If you were thınkıng of vısıtıng Istanbul you mıght waıt untıl 2010 when the cıty wıll be showcasıng ıts culture. In preparatıon they are upgradıng parks and buıldıngs. If you want to avoıd crowds you mıght want to come now. I spent the day wıth Shırley, a Kıwı, lıvıng ın Istanbul, teachıng Englısh at a computer college. She came to Istanbul 12 years ago for a holıday and fell ın love wıth the place. She ıs an excellent guıde. In [View Full Entry]

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I began the day wıth a social experiment. İ decided to cover my haır and wear a long dress ın similar style as muslim women in order to discover if İ would be hasstled less on the streets. İ tried.....but my hair was never designed to exist under a scarf. No matter how many pins that İ used, tiny wisps of hair escaped the blue material. İ had black hose and blue walking shoes and the entire effect was T.D.U. (too Damn UGLY) to wear. İ have the photographs to prove it, but they aren't going on thıs blog. Take my [View Full Entry]

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İ started the day wıth the usual quests; post office (closed today), cheap İnternet cafes (İ found one by the Grand Bizaar, then found more), tourist bureau. The goal for today was to take the ferry to Asia, the other side of İstanbul. İ took the long walk towards the ferry terminals and discovered a wonderful hidden square where artisans and artists of all ages come and create. İt is an old courtyard built in 1539, a calm place with rooms for artists. İ had a cup of tea and sucked ın the peace, a relief from the crowds nearby. An [View Full Entry]

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Fınally got to one of my orıgınal goals. If there are many spelliıng errors....sorry, unusual keyboard. Devıl of tıme uploadıng photos from today, so mıght fınısh blog about Istanbul when I return to England. Fırst day run around: gettıng to hotel, goıng to tourısty spots, eatıng, fındıng computer that I can use (bıggest challenge so far) and then fındıng hotel agaın. I have metro pass so can get tram and ferry. Wıll do that tomorrow. Today ıs Frıday. day to go to mosque [View Full Entry]

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There is so much in London, it deserves a second blog. The stores along Oxford Street are geared up for Christmas now. The front windows are works of art with animated characters dancing to canned jingles piped overhead. I wasn't the only person snapping photos of the displays. Too bad I didn't have a video camera so you could see the show. I was reminded of the movie 'Love Actually'. I could almost see Mr.Bean wrapping up jewelry across the Christmas counter. One downer was the aggression of sales clerks thoughout the department stores. 'No, I don't want the flyer or [View Full Entry]

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It has been a few days since my last blog. I've been busy going to my favourite places in England. At this moment in time, I want to acknowledge the supportive comments from people around the world. Glad you enjoy the photos. Thanks for sharing your heritage with me, and I hope you go to these places soon. This blog is a way to share photos and touristy thoughts with friends and family. If I positively affect other people along the way, very good! O.K. Where have I been? Up to Barnsley in Yorkshire, down to London to see my favourite [View Full Entry]

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I'm snuggled in front of a coal fire with the dogs sleeping at my feet. Here I am at Ray's house at Sutton Bridge. I am back in the land where I am tuned in once again. I can understand the conversations around me and read the signs. This afternoon when I took the dogs for a walk, I photographed the pile of wood that will be the bonfire for Guy Fawkes night. Apparently it will grow even larger. [View Full Entry]

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Today is my last day in Poland. It rained alot and a penetrating cold mist filled the air; feels like November. I enjoyed the day, hunting gnomes and doing the last organization for flight tomorrow. I bought a scarf to keep warm while I wandered the streets. Time has gone back an hour and darkness seems to begin at four. Perhaps it is even more fun to hunt gnomes in the dark. ha ha Before my camera battery gives out, with all of the flash needed to capture these gnomes, I'll upload what I have. It occurred to me that I [View Full Entry]

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Wroclaw, home of 'the Red Baron' and lately over fifty gnomes are waiting for you to find them. This is my last stop in Poland. I'm in the German part of Poland and very few people speak English here. In fact, the international ticket agent at train station didn't speak English. Luckily a young customer understood that I was looking for day passes for trams and pointed me in direction of kiosks outside the building. I'm in a hostel with no washing machines, despite the fact that hostel-bookers advertised it as having free laundry. I couldn't get refund to move to [View Full Entry]

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Got flight out of Odessa and returned to Warsaw. Have to admit, it was a relief going to a city that I was familiar with, and better infrastructure. The next day I took the train to Wroclaw (pronounced 'Fro-Sauve'....what IS it with stupid letters in English that give no indication as to how Polish people pronounce the name??....really tricky when trying to ask for a train ticket to this place...ha ha) I had a few hours before the train and decided to visit the Museum of Evolution. Never did find it, but I bought a ticket and found myself in an [View Full Entry]

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