Turkey: April Armchair Traveler Program
Jean Kinsey and Frank Busta spent 3 weeks in Turkey in 2013. They share their incredible experience through pictures and wonderful descriptions that include archaeological, historical, religious, political, culinary, and geological perspectives.
Turkey east of Istanbul
Wed, Apr 27, 2022, 10am
Please join Armchair Traveler on Wednesday, April 27, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., via Zoom to journey across Turkey with UMRA members Frank Busta and Jean Kinsey. Here’s how they describe the experience they will be sharing:
“Istanbul was the launchpad for our 2013 journey through Turkey’s eastern sacred lands and ancient civilizations. Istanbul bridges the east and west sides of the Bosphorus waterway and provides a lens through which to view the ancient empires that once ruled this world. Flying from Istanbul directly to the city of Van in the Kurdish region of eastern Turkey, we visited its famous Van Kedisi cat house. Mount Ararat and the Iranian border were close by as we traveled to the ancient Armenian capital of Ani.
“Our journey followed or crossed the Silk Road, explored the history of the Hittites and Urartians, and experienced the culture of the whirling dervishes and the thrill of flying over homes carved into the mountains in Cappadocia. We went from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, from Mount Nemrut to Adana and to Tarsus, the home of Mark Antony and Cleopatra and the birthplace of Saint Paul. Shortly after our journey, increased conflict on the Syrian border made this trip way too dangerous, and since then, Turkey has changed dramatically.”
Frank Busta retired as professor of food microbiology and director of the National Center for Food Protection and Defense. Jean Kinsey retired as professor of applied economics and director of The Food Industry Center.
I will email the link to join the Zoom meeting to all UMRA members about a week before their presentation. We hope you will join us!
—Lynn C. Anderson, Armchair Traveler chair
Upcoming Events
"Things that drive me crazy" will be the theme when the UMRA Photo Club meets on February 11. Newcomers are welcome.
Many life challenges that get in the way of quality of life and good health at home have little to do with medical issues. Cathy Lauring, our presenter for UMRA’s February 18 workshop, will explore a variety of resources to assist in keeping us healthy at home—including physical, emotional, cognitive, and financial services.
John Bantle will lead the discussion of A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson when the UMRA book club meets via Zoom on February 21.
Join UMRA members to watch two of the best hockey teams in the nation. UMRA has negotiated a discounted ticket price of $33.
Barbara Klick, RN, MBA, the presenter for UMRA’s February 25 Forum, has decades of experience working in human and veterinary medicine, and will bring her wisdom and perspective to our discussion about what we can learn from our pets about facing end-of-life challenges and decisions.
The Fourth Friday Book Club will meet via Zoom on February 28 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. CST to discuss The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.
Will Craig discusses using local sources for family history.
The UMRA Hiking Club will explore wildlife along the Mississippi River in Fort Snelling State Park. The 3.9-mile Pike Island Loop is generally considered an easy route and takes just over an hour. Hikers can leave at that point, or stay to add another short loop. The trail is located below the bluff on which the historic fort sits. The last time we were there we saw a lot of deer, and the river always provides fascinating views.
The University of Minnesota Archives, with its major holdings largely tucked away in two huge underground caverns along the Mississippi River under the West Bank campus, holds the essential records of our University of Minnesota’s past. University Archivist Erik Moore will explain the holdings and role of our extensive university archive and bring out a sampling of what it holds. At the end of our visit, he will conduct a tour of the literally cool caverns (Minnesota Library Access Center), revealing where these precious materials are housed, including the original tapes of KUOM, now Radio K.
Family history open discussion.