Reflections and Comments

It has been good to just sit and reflect on the past three months.

My decision to make this round the world trip was not decided until last October so had really little time to plan and study. Nevertheless it has been an incredible journey.

Looking back;
Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Greece were countries I knew very little about so everything seen and experienced has been very unexpected. I learned a lot about Rakhat by my visit with his family,friends, and associates. I have a greater understanding and respect as to the kind of culture adjustments he had to make. The language...totally strange;spelling,sounds,pronouciations,etc. Here in Greece...I nowunderstand more deeply what is meant by "It's Greek to me!!!" Yesterday on the street a very nicely dressed lady elderly lady started talking to me. I shrugged my shoulder and said,"I speak only English"She kept speaking to me,but our only way of communicating was laughing. She may not have been speaking Greek. She spoke to passer bys and they did not respond to her. I saw her looking at postcards so she must have been a tourist also.

Turkey is indeed a country that has a lot to offer a traveler. There transportation is very good;especially the bus system. It is cheap comparately. The highways are very good for long distance travel and the country is beautiful;terrain extreme varied, and many many interesting places to visit. Because we traveled on the Fez Bus we met many many young people between the ages of 20-40. Australians are great travelers and know how to do it cheap...backpacking,and there are many low cost places.
As Pastor Olaf said...you can eat very cheaply in Greece. The gyros pronounced "Euro" like the money is one of those. And no matter where you get it it is the same price. I did find a place that makes it better than another, though and told them so. It is delicious and filling.

I have met so many interesting people that I will have to devote one blogspot to it.

Using the internet in Greece is more expensive than Turkey as is everything else since it is in the European community. I am so glad I had Rakhat with me in Turkey. Greece is a safer place to travel as a single female than Turkey. But having had a Turkish speaking companion was a tremendous asset. My two hours is up so I shall try to continue next time.

Aloha, Joanne