TURKEY | Wednesday, 8 Oct 2008 | Views [513]
The excitement! Packed and checked out by 12, left hateful rucksack under Fergus' bed and out into Sultanahmet for the last time. Been here so long now was quite happy to chat extensively with carpet shopman and extricate myself gracefully. I was impressed.... Read more >
Tags: money, off again
TURKEY | Tuesday, 7 Oct 2008 | Photo Gallery
Istanbul
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TURKEY | Tuesday, 7 Oct 2008 | Views [399]
Last real day here. Stayed up late reading new book Jason Goodwin's Lords of the Horizon, the history of the Ottoman Empire. I am up to 1329. It is, like his Yashmin the Eunuch novels, terrific. The guy can write. Good sleep tho missed Jon. Woke up ... Read more >
TURKEY | Monday, 6 Oct 2008 | Views [1086]
Woken up by the bored Aussie kids going off to Gallipoli which is another thing they probably won't enjoy or see the point of, poor lads. Breakfast on the terrace overlooking the Bosphorus which is beginning to feel like a normal thing to do. Damn it, ... Read more >
Tags: banks, living in istanbul
TURKEY | Monday, 6 Oct 2008 | Views [1151]
Had free breakfast on the roof terrace and it was shaping up to be very hot but an hour later Bang! pouring rain and temp dropped like a concubine in a sack into the Bosphorous. So cheered up enormously. Nigel and Jeanne lent me their laptop, first time ... Read more >
Tags: rain, tsunami
TURKEY | Sunday, 5 Oct 2008 | Views [438]
Almost went into Agia Sophia today - queued for a bit while I had a cigarette, then got bored and wandered off. I am conscious of money, yes,and it is a tenner to go in but I really just like hanging out, riding the trams, nipping across the Bosphorous ... Read more >
Tags: mosque vs toddler - no contest
TURKEY | Saturday, 4 Oct 2008 | Views [1023]
Yes!!!! Cafe on Ankara Caddessi 9.45 am. We have visa, we are good for Tehran, we have 12 days. maybe I won't go even now I have the choice. hohoho, I have the visa and all in half an hour thanks to utterly charming man in consulate and some ... Read more >
Tags: iran visa, manteau
TURKEY | Saturday, 4 Oct 2008 | Views [357]
TURKEY | Saturday, 4 Oct 2008 | Views [375]
I like it and I might love it but the carpet touts are a pain in the butt.
Tags: carpet
TURKEY | Tuesday, 30 Sep 2008 | Views [317]
AaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaGH!!!! Not nice to swear - so just comment that I have arrived in a Muslim country and it is Bayram for 3 days, their equivalent of Christmas or Easter. Apart from the restaurants which are heaving with locals celebrating the end ... Read more >
Tags: bayram, consulates
TURKEY | Tuesday, 30 Sep 2008 | Views [445]
At last! 10 am, after some of the most boring landscape on the planet, we arrived at Istanbul Sirkeci station. Andrea and I found internet cafe and booked Big Apple hostel as was cheap and had beds, most places couldn't do Tuesday. I insisted on a cab ... Read more >
Tags: shoeshine scam
ROMANIA | Sunday, 28 Sep 2008 | Views [1123]
Train journey supposed to take 20 hours but we had to have a new engine attached so actually 22 hours. It flew by as with the nicest bunch of peops you could meet. Andy and Andrea, both English, Lievu the Romanian and Katy; the two German boys going overland ... Read more >
Tags: backpackers, train
ROMANIA | Saturday, 27 Sep 2008 | Views [1314]
Night train 11.25 pm Budapest to Sighisoara, the birthplace of Vlad Tepes or, as I like to call him, Draccie. Got in 9.14 am. Changed money at the Banca Carpatica (love to open account there just to see the chequebook), coffee and cheese omelette in ... Read more >
Tags: beggars, dracula, taxi ripoff
HUNGARY | Wednesday, 24 Sep 2008 | Views [517]
HUNGARY | Tuesday, 23 Sep 2008 | Views [613]
23.45 train on tuesday and the nice conductor let me have a couchette with no reservation just 25 euro supplement. Three other good people in a 6 berth and I slept horizontally. Did I mention I hate the rucksack? Szusza in my compartment was kind enough ... Read more >
Tags: budapest, jewish history
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