Lone Pine
Gallipoli, Turkey (19 July 2012)
The First World War was insanely stupid. Gallipoli was insanely stupid. One military historian (John Keegan) estimates that the Turks had 300,000 men killed, wounded, or missing in this madness. The Allies managed 265,000 killed, wounded, or missing. Insanity. - RH
Off to dinner with my art historian friends from Rollins. We’re eating at a yummy Turkish restaurant. Even though the menu is loaded with many excellent dishes, I will inevitably get the eggplant moussaka. And who can blame me? - RH
Sultan Selim III holding an audience in front of the Gate of Felicity. Topkapı Sarayı Müzesi, Istanbul. c. 1789-1807
God, I am having so much fun in this class on Turkey as a historical crossroads state! And who knew that Byzantine and Ottoman history was so unbelievably fascinating? We really need to do a better job of teaching this stuff more often in America. - RH
I just booked a plane flight to Istanbul, Turkey. I’ll be in Turkey for 11 days this summer. Anyone want to come with? - RH
BILLY JOEL, VIENNA
I’m going to Europe this summer. First I’m going to Turkey for a couple of weeks, and then I want to spend a few days somewhere else in Europe before heading back to the States. I was going to go back to Paris (I haven’t been since I was a teenager), but it looks like I might be doing that next year. Does this mean Vienna waits for me? I’ve never been before. Budapest and Prague are also considerations. If any of my European followers want to make suggestions, please feel free to message me… Or if you just want to say that you liked the Billy Joel clip, you could share that with me too! - RH
