman Empire. Modern Turkey was a result of the overthrow of the Ottomans by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who brought a steady stream of modern secularism and “westernization” to the country. This included the unification of education, the discontinuation of religious and other titles, the closure of Islamic courts and the replacement of Islamic canon law with a secular civil code modeled after Switzerland. There was also recognition of the equality between the sexes and the granting of full political rights to women in 1934. Language reform adopted the new Turkish alphabet derived from the Latin alphabet like our own.  There were also dress laws and the wearing of a fez was outlawed, meant to further step away from the Ottoman influences.

Not to bore you with too much history but it just gives you an idea of what it’s like to travel through a country that is Islamic but secular. There were minarets everywhere and you heard the call to prayer 5 times a day, except Fridays, sometimes with mosques so close together that several Imams could be heard at the same time. In fact,  there is a song like character to the call and sometimes I felt there was a bit of competition going on as to who had the better voice. Interestingly, we walked by many mosques during prayer and though there were people inside, a good many Turks were hanging out in the street shops and parks, smoking and drinking tea. Apparently, only about 25% of Turks attend mosques regularly though there are people who appear outwardly conservative, with women in head scarves and such attire.  One thing for sure is that it seems like every male Turk smokes and I even saw very young teens puffing away and drinking thick Turkish coffee. 

My friend, Tom, and I have our first look at the Mediterrnean in Antalya

We had these great "pancakes" made on an open fire griddle

Crab fishermen came by our boat and sold us some Blue Crab when we were in Dalyan

Steamed fresh Blue Crab was awesome

The Lycian burial chambers are for their kings and queens dating back to the period between the 2nd to 4th century

Roman tombs from the ancient city of Hieroplois, which is near Pamukkale

Pamukkale means "Cotton Castle, and you can see why, thanks to the calcium carbonate deposits

We had a private viewing of the Sufi Mevlevi ceremony with these whirling Dervish

Thick and strong Turkish coffee prepared in a heated sand pit

Better have only one!

Lots of Turkish men play "Okey" and I was given some tea and invited to sit in on this game, though I only watched.