Trip Prep

Here we are deep in trip planning

It takes a community or Ballooning in Cappadocia

There are a couple things I seem to have trouble with - waking up early and parting with a lot a cash on a quick little whim.  And so came the internal battle when I saw that I had the option to take a balloon ride in Cappadocia.  1) you need to get up at 4:30am and 2) it is about $250.  So I posed the question on Rick Steve's traveler help line
Click here to see   the discussion

I bet you can't wait to see the pictures either.

The soft release

On the way to Nina's tonight I made a couple stops. The first was at a new bike shop in the neighborhood and the second at solo vino for a wine tasting.  It appears that the bike shop has been open for almost a month, but their grand opening is on Saturday.  They needed the time to work out the kinks before they let everyone there know that they were really open  for business.  Just a little practice until spring arrives and they had to actually run a business. Nice shop, good equipment  busy beaver in back tuning up bikes = only a week and a half wait right now which is fine because it will be several weeks before the weather really turns.

I marveled today at the (and I am not exaggerating) 20 foot pile of snow by sears.  I don't recognize as snow because of its black color.

Snow is pretending
hiding under a black shroud
spring will never come

Like the bike shop I have had my soft release of these writing - letting a couple friends know they are out there.  Tuning up for the real deal.

So far the bike shop has been doing pretty well.

Today's preparation

I went to a Mandolin lesson today.  Apparently it had been a while since I had been there, at least from the comments I got from various people there.  All indicating that it has been some time.  I have not gone since November - it was nice of them to notice.  I find  my mandolin lessons to be like a good yoga class, spiritually uplifting and putting my mind in to a good place.

So how was this trip prep?  Well pretty much everything I am currently doing is experience that I will bring on the journey, but we did spend a half hour working in a Turkish folk tune -- 2/4 time with a lot of 16th notes.

The value of the travel interaction

Some of my most memorable times from traveling abroad are the interactions I have with fellow travelers and locals.  What I never have really figured out is why am I so shy.  But I don't know if it is really shyness or being too respectful.  A general acceptance for ones space and not wanting to interfere with their existence. This ignores their common need to interact also.  A friend said compliment them on their shoes -- Dude nice hiking boots -- not too sure about that - but I went out in to the world tonight thinking about the interaction and actually pursue it.

Here is the interaction
.Oh oh she is sitting cross legged.  I cant see her shoes, but she has a chocolate chip cooky  - the very one I would have ordered had I got there earlier.  David> "was that the last chocolate chip cooky or was someone else the responsible party for making me end up with this (molasses) cooky. "  Get appropriate laugh -she says afraid so and laughs again >> "at least it wasnt the orange cholclate chip cooky" her  "I have not had one of those before"  David > "they are really good, unless they are the last one then I would stay away from it"  She>> Laughs again.

Thus concludes the interaction.  My skills are emence

New Socks

Big day today, I am trying out my new Columbia travel socks.  They are thinner than most of my trekking socks, merino wool (mostly), they have some stretch, no seems. They are crew, but seem a little higher than that.  It is interesting with the relative thinness, that my shoes seem almost loose. These are black, my other are  green and really fit my trip palate better than . the black ones do.  These really are not made for sandals.  I know there are some who believe that there  no socks that are made for sandals.  I do feel that heavy socks are OK with sandals.  But these black ones with shorts and sandals? even someone like me with little concern for fashion would have to pass.

How many socks to bring for 3 weeks?  I am guessing that 5 to 7  is the right answer, that is the same answer for underwear. That means big laundry twice or little laundry 4 times.  We will see how it goes when we really start to pack.

That leads me to packing anxiety.  I always suffer from it - but I always have enough - primary fear is being cold and not have the ability to change that -- I hear that nowhere in the world could you actually buy something warmer to wear if you need it.

So as long as I am thinking about packing here is my clothing packing list (including what I am wearing on the plane)
3 pants - One Kahki normal weight, one light weight,one convertable.
3 short sleeve shirts -- one of a color other than dull.
3 long sleeve shirt including a lightweight sun protecting
4 tee shirts.
1 Longer shorts
1 Sweater
Rain jacket
Short sleeve pullover
Tilly hat
wool cap
light vest
2 Shoes ecco and keens
Swim Suit
nightshirt
I think that is it.

Did I mention the new socks?

Taking a break

I am taking a little break, having a Guinness and looking at people.