Istanbul

Things I have seen and enjoyed even though I speak not a lick of Turkish. We took a guided tour and saw the sights and we walked and walked.   I was not allowed to photograph the Prophet Mohammed's foot print but I saw it while jostled by the prophets eager adherents.  It was a good day. 

On The Road, In The Air

In flight somewhere over Northern Canada five miles up in the sky, you have to wonder what an extraordinary world some of us are privileged to occupy.  Living in the Keys seems like fortune enough,  driving the Overseas Highway: 

And then of course in a Saturday afternoon cold reality strikes as traffic backs up remorselessly in Islamorada. After we drove through to Miami a major wreck closed the 18 mile stretch to Homestead. We just saw slow speeds as we took the only road out:

We took Card Sound Road passing for the last time through the manual toll collection booth. By the time we return in early August the toll takers will be gone and an automated system should be in place, taking Sunpass tolls, by February. 

We didn't have long to wait. A hamburger and a moment to pause and they were boarding Turkish Airlines flight 78 to Istanbul. Squished over heated and upright for 11 hours across the Atlantic. 

We ate dinner, I surfed the web and posted a picture to my Instagram account. This blog post may be a little ambitious for the feeble in-flight internet service. I chose pasta for dinner over chicken. It did the job in unspectacular fashion. 

And so, to bed. Trying not to think about Rusty safe and cared for among kindly strangers who I trust. Meanwhile this little tube flies me fast away at 600 miles per hour. 

Away For A While

It has been three years since I last went to Europe and a family visit is in order.

 The plan is to board a plane to Istanbul this evening and wake up over the Mediterranean before landing in Turkey in time for dinner.

 Two days later we arrive in Rome and spend some time with my family and friends.

 At the beginning of August we will undertake the same trek in reverse. I trust the memories will be good; they usually are.

 I will be leaving behind people and places of value. The blog I will take with me along with my Instagram account as AT&T has a rather generous simple plan for world wide telephone use. Ten dollars a day for the same no limit use as I enjoy at home. 

Photos of places other than the Keys will appear as I process them. 

Rusty unfortunately will have no idea I will be back to embrace him August 2nd. He will be in reliable hands until then and I shall miss him horribly.

My little man. The sacrifice of being away from him better be worth it.