12. --- THE TRIP BEGINS ---

Going to swing by the polls at 8 am and then head for the airport to catch my flight to JFK. Istanbul is 8 hours ahead of Central Standard Time. In all likelihood I won't be able to post until 1:00 pm Tuesday CST or perhaps not until Wednesday.

11. The Beach

The morning sun slowly creeps over the horizon, feeling its rays out on the blue waves. The fingers of the sea lap at the ribbon of sand. The world is silent, with its full attention on this wonder of creation. The salty sea air and the crispy, cold snap to it, all add to this beauty. The screech of a lone gull wakes up the world to the day's activity. Soon the beach is full of colorful umbrellas, checkered blankets and wet towels. Children running and making sand castles, teenagers surfing, and ladies tanning fill up the beige sands. The laughter and shouts soon overtake all other sounds. Soon the midday sun sheds it rays on the birds' domain, the beautiful aquamarine sea, and the many people there to enjoy this wondrous sight. But the sea must have slitude and serinity, so the light blue sky begins to look like an over-worked pallet. The people reluctantly begin to pack up their belongings, knowing they'll come back because the day was too short. Then, the sky breaks loose in torrents of rain. The waves begin to toss and churn and the lightning bolts of Zeus begin to fight with Poseidon's cover of blue. After an exhausting fight, the sea begins to subside and the ... everything is at peace and the sea and the land are again their own master. ~ Stacy Jobe, 1979

Thanks Carol for sharing a page from the book, Words of the Birds!
And, thanks to Debbie Tribble for typing all our pieces and for being a fabulous English teacher!

10. Words of wisdom

Most are a la Stacy, but some are from family. I'll try to give credit where credit is due.

Safety

1) How fast do you have to run to escape a bear? Faster than the slowest person in your group. ~ Kelly Johnson, BIL, is who first told me this saying.

In other words, make yourself the least likely target in a group of tourists. Don't fumble around with a map and look disoriented. Leave flashy jewelry at home. Don't bring the latest electronics unless you want someone to try and take it from you.

2) There's no shame in running.

3) Don't go anywhere I can't come and bail you out. ~ Kelly Johnson, BIL, specifically when I was traveling with one of his daughters.

4) Do not let her out of your sight. ~ Alyssa Johnson, sister, concerning my older niece, Susan.

Unfortunately I became ill from medicine while in Italy, and as a result of this promise, Susan had to stay in the hotel room with me rather than do a Gray Line tour of the city. However, she was a super trooper and didn't complain.

Preparedness (or lack there of)

1) We're not traveling to a third world country. And, even there you can find a cold Coke.

There's no need to get in a twist about remembering everything. Sometimes it's fun to shop where you travel. And, yes, I found and bought two cold Coca Colas in the middle of the bushvelde of Zimbabwe.

Pack light

1) Only pack what you can carry. I won't be able to help you with your stuff.

This object lesson was taught to me by my Dad when we went to London. He was zipping down the uneven sidewalks while I was struggling as my luggage's wheels got stuck in the crevices. I, in turn, told this to my nieces before their "anywhere you want to go 18th birthday" trips.

2) No, thanks. I carry my own stuff.

What I say now. When I was in Vienna, I let one of my friends carry my satchel. Just a few minutes later, I got separated from the group. I was without a passport or money. All I had in my pocket was a metro token. At least I knew I could get back to the hotel. Thankfully they found me fifteen minutes later.

9. Money, money, money

Made a run to the bank yesterday. It ALWAYS takes longer than I plan when I am going to talk with a banker. Yesterday was no different. However, it makes me think that there are some things I do to prepare for an international trip. So, here you are ... my general money tips (not necessarily for a tour).

Traveler's Checks
Back in the day I carried traveler's checks. To be honest, there are a lot of stores that won't accept them or require you to spend 1/2 of the value of the check (the last time this happened to me I was in Paris) before they let you use them. International banks will perform the exchange but it has to be during regular working hours and our holidays aren't necessarily their holidays. You might be unpleasantly surprised (and without funds) if your temporary stomping grounds are partying along with you. Recently, the bed & breakfasts that I've stayed in won't accept them. So the answer is, I don't carry them any more unless I'm going to a country where ATMs aren't readily available.

Local Currency
1. If you are traveling on your own, it is a good policy to have at least the equivalent of a cab fare + one night's hotel fee with you in local currency when you land. For this trip, Ferrell has given us great advice on what to carry and when.
2. There was a time I would visit the bank downtown in order to exchange money. Now our international airport has an exchange company in the international terminal with fair rates. If you keep your receipt, they will give you a discount to exchange up to the amount you changed with them before leaving. They get a cut but it's not huge and in my book it's worth the convenience.

Debit/Credit Cards
1. As the banker reminded me yesterday, use debit cards for cash and an internationally recognized credit card for purchases. Keep them with you in a secure place (not in a wallet or in a fanny pack).
2. Notify your bank or card company where you will be. Give them dates and the countries. Yesterday, I also notified my bank that I'd be stopping in New York City as well as Turkey, Grecian isles and the Greek mainland. If these institutions see "unusual" activity on your card, they might try to call you at home to confirm that the expenses are valid. The problem with that is you aren't at home and without your verbal approval they put a stop on your card. Not a fun moment.
3. ATM performance can be spotty. I experienced this first hand in Jerusalem and Madrid. Again not a fun moment. You have the funds but you can't access them. In Madrid, I started pooling all the coins and small bills I had to pay for our last night of lodging. Eventually the ATM worked but I think I still temporarily borrowed some euros from my younger niece (thanks Andrea!) so we could check in. Which reminds me ...
4. ... If you are staying in smaller hotels or bed & breakfasts they may want the full fee upfront, even if it's multiple days. You need to make sure that your ATM cash limit is raised to accommodate this amount.

8. Lullaby

One of my favorite childhood lullabies:

See the pyramids along the Nile
Watch the sunrise from a tropic isle
Just remember darling all the while
You belong to me

See the market place in old Algiers
Send me photographes and souvenirs
Just remember when a dream appears
You belong to me
I'd be so alone without you
Maybe you'd be lonesome too in blue

Fly the ocean in a silver plane
See the jungle when it's wet with rain
Just remember till you're home again
You belong to me

I'd be so alone without you
Maybe you'd be lonesome too in blue

Fly the ocean in a silver plane
See the jungle when it's wet with rain
Just remember till you're home again
You belong to me

Sing your children to sleep with this song
and they'll want to travel their life long

Pyramids - check!
Fly the ocean in a silver plane - check!
To do - tropic isle, Algiers, jungle

7. Turkish foods to try

I won't be in Turkey long enough to sample them all (NOTE: If I tried it, then it's highlighted in yellow)

Bread (ekmek in Turkish)
- Pita (pide) | if it's folded and cut it is known as kapali
- Lavash is wafer-thin
- Simit is round like a bagel and covered with sesame seeds
Hors d'oeuvres (mezze)
- Hummus
- Baba ganoush = chickpea and eggplant dips
- Cigars = fried dough filled with cheese
- Fried eggplant
- Yogurt with cucumber and garlic (cacik)
- Fried mussels on a stick
- Crepes (gozleme)
- Shepherd's Salad (salat) is cucumber, tomato, onion, green pepper, feta, lemon juice
- Cheese (peynir)
Entrees
- Kebobs - specifically doner kebab which is warmed lamb on a vertical spit
- Fish
- Meatballs - manti is similar to ravioli
Drinks
- Tea (cay) - special teas include apple tea, lemon tea & sour cherry tea
- Coffee
- Fruit juices - cherry, peach
- Bottled water (su)
Fruit
- Melons
- White peaches
- Grapes
- Apricots
- Sour Cherries - fresh or as preserves
Honey - especially from the region of Kars
Pastry
- Baklava
- Sultans, a sausage shaped pastry with coconut in citrus flavors
- Kafka chestnut chocolates (Istanbul)
- Turkish Delight (lokum)
- Kunefe is a fried dessert with cheese
- Ice cream

6. I'm in the mood

Have much to do to get ready. Happily, I'm off work this Friday. That gives me a little extra prep time. Am reading "The Moonspinners" by Mary Stewart. It's a mystery set in Crete. Hayley Mills starred in the movie back in the day.

5. Eight day countdown

A week from tomorrow 40 travelers will be winging their way from various cities in the United States. I know prayers for our safe travel will be offered by their loved ones. We'll converge on JFK International Airport Monday afternoon. Some of us already know each other (Hi Jessica and Lowell!). Others of us will meet for the first time. Before we've even met we share some common threads. By the end of the tour we'll share common memories. Looking forward to exploring in the steps of Paul & John with all of you.

4. A wrinkle

Either I have a broken toe (as the swelling and purplish color might indicate) or a badly sprained one. My friend Jane assures me that as long as I stabilize it in a good sturdy shoe, the show can go on.
Preparations continue. Two weeks from tomorrow I'll be en route to Istanbul

2. Why This Trip?

Steps of Paul and John
We'll visit the seven churches of Asia (Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea) as mentioned in the book of Revelation, some Greek isles (Patmos where John was exiled, Santorini, Crete), Athens and Corinth. Ferrell, one of the tour leaders, was a biblical professor at Florida College. He has a lifelong, and professional, interest in biblical archeology. I'm particularly excited about the visit to Ephesus. He's already sent us a comprehensive notebook so we can study up ahead of time.
 
Istanbul
Beguiling and tantalizing. Heart rending and humorous. The story of One Thousand and One Arabian Nights is what I imagine when I hear the words Constantinople or Istanbul. I know. I know. The tale is Persian in origin. But when I think of the Ottoman Empire, it's this story that pops in my head. Scheherazade was a canny storyteller who kept her head and her body attached one day at a time. Alladin was one of the numerous stories she wove.

Athens
Peter Jackson (The Lightning Thief) has introduced Greek mythology to youngsters (and kids at heart). He deftly weaves the traditional tales into his modern day series. As a 6th grader, I first read the Greek myths. Hercules. Atlanta. Perseus. Pandora. It's the stuff of legends - now immortalized by Hollywood.

Santorini
Along the way, I'll indulge in the pasttimes of photography, sketching and art history. Oh, and don't forget food.  I do have a culinary quest - I'm on the hunt for 5-year aged GAI'A Vinegar of Santorini for my friend Chris. Due to the civil unrest in Greece over the past year, Chris can't get his hands on his favorite vinegar. I'm on the case, Chris!

1. Background

THIS TRIP

Where I'm headed: Turkey & Greece

Type of trip: Group tour

Tour Title: Steps of Paul and John

Tour Leaders: Ferrell & Elizabeth

Number of people on the tour: 40 (including Jessica, a classmate from Florida College, and Lowell who I met on the Israel tour).

Tour length: 11 working days = half a month

A BIT ABOUT ME

Where I've been internationally: England (London, Windsor), France (twice to Paris), Italy (four times), Spain (twice), Portugal, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Mexico (Tijuana, Monterrey), Canada (Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Vancouver Island), Israel, Jordan, Egypt, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia. That's it.

Why travel: It's a family past time. I'm not kidding. My great aunts & great uncle circumvented the globe at least 2 if not 3 times over the years. As a child, my Aunt Edie would let me look through her 3" thick photo albums of England, Germany, Spain, etc. Aunt Ila had Hummel dolls in sparkling curio cases. If I remember correctly, Uncle Keith was the photographer, Aunt Edie planned the trips and Aunt Ila was the archivist.

First travel journal: A high school Spanish trip to Monterrey, Mexico 1982. I recapped all the things that "went wrong." The good news is that I survived all of them.

First travel blog: Italy, 2004.

Wildest place I've slept: A mud hut in the middle of the Zimbabwe bushveld just down the road from Binga on Lake Kariba.

Memorable food: Vivoli's gelato in Florence. Honey dripping from a 4' tall honeycomb in Israel. A different pastry every day in Paris. Vips’ bar-b-q in London. Peter’s fish on the Sea of Galilee. Churros con chocolate in Madrid. Braai in South Africa just south of the Zimbabwe border. Fruit tiramasu in Udine, Italia. Beef in Toledo. High tea at the Empress Hotel in Victoria. South African meat pies topped with fruit chutney.

Famous people I've bumped into: No, not literally. I did get Henry "The Fonz" Winkler's autograph in the d'Orsay Museum in Paris. I also saw Hollywood/Hulk Hogan waiting for a flight at JFK. He was bedazzled before it was popular.

Ever scared? Sure. It was unnerving to see all the mine warnings at the Golan Heights. I didn't think I'd ever go there, but I did on my first trip with Ferrell & Elizabeth. During my initial trip to Rome, my cousin and I wound up in the "bad part of town." Running is always an option. And we did.

If I could go today, I'd return to ___: Depends. If I wanted to relax away from the hustle and bustle, I'd go back to the Tyrolean region of the Alps. If I wanted to draw, I'd return to the Valley of the Kings or Zimbabwe.

What's next on my list: In no particular order, India (2013?), the Czech Republic (2013?), Ecuador (2013?), Machu Picchu, New Zealand, the Canary Islands, Monaco and the Caribbean.