Middle Earth

City of Contrasts

Balumi, Georgia - the resort town of old Russia, not its own story.  All strata of social class in people and physical structure.  Gattos to new developments by foreign investors aimed toward the Western tourist.  It reminds me so much of Cuba.
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The city sits on the edge of the Black Sea.  Cobble stone beaches, much like the roads throughout the core of the city.  Beautiful water front parks with exotic plants from different parts of the world.  A bamboo forest.  The restaurant we danced in yesterday built in the likeness of an old wooden sailing ship.

People and cars everywhere in the core of the city. Open markets with local vendors butting against a modern mall.  Our hotel, the Mercury, faces onto a street lined with money exchange booths.  Down the street a beautiful church with Fresco paintings covering walls and ceilings...

No trouble here...

We are 'not' in Istanbul, and I am only hearing about the trouble there from folks in Canada. In fact this is such whole world appart from what we experienc ed just a few days ago.  Last night we camped in the mountains - low ranging yet some snow still holtding out a few hundred feet above us. Some of us took a late afternoon walk upward toward the summit though noone expected to get there. Rolling landscape, sheppards in the fields with their sheep, a women in traditional country dress, walking along a dirt path followed by her 4 cows...

Supper at the campsite and then the storm.  The wind rolled in as a warning to reinforce our tents before the rain. Darkness came with the rain. Large sheets of lightning lit up the sky as we ducked into our tents.

Gertie, my tent mate and I were just bundling into bed when the wind picked up, pushing the rain hard against our tent and into the door. Some things got wet but not as bad as for Jill who we found under the roof of her tent - the tent had completely collapsed.  She was fine just cold for the rest of it.

Of course this morning I had breakfast duty, and without a watch I jumped up a few times to make sure I wasn't late.  I found a brilliant stary night the first time, a gentle morning haze the second.  We travel the long road today up and down a magnificant gorge and pass through the maintains, now stopping at a mountain Inn for the night.


 

Fairy tales

Well its been at least 3 days since I've been able to get on the internet.  Many tales without an option to share.  Now in middle Turkey - Capidosia - the balloon ride was magnificent. Over a land that looks much a seen from lord of the rings.  More beautiful and stunning than I can describe.  My photos won't load up... I will try when I get better access.

Great group to travel with.  Weather has been clear and blue - some haze these last couple of days.  The valley we are in is riddled with tall columns and rock structures with man made caves- once home to ancient people....

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.