Travel Pig

Sorry Natalie but you are going to accuse me of a conspiracy theory. Two men with thobes and black agal and ghutrah were behind me. Both were heavily tattooed and had piercings, I had never seen an Arab man with either. If you look it up it is against their religion to have tattoos and most piercings are not allowed. One of their bags said, “This fucking way up.” The other side said, “Suicide Angels.”I looked that up. Not good. It was a band Another Arab in traditional garb has very light brown hair. Such excitement. I always look around and play a certain game that some of you know.

Flight was uneventful. I did pull out a pen to use as a weapon, lol. Now I am flying over the Greek Isles. There are so many. How to choose where to go next year!

I am reading a great book, ‘Never Finished’by David Goggins. He did Seal training in Coronado, is an ultra marathoner, completed Army Ranger School and Airforce Tactil Air controller Training. He is very inspiring!

This airport is huge. My gate was the furthest one away, well I hope it’s my gate. I will fly Turkish Airlines today to Athens, a quick layover then Larnaca, Cyprus. I bought the ticket on Expedia. I looked on other sites but this was the best for connections. The over night in Istanbul was nice. I love the city, just a bit scary with all the people, men and women and children chanting, waving flags, clearly passionate for their cause.

The taxi picked me up promptly at 4:30. I arranged this with the very attentive desk clerk. On the taxi ride to the hotel, there was so much traffic. The driver didn’t know why but I think it was because of the planned demonstration. He kept wanting to drop me off and have me walk 800 meters. It seems like it would be easy but I have gotten too lost too many times.

So back to today, super long lines. My flight wasn’t listed on the big board. I asked at information, they told me to go to the airlines at check in. No boarding pass but no problem. Checked my big pack back, because I had to. The airlines kept telling me to pay another $100 for my bag and I received many emails and texts to make an offer for an upgrade?!? Crazy. I chose not to upgrade and not to pay the $100. And they didn’t charge me.

The passport control, long lines, then security more long lines then the hike to the gate. Some foreign countries are easy to get along in because they speak some English, not so much here. People seem angry.

Waiting in line to board. Might as well be last! I forgot to mention the guy last night that really wanted to get to know me, he would take me somewhere special. This was during my escape from the demonstrators. I didn’t answer him or talk to him, then he asked if I like men! So I told him that I was married. He backed right off! So funny. At least he had respect for something.

I get tricked by the word Palace every time!! Maybe it was a few centuries ago. Nice people checked me in then a quick nap

My jet lag rule is no longer than an hour nap and set an alarm! I chose 30 minutes since I have to leave early in the morning.

I put on a modest dress and brought a shawl as first stop was the Blue Mosque. So beautiful.

Just around the corner is The Hagia Sofia, also very beautiful. I planned to go in but a demonstration was just getting started. So many police. So many marchers. It got scary and getting out was difficult. I trailed two men that were trying to do the same. I had to walk against the crowds for at least a mile and what do you do, look at them, smile, keep your head down. One group was calling Americans marshmallows. I finally found a side street with a restaurant and the balloon bread that I wanted.

But back to last night. I finally got up and walked to the back. The nice flight attendants gave me some Baileys and then when I got to my seat they told me they found me another seat, aisle and bulkhead but soo quiet! The flight attendant came up to me later and told me she still had to tell the Dad to make his kids behave! Lol! Reminds me of a bare bottom spanking I had to instill upon my children on the side of the road in Ireland.

Had fun finding the gate in Frankfurt. Gates A and Z require the same shuttle. Frankfurt airport is huge and our plane was a ten minute shuttle to the tarmac. So sleepy on the flight to Istanbul. Then a visa and passport control and a hour long taxi to the hotel

I did have a longer layover in Vancouver so I had some delicious crab cakes with Kim Crawford.

Seriously, I am seated in my preferred window seat, I chose the seat because there was no one next to me! But I was wrong! Not a super big person, not a smelly one like the last flight, but worse….wait for it…My daughter Natalie will be rolling on the floor in seconds…twin 5 year old boys!!! We haven’t departed yet, but I have been kicked already and they are so f****** loud already. Bring some wine fast and get Disney going!!! Hello 9 hours! I like kids, really I do but why me? Mom and Dad are in the middle three seats with the two or three year old. The family is very nice. So just hanging out with Liam and Johann. Shoot me!

It was almost tolerable for awhile. It was daytime so they weren’t tired. Of course they ate the brownies not their pasta. I tried to sleep. They wiggled, and squirmed and yelled and cried. A few stinky farts too. Then the flight attendant gave them full glasses of orange juice. I did not want that spilled on me. I looked at the Dad. To see if would do anything. Nope. So I told the boy to drink up. He did and kept a hold on the glass . I tried to sleep with my jacket over my head and neck pillow.

Today is the day! At the airport too early. My new back pack is too full. Thank you Julie! Today will be a long day. San Diego to Vancouver to Frankfurt and finally Istanbul. I arrive at 1pm but it will be ten hours ahead. I will go to my hotel, an old palace and then maybe to the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar. Just have to see what is safe.

So excited for my next adventure. It takes some planning for two weeks away , not only at my office getting everything done, teeth wise, but at home too. Getting friends to check on the cat, thank you Willie and Becky. Plants watered by my housekeeper, trash cans brought in by my neighbor. Parties planned when I return etc. Two more days of work and this is when the “Crazies” call. Those people that haven’t been in to see me for years but have an emergency right before I leave. It’s just fate, but it happens. We allow time in the schedule for it! I am ready. Almost packed. Taking my new back pack from my dear friend of 45 years! Dear Julie! Who is just getting back from Italy. Time to sleep…

Can’t wait to eat this Balloon bread next week.

I just spent the weekend in San Antonio for a dental conference. Just a tiny bit of free time. I am getting excited for my next adventure! I booked a round trip ticket to Istanbul in October. So far, I will spend one night there and then fly to Cyprus. This island nation has incredible history and I look forward to learning about it. Apparently it is divided by the Greeks and Turks. I booked an Airbnb for two nights in Larnaca on the water. My original plan was to stay in Cyprus for a week, then travel to Tunisia and Algeria and Morocco, but now possibly Malta. I will decide when I get there except for Algeria. I would need a visa. Maybe next February.