Photos you may enjoy - Greece

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Back in Canada ... Reflections

It has been 10 days since I returned to Kingston - it seems that nothing much has changed here but I feel that I have! The dust began to settle after one week back home - the jet lag was not nice. I have been reflecting on my journey ... the places I have seen, all the experiences I have had, the beautiful museums and architecture I have seen, the tasty food I have eaten (and prepared at Yoga Plus) and the internal journey that one takes whenever one travels. It doesn't really matter if it is far afield or an experience in one's own town or country ... there is something about stretching outside of one's comfort zone, taking a risk, accepting the challenge ... that changes one's perspective on oneself and the world we live in.

As I reflect on the journey I have just returned from, I would have to say that the most memorable moments were spent meeting new people - that has always been my passion and reason for my journey - meeting others and enjoying the interaction. From the Europeans - many of them fellow Yogis - at Yoga Plus, to other travellers at hotels, restaurants and in various modes of transportation, to residents especially in Turkey and Greece, who made me feel so welcome and enjoyed sharing their recipes, jokes, language tips and tricks and in many cases, offered rooms in their small pensions and hotels with great pride. These are my most vivid memories along with the scenery of Greece and Turkey ... so mountainous, usually quite close to water ... the roads at times trecherous ... and the olive groves, cacti and bougainvalia (bright pink and purple) as well as household geraniums everywhere. And the sounds of the animals in the country hills, muezzin calling Muslims to prayer, roar of the diesel engines of cars and buses (NOT nice) and vendors attempting to sell us something - anything - (as one clever vender in the covered market in Istanbul said "let me sell you something you don't need; I'm very good at it!).

This is just the tip of the iceberg for my memories ... more to follow.

Visiting Berlin

Berlin has been everything I had dreamed it would be ... the last two days have been spent exploring, talking with people here about the life especially since the Wall came down ... took a one hour boat trip along the River Spree yesterday which pointed all the main sights ... food has been incredible especially the simplicity and at times downright meat laden meals of Ukraine and Poland ... a great variety of delcious food here. I love the architecture and the history of this city and I have been enjoying the cleanliness, designs and everything working aspect of life here ... after Turkey and Greece and Eastern Europe it is a welcome change. Those fine details begin to make a difference after many days on the road! After the diesel fumes and insanity of the roads in the above countries, Berlin is a dream ... the fumes are much less because there are exhaust restrictions throughout the main areas and believe it or not, jay walkers are fined just like they are driving their own cars ... hence no one walks on a red light! Thez can lose their driving license if they abuse the law too manz times. This really shocked us after the free for all in Turkey and Greece ... where absolutely anything goes! And pedestrians have no rights ... it is nerve racking at the verz least.

By this time however I am pretty ready to return home ... was not sure I would say that toward the end of this exceptional journey but it is time ... I am weary of dragging my suitcase, looking for and settling into different hotels ... looking for modest and nutritious food etc etc. I need to recharge my batteries at home ... So this afternoon off to London Gatwick, overnite in a Yotel room at Gatwick and then back to Canada tomorrow. Lucky me that my all grown up son will pick us up ... More to follow ...

Updates on the travelling road show ...

Thats what it is at this point ... Ukraine was a mix of old and new and grey and dilapitated ... then Poland proved to be even more eclectic. The transfer between the Ukraine and Poland ... by ancient, rickety bus was ... how can I describe it ... it was so sad and complicated and anger provoking that it ultimately became laughable. We spent two days in each place ... Lviv in Ukraine and Premsyl, Poland in fertive attempts to track down Wallys paternal roots ... finding this was apropos to a needle in a haystack ... however Wally did get some sense of gratification when he noticed some familiar looking buildings near a graveyard where Wallys grandfather is possibly laid to rest.

I found it incredibly stressful throughout the 4 to 5 days in these two countries ... the weather, the cold and rain, the grey days, the lack of openness and excitement on the part of the people ... they were kind but it was hard to communicate with anyone because of so little English. Wally, thank goodness, fumbled around with his Ukranian and we somehow managed ... but it was often pretty funny to say the least ... asking for honey for our tea by extending our arms and buzzing like bees for example. Funny memories.

