This is the long haul flight. 12 hrs 20 mins. They decide to serve a full meal at midnight. Gotta go with that. Chris has worked the flat bed out again and is in no food mood so silence there. I go for the goods with bubbles to match the next leg of the trip. Finally decide that food isn't a good idea and pass on the dessert. Flat bed awaits. Now we compare. Hmm, bed hard, not as roomy and blah blah. Getting picky now. no matter, sleep comes easily after a long day. After 4 hours of bliss, up for a stretch and whatever stop. Back to bed and asleep in no time. Eventually wake up after about 8 hours sleep. Hmm, complaints aside, can't be that bad. Woken up for breakfast then we ... read more

Home at long last. So much nicer to go through customs and immigration in your home town. Easy pass through customs with the automated gates. Declared some stuff we bought in Budapest which the immigration said was no problems, then bags come off as I walk up to the carousel so all is good. Messages from Stephanie saying she is just arriving as well. Out we go and Stephanie is waiting. Nice to see her and we also know that Jessica and the kids are safely down as well. Out to the car and off to home. Arrive home and drag the bags inside for the last time on this trip. Phew, a breath of relief that we have survived 7 weeks of travel, our bags followed us in flight (and the buses, trains and ships) ... read more

Last day in Turkey. Up and finalised bags then checked out. Booked a car to take us out to the airport then head off for some more touring. Go to the cisterns which are underground water storages. They are pretty amazing, over 200 stone pillars and some interesting carvings as well. There are fish in the water as well. Our timing here is perfect, straight in and not too many in there either. Finish the cisterns then we have decided to take the tram to the end of its route just to see what is around. As we walk up the road to the tram stop we pass 4 people from the cruise. Stop and say hello, they have a 2 week Turkey tour coming up. Can't go anywhere without bumping into people.... Get our tram ... read more

Slept well in much cooler room, and even had a nice hot shower. Down to check out and leave a case behind as we are going to Gallipoli this morning for a 2 day tour. Breakfast is happening, we are due to be picked up by our guide at 0830. A Mercedes mini bus pulls up at the hotel and the porter says this is our taxi. Hmm, no English speaking guide so not too sure what is going on. He moves bus out of the way as anothe bus wants to get past, not much space out the front. Try to communicate but the driver doesn't have any English. The driver is on the phone and next thing the bag is in the back. Still not sure what is going on when a guy comes ... read more

We wake up later than normal but still in time to catch up with others who are leaving at 0900. Catch them before they leave on their personal tour of Romania (including Transylvania). Quite a few still here today. We catch up with the birthday girl and wish her well. Lots of familiar faces having breakfast this morning. We sit outside in a courtyard surrounded by trees. Very pleasant. Eventually get out after more farewells, then to the bags. We have decided to take one bag that we will use from now on, and the other has dirty washing, stuff we don't need, etc. Hopefully we get under the 23 kg limits. Clothes shuffled, remembering we need jeans, etc. for the cold Melbourne welcome and packed. Weights come in under 23 kg - just. Finally out ... read more