Boots Up

Yeah! Boots Up
Within the next few hours we will be driving south, and then west to the Aegean Sea. From there we are hoping to hop a cheap ferry to a remote, cold (winter here still) and little visited Greek Island rich