Finally yesterday, just in time for both of us to leave Poland ... we attempted to catch a 12 hour train journey through Poland into Germany, to Berlin ... which ended up through again a comedy of errors in Poland, to be an all night, slow train which ended in Berlin this morning after nearly 24 hours of listening to the noisy drunken Poles and the wind whistling through the cracks in the train. Arriving in Berlin was like stepping into another world ... we felt like we had just got off the boat! A couple of country bumpkins but still speaking .. sort of. Then we realized the hotel we had booked from Poland and then cancelled from Warsaw ... had indeed been charged to our card ... so we had approximatelz 4 hours in this lovely hotel room ... with breakfast ... approx Euros 100or US $ 140 ... hmmm ... worth every Polish zlotty.

We have another hotel room now ... near this one ... for the next two nites and then on to London ... on Monday to fly back to Toronto on Tues am.

More news as it happens, love to all, look forward to seeing you soon.

One more day in Turkey ...

Our flight to Lviv, Ukraine was cancelled unexpectedly by Turkish Airlines this morning so we have another day at an airport hotel, the Marriott, very posh by comparison to previous lodgings. Just had some tea and backlava (yummy Turkish dessert laden with honey) ... as well as a relaxing sauna and swim. Speaking of relaxing water experiences, I have had two visits to the hamam ... Turkish Baths ... where I have been pummelled by large men and women, usually three massages and lots of hot hot water, even a very luxurious shampoo by one attendant in Istanbul. Also visited a hot spring water pool near Izmir ... place called Cesme on the Aegean Sea ... had the best massage there and lovely Turkish tea afterward. The food and drinks have been wonderful here ... there is always a lovely cup of chai/Turkish tea wherever we go ... as well as very strong coffee. I am wondering what the food in Ukraine will be like because I have heard it is primarily meat based ... hmmm. I'm getting excited about Lviv because it is a designated UNESCO world heritage city and promises to be very beautiful and quaint, we are staying right near the centre. More news soon, happy fall and early winter to all!

Exploring Istanbul

It has been a whirlwind week in Istanbul ... so much to see ... mosques, bazaars, spice markets, the world's largest covered market, Topkapi Palace and the museums and harems to tour along with all the gardens. I LOVE this city ... it is alive with people, noise, smells, surrounded by water like the islands I love. This City in particular has a particular blend of East and West ... took a ferry to the Asia side of the city the other day, they are quick and easy ... today also took the metro which again is easy to navigate. Meeting the wonderful Turks is so easy, they try to sell us everything from a shoe shine to a shave to food/drinks/sweets ... I am thankful Wally is taking lots and lots of pictures to document our travels in/around Istanbul and throughout Turkey. But, a little sadly, tomorrow we are flying to Lviv in the Ukraine ... it will be another fascinating experience Im sure. More to follow ... hello to all...

Travelling in Turkey

Hello all ... it seems like I have been in Turkey for quite a while now and loving every single moment ... the sights and the sounds and the tastes. The people continue to be absolutely kind and could not be warmer or friendlier ... from Marmaris on the Aegean Sea Wally and I travelled up to Izmir and surroundings. We rented a car,I did not drive as I am such a chicken ... the roads, the mountains which seem never ending and the chances they all take on the roads, not for me. Anyway having a car, much like in Greece, allowed us to get off the beaten track, go for some hot baths and massages one day, walk on the beach another (it was totally empty and pretty rough and to be honest, getting colder and colder every day). We had the car for a week so there were adventures in hotels, people we met ... travellers and hosts ... archeological sights, a wonderful remote lake called Lake Bafa where we pretty much slept and ate with the animals and families as there were very few tourists there. Then we decided to fly to a well known tourist area in Turkey, Cappadochia, a fairy tale wonderland where we hiked and ooed and awed for 5 days. Unfortunately I got food poisoning ... the joys of travelling and eating in restaurants, some rather questionable at best ... and was flat out for nearly 2 days. But Wally made some new friends, Aussies who entertained him for those days. Then we were back onward and upward, literally, today and flew to Istanbul. Today has been spent orienting ourselves to the city, the weather is cooler, much cooler now and I am in jeans, hiking boots, all my warm things including sweat shirt and fleece, which I am glad I have! I wondered why I carted these things around all summer and early fall, now I know. So far Istanbul looks magical, like all of Turkey with the sights, the bazaars and the people. Just stocked up on bottled water and chocolate baclava! More news soon, planning to see Blue Mosque and Aghia Sophia tomorrow and of course, the mighty shopping. How to choose what to buy?