Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

Turns out Ol’ Man Seuss was on to something.  Though I will readily admit that the Doctor has produced far finer works (Hop on Pop, Green Eggs and Ham, and Marvin K. Mooney will you Please Go Now, to name a few), it was this Seussism that seemed to be plentifully popping in my pretty passaging pate. Pow!  – And I should note, Are You My Mother? was not, in fact, written by Sir Seuss, or else that surely would have topped the list.  Shocked?  I know.

From May 14- May 27, my travelmates, Jenny and Tom, and I trekked through Italy, Turkey, Bosnia, Croatia, Montenegro, and Albania.  And time after time,  found myself asking, “Where am I?” (including, but not limited to the occasions on which I lie slumbering in a cave smack in the middle of Turkey).   It’s hard to sum up 2 weeks of jam-packed life experiences.  So how about 14 things for 14 days.  Eh?

1. My 1 backpack was sent to London.  I was sent to Milan.  Backpack and I reunited in Milan 4 days later.  I was smelly.
2. Gelato in Italy really is that good.
3. “You are’a berry white!”  “You are’a BERY white!” “You’a need’a sunscreen.” “I give you 50.” – Italian lifeguard in Cinque Terre yelling at me from across the beach, followed by him delivering me 50 spf sunscreen. (Melissa’s fail: not asking him to apply it.  Dah.)
4. 2 a.m. flight from Berlin to Izmir (Turkey) full of Turks bantering and squirming as if it were noon day.  Me- scarf wrapped around my face in attempt to sleep.  60-Something year old Turkish man sitting next to me- elbowing and awaking me every time the food/drink cart comes by and pointing and smiling to suggest that I certainly should have some. It was 3 a.m.
5. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians. We visited Ephesus.
6. The best meal I ate was cooked in a sealed clay pot.  Then broken before my eyes, thus revealing the most killer veggies I’ve ever had.  Mm mmm.
7. My newfound Turkish friend, Murat, taught me to tie a Turkish knot.  And informed me of the difference between the Persian knot rugs, and the Turkish.
8. We hiked the Ihlara Valley.  Breathtaking.
9. Istanbul is home of the beautiful Orthodox basilica turned mosque, Hagia Sophia.  From 360- 1453, the Hagia Sophia served as a cathedral of Constantinople, for a time was converted to a Roman Catholic cathedral, and when Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Turks, it was then turned into a mosque.  Fascinating.
10. We visited the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul.  Tried Turkish Delight.  Can confirm it’s appropriately named.
11. ALL the Turks thought I was Australian. They were convinced. So I developed an alter-ego: Olivia Jackman.
12. Who knew Bosnia was so beautiful?  Not me.
13. Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik.  Go there.  With the love of your life. (Guess I’ll have to go back.  No offense, Tom and Jenny).
14. After parting ways with my travelmates, walking down the street of Milan alone looking to catch my bus, I was flagged down by 80-something year old, Mario.  He so kindly, in his broken English, upon learning I was to be traveling back to the USA, stated, “You stay here.  In Italy.  With me.  You stay here.” (Remember the movie The Holiday?  Picture that).  Instead we exchanged addresses.  And are going to write.

ITALY

TURKEY

 

BOSNIA

CROATIA

MONTENEGRO

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