Istanbul!

What a magnificent city!  Perfect weather, streets filled with the hussle and bussle of people, more European than Asian, though moselum garb speckling through the crowds.  I met up with my friend, Hazel with Bob and Ian - we walked the streets and the markets - too many things I'd love to have but too much already to carry on this trip!   Visited a mosque for the first time ever - no shoes and and head covering required. Beautiful, ornate and symetrically tiled walls and ceilings, light from windows and low hanging chandeliers.  The ancient cistern of Istanbul - an underground world with 30 feet stone columns moved to this place from all parts of the old Roman world. And Madusa's heads! Once emersed under   water within the cistern....

Count down

I've been getting ready for a looong time for this trip.  It’s all now going in slow motion.  I "think" I'm ready.  A few things to remember to get from the drug store - antiseptic, maybe a new toiletry bag, oh and things to go into it.  I may need a new shoulder bag. I know where to go - I've already checked out their stuff twice after circling back from the CAA. No point in going to Mountain Coop again.  I checked that out a couple of times already as well.  House stuff - bought some mulch yesterday for the garden - thinking that should keep the weeds down.  I've already combed the yard out of dandelions - SEVERAL times.  No use.  They will all be back end of August.  Just had to do it though - time to think really.  New gadget - pulls out 'most' of the root without bending over.  Was up in a tree last week to clear out a trough so the rain doesn't keep gushing over to the kill the garden.  Slipped but then saved by a boob.  My rib is still sore, but all limbs are in still working and ready to carry me forward.  I'm nervous.  I am now writing things down as I remember them so that I can make sure to do this or that before I leave.  I just have to remember to write in the same place each time.  I've been finding notes in different places.  Oh, and I need to learn that tune for the trip, Marianne sent me from Australia.  I have a yuke you see - and the women from Australia have found a passion in this fine instrument.  I am to bring my yuke as they will be doing the same, and hopefully master the theme song before I go - all to the tune of 'Give me a home by the gum tree'.  I was hoping it was the same as 'Give me a home where the buffalo Roam', but not... so different cords and everything.  I've been listening to the song on ytube so that I can learn the tune - however I now also know the words and I am so likely to get the lyrics all mixed up.  Well, I didn't promise to be Mozart.

So this note is intended to motivate me - I'll get my notes in one place first.  Mike the contractor needs to come by so that we can decide once and for all on the bathroom fixtures - 'course I will likely change my mind about the color scheme once I hit the Trail.... I am already seeing deep rich golds, reds, greens...  

So he went a bit further... and so did his father and uncle

  
This map actually shows where Marco (picture above) traveled, but also shows the journey of his father, Nicolo, and Uncle, Maffeo, who set out on their own journey while Marco was still a child.  Not sure why we hardly hear about them.  Their journeys took decades!  I'll be gone for 3 months.