[Istanbul- Turkey]

What was merely going to be a stop over for 3 days turned into 3 weeks. Partly because I didnt want to travel, I had also met various people and because Istanbul is just a great city. It feels like Europe but it is still different; its different enough to be exciting every day. When on a winning formula, why change?

Staying so long in one place means I could avoid all tourist traps and live a 'normal' life, at least for a while. I went to the movies, clubbing, to great bars with local bands etc. I really tried to learn to play tauler (spelling?) or what the Greeks call backgammon. For a game of chance I still got my arse kicked consistently by the locals and quickly learnt not to bet on the games outcome...

I spent some days on the Black Sea coast, in a small but superb fishing village. It had a long, wide beach that rivals Australias (e.g.- Wilsons Prom) complete with surf & tidal rivers, and it was empty too! Being a small town, all the women were safely at home at night whilst the cafes and restaurants were filled with only men. A contrast to the big city, just a couple of hours away.

All good times end, or was it my visa. In total I have spent just under 2 months in Turkey and it feels like another home to me...

I have just had the 31hour bus journey back to Jordan where I will enter Jerusalem tomorrow. (I have deliberately avoided the regional news & warnings, as it is politically manipulated and aimed to scare...better sources are other travelers!)

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