Istanbul Diary, Christmas Edition

They make a fantastic Christmas dinner here at the hotel, but a special holiday meal is no time for camera phone photos so you won't be seeing that. Instead, here's Bryan and I dressed for dinner in our room.

Don't worry, there's more to see around town. Even though Turkey is a mostly Muslim nation, there is still a great deal of Christmas cheer to be had. Santa is quite popular in advertising and window shop displays - and aren't those the two purest incarnations of the Christmas spirit after all?

When you go shopping with the holidays in mind, you'll see that with Santa, all things are possible. You can learn English, for example...

Score some stylish sunglasses...

Or sing a happy song...

Become a contortionist...

Furnish your folksy winter cabin...

Get three things for the price of two...

Climb into your neighbor's orange tree...

and bring balance to The Force...

Be merry or be merry not - there is no try.