Off the beaten path in Safranbolu

      Safranbolu, set in the hills about 2 hours from Turkey's Black Sea coast, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage City in 1994 due to its well preserved historic buildings and traditional Ottoman architecture.  We have been relaxing and soaking up the beauty and small town vibe in Safranbolu for a few days now.  This is the deep breath before the plunge.  In a couple of days we embark on our homestretch run through Israel, Jordan and Egypt.  So much to see in such little time. 

     For anyone who may feel concern for our safety as we travel deeper into the Middle East, rest assured that we are keeping well abreast of current events.  In an effort to do so, we have caught up on all of the Daily Shows and Colbert Reports from the past two weeks :)  Together with my wife,we will tread lightly with open hearts and minds and we will, to quote some other sage advice we've been given, "trust the hair on the back of our necks" (Thanks Uncle Bud).