On Leaving Europe

Wow, 7 weeks ago arriving in Athens with the sniffles and now after: Santorini, Mykonos, Samos, Ephesus, Pummakale, Capadoccia and Istanbul with Anneli. And venturing out solo to Catania, Syracusa, Etna, Toarmina, Palermo, Napoli, Sorrento, Pompeii, Amalfi, Roma, Florence and now Paris staying with Trish and Terry - i am full of the spoils of my experiences.

My bag is no heavier. I have had to watch the weight with my hip and I still use the walking stick.  But I do feel healthier for the walking. And especially after eating fresh vegies, fruits, nuts and meats with Cuz over the past few days. Can't say that about the stodge I ate in Italy. Turkey had to have provided the best of breakfasts with salads, fruit, herbs and cheeses.

I feel my soul is replenished. Going back to Florence was just perfect.  The streets, the views  the arts. And while old friends may well have moved on,it was great to meet Enrico, a Florentine and Luca a Padovan in Roma. And Giangi Alex and Francesco in Catania.P x

I had time to be with Dad in my thoughts when I visited the Carravaggios in Syracuse and Napoli. With Mary Martin in the Uffizzi in Florence. With Mum for the lightness of the Impressionists. With Nikki all the way for my rugged knitting attempts along the way. And for Rosie in so many ways. She got me started on AirBnBs and helped me in so many practical ways: lightweight fold up umbrella, fan (which I lost) and many other useful tips and advice. Anneli too for persuading me with Jack Wolfskin pack and birkenschtock sandles, that are likely to be useful in Asia.

I was alone these last few weeks but I was not alone. I was connected to Jo, to Pip, to Rhonda, Silvia, Jennifer, Ann, Rosie and others by way of Facebook.

In Turkey and Greece I had my big tourist adventures. From 6000Bc the civilisation at Akrotiri to the Greeks to the Romans to Byzantium, I began to piece the layers together across countries as if it was sedimentary rock, with Seljuk incursions in Turkey and Arabs in Sicily. I could identify Hadrians Wall and Temple to Apollo whether in Athens, Ephesus, Syracusa or Pompei. 

Along with these layers came the growth of Christianity and places to hide when dominant  forces were at odds with you. The holes for living underground or in extraordinary rocks in  Cappadocia remain the highlight for me. To see these from the air in a hot-air balloon was the experience of a life time. To spoil myself like this is an early 60th.gift to myself. Because being up high and flying is one of my favourite things in the whole wide world.

And that's where I am now. Somewhere over India. On my way to Bankok, then after a few days onto Hanoi. Vietnam is also one of my favourite places and it's here u will meet Lee. An unknown. Let's see.