Birthday gift of the summit of Mt. Halti... Did they think of a small land swap so that there was an even exchange so Norway wouldn't lose any land? Did they think of having joint sovereignty? Where there is a will there is a way!
Well done! Keep it up Hi Jon, I just finished reading all your blogs about my fav areas ie. countries along the N shore of the Med, and in the Andes. Yours are a candidate for the best travel blogs I've found. I admire your ability to travel so cheaply. I've just learnt from you that Van in Turkey has an airport. I missed that in The Rough Guide.
Here are 2 challenges for you: Switzerland on the cheap, and the Clio-Sat mountains of extreme SE Turkey. Clio-Sat are superb looking peaks with glaciers and I reckon reliable weather in summer. The challenge is that they're 4 hours by bus from Van, and it's recommended that foreigners avoid the area due to potential conflict between Turkish forces and Kurd separatists. Probably one day it'll open up but it would be great to get there before the Tripadvisor mob change the place.
I got the travel bug last year and (with my S American wife) have been to Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya, Cirali (worth a visit if you haven't), Menorca, Madrid, Segovia and Ibiza. This summer we're booked to Costa Brava (the bit the Spanish go to). Prior to this I've been to S America 3 times totalling 3 months visiting Machu Picchu and doing a trek in the Cordillera Blanca (this region is stunning and has clear blue skies from Jun to July), also had a month in the Italian alps climbing the highest peak wholly inside Italy, various trips to Norway summer and winter N and S of the Arctic circle at times cross country skiing, and about half a dozen other sundry places inc. the US east coast.
Like you, I like to avoid big cities, mass tourism, spending more than about 5 nights in one place. I like mountains and nature and unspoilt landscapes and foreign cultures/food.
Geoff
Thanks for the updated info!!! Came across your blog and wanted to say great pics and awesome info! I was there about 6 years ago and going back in August because my external HD crashed last year and lost all of Mexico pics! Thanks again for the updated costs and tips! Buen Viaje! --Greg
well Jon meeting you in India... me the guy with a broken foot I had no idea of your goals Hi well you have done the circuit what a great journey and to survive all intact .. cant imagine how you are going to settle down ..Still on the road myself went thro half the philippines last year island hopping, of to vietnam and China in 3 weeks...congratulations on pursuing your goals
Welcome back! Hi Jon,
Welcome back. For the first time I find myself in the unusual position of not rooting for the Pats in a super bowl...
Give me a call when you get back to Seattle and we can catch up. Jim
Your trips are always so amazing... especially your goal to climb the highest mountain in each country. TBers will also appreciate the logistical details you provide. I look forward to your Next Next Trip To End All Trips, but often wonder how you can afford to take off so much time. You still have some big gaps in Africa...is that next?
Thanks for following the blog. Not sure what the next round will be but possibly focusing on mts. in Siberia, Mongolia, and Central Asia. Definitely not for a while, though.
Great climb! I love Morocco in the winter and especially those Atlas Mountains. How wonderful that you were able to summit without a guide and at your own pace. What a perfect way to end this leg of your travels!
Thanks! Definitely the highlight and primary objective of my trip to Morocco but I'll have to return in fall or spring someday to see more of the country with the hot sun.
007 I must confess, I loved For Your Eyes Only, so embarrassing to admit, but seeing your photo's made me really want to go see it in person! Thanks for sharing. :)
I think Bill and I need to go, maybe tag on Italy just so he can see a bit of his ancestry.
Hi Heidi, I liked all the James Bod movies, maybe not the one with Wayne Newton. Meteora is great but you could almost spend a lifetime exploring Crete.
Incredible Crete! Great adventures on my favorite place in Greece (after Meteora). How lucky to be able to do the Gorge and summit two mountains (isn't it great when cairns mark the trail)! I was there in early April, when most things were closed, including the gorge due to flash floods. Still, those little mountain and coastal towns are the best! Great photos!
Thanks! I'm pretty sure the gorge closed for the season the day after I went. Rained hard for 2 days then on/off for the next week but not when I was on the mountains.
Question about security Thanks for the great report! I love it over there. I've had some people tell me the Wakhan has gotten "dangerous" because of the way things have been developing in Afghanistan as of late. What kind of a feel did you get on how things are going? I didn't sense much to worry about in your descriptions above, but thought I'd ask.
I didn't think it was dangerous at all aside from the douche bag jeep drivers who drank beer while driving. I even met people who spent 2 weeks in the Afghan Wakhan who had no problems. The area is very far from where there are problems in Afghanistan.
Home and Away
Bob Carlsen
Birthday gift of the summit of Mt. Halti...
Did they think of a small land swap so that there was an even exchange so Norway wouldn't lose any land? Did they think of having joint sovereignty? Where there is a will there is a way!