Thursday 31 October 2013

to the land of the Kurds and ancient kingdoms...

David and i have planned a 12-day expedition into southeastern Turkey.
This took quite some doing, and I was a little apprehensive, on account of the unpleasnat situation ongoing in Syria. We shall pass (in a coach/bus) fairly close to the Turkish border with Syria, then Iraq, then Iran.
(I try to recall my minimal Farsi...)

But what an adventure. It looks mind-bogglingly impressive.
I am going to write profound thoughts (of course) in my small black book (you know the kind, they have become very popualr of late) and will then sift and sieve on my return to Finike.
I'll have a week to do this, than northwards to wintry Amsterdam (and Maastricht) for Nadia's PhD ceremony. Remarkable lady, I am so proud of her, being a wonderful mother for granddaughter Yara, and working away, and preparing to be mother for baby number two. Always a great delight to be with her and Daniel (and Yara, of course).

After that a
visit to my darling grandsons and their lovely parents, in Dubai. So much travelling... but as long as I can find a place to sleep somewhere, it all seems to work and my world indeed grows wider and wider...
Lots of stories budding in my head; I plan to write a quantity this winter.
So long from Finike ... next stop, Gazantiap...

Tuesday 22 October 2013

Jerusalem the golden

Complexity overwhelms me, the intricate maze of streets twisting and turning, a breath of recovery on Jaffo where one can gaze down an almost straight line before the tangle of the Old City overtakes... People talking and singing and shouting in whatever language they fancy, and the smell of spicy foods everywhere prevalent.
And the walls, the golden stone defining space, sandwiched with slim cypresses or plane trees whose brownish leaves crackle underfoot. Warm sun gleaming on the marble stones, reflecting light on the dusty windows. Trying to grasp the moment within these nets of gold (I pinched that from Auden, yes)...
Have taken some lovely pix of the city by night (and at sundown) and of the wonderful souk at midday. But havng problems with iphoto, having switched from Picasa (think that was a mistake)... Did manage to send albums to my Facebook though. You can see them there.
Yes, sometimes I suspect age is taking its toll... but last night in a small restaurant in the old city where we munched most scrumptious Belgian waffles, adorned with halva and whipped cream, David and I danced rock 'n roll to the cheering strains of Elvis, Chuck and old freinds from the 60s. Hm, well, are we growing older, slowly???

One last attempt to attach a pic or two... and now the sun is setting over Bethlehem.


Monday 21 October 2013

Much have I travelled...

Have now reached the ancient heart of civilization ...? Well, maybe... We are briefly visiting Jerusalem and savouring something of its ancient stones and wondering about peoples and languages and armies and mothers... and also loving the beauty of this city.
Today we went to the souk, the wonderful street market where you can buy almost any fruit or vegetables, soap or scarves, or hand-carved camels...
But now it's time to explore the city by night...

Sunday 6 October 2013

Overwintering in Finike, Turkey

Wonderful quiet marina here. About two hours' drive in the dolmus (small bus-cum-van holding about 15 people) from Antalya, which is one of Turkey's large cities, with historic centre, airport on the outskirts and a wonderful Archaeologial Museum.
So here we are until next April.
Many exciting events planned for the near future and meanwhile, the Lycian kingdom to explore, and the pathways tramped by Saint Paul for us to march (trudge?) along...
Hope to find time to send stories of our Polish visit (in September) and the cat burglar who crept into our (otherwise delightful) apartment in the dead of night (actually it was five a.m.) in the heart of old Warsaw...
Apart from that scary moment, we had a wonderful time in Warsaw with our Polish friends, and hope it won't be too long before we visit there again.
Here a pic of our Finike marina in the sunshine...
The food here in Turkey is excellent ... one of my favourites is lentil soup (chorba merkimez) which I also make myself, on our boat).
Altogether, happy days...