In Istanbul

Let the story begin.
Sitting in Istanbul airport waiting for the ride to the accommodation after about 35 hours of travel and feeling a little jaded. After 5 odd days of rain in Sydney, guess what it is doing here. The flights went well except we couldn’t sleep and the duty free booze was confiscated in Singapore. We bought a couple of small bottles and forgot to pack them properly for inspection and they were removed and discarded by a very perfunctionary bag scanner. Just paid $14 for a cup of tea and a cup of coffee, so no more drinks.

We have come from Sydney after staying with Barb (sister) and her husband JC. It was atrocious weather most of the time whilst we were there but that didn’t stop us. (Mark) The first day we dodged the rain and did the cultural thing- art gallery, contemporary and NSW State gallery. It’s amazing how you can travel and see art by a renowned local artist and yet have no knowledge of him ( Pauline speaking here) – Shane Cotton from Palmy ! The next day, alas not so lucky. We went to the Imax and saw the Prince of Persia and then got drenched catching the bus home. Yum Cha on Saturday – Mark eating chickens feet- poor birds (poor Mark), nothing is sacred and then walked around China town heading to Manley in the afternoon. We went to visit Russell Crowe at Woolloomooloo but he must have forgotten he had invited us as he was out. We played games in the evening –Perudo and Pictionary. Lots of laughs to be had. JC’s birthday Sunday so we baked a sticky fig pudding with caramel sauce and decorated this with sparklers. Saying another goodbye on Monday morning and off on our travels, such an adventure .

Sitting in Istanbul airport waiting for our pick up. Mark looking glazed and mutant. Lacking in sleep and recounting how we came to embark on this journey. At this point in time it’s all going to plan so we both smile and take credit for it but we have just hit the ground , so to speak, so early days yet!. We both joke that when and if it goes wrong it was all my idea! So just to set the record straight on how we came to do this crazy journey - WE both had ideas and things we wished to achieve, (so Pauline has led me to believe) places to visit and experiences to have ...the aim of all this being to celebrate our new life together, test the waters, learn about each other , grow and basically have a fab fun time spending all our hard earned money so we can come back poorer in the pocket but richer in spirit. So off we go –it’s like a bear (beer) hunt really and we’re not scared! ( not yet) : Istanbul and Turkey, the honeymoon phase where Mark has to carry me across every threshold and talk to me of love in Turkish, London and Ireland to visit Marks old friends and for him to introduce me , Paris for some more honeymooning and weight lifting for Mark , off to Normandy for the work phase followed lastly by India/ Kashmir – the ultimate challenge of volunteering in a new disability project in a contested area of land . (marks bad back from having to carry me everywhere)