We are now installed in our apartment, with a wireless connection, dishwasher, washing machine, telephone and even cable TV (Nickelodeon in Turkish included). Yektan was able to get my American cell phone to work on a Turkish SIM card, so I (Robin) even feel a bit like an Istanbullu (Istanbul native), who seem to exist with a cell phone permanently to one ear. We discovered that we live near a wonderful park, with a tram, Ferris wheel, huge playground and a cafe with bean bag chairs for seating. I ran around it this morning and found myself with "my people" -- many other early morning runners, men and women. However, the women in head scarves (usually brightly colored and with fantastic flowers as part of the design) are exclusively power walkers. The kids had a successful first day of school (more on this later from Frances), and Ray now has a new two-foot robot -- bought from Aladdin, the shop keeper; made in China; and speaking English ("Danger, danger, I am about to fire, whoop, whoop, whoop..."). Weirdly, Frances can't take Turkish in school, so will be brushing up on her Spanish (!). We will probably get a tutor, since I am getting tired of the sign language dance that is the last recourse of the language-deficient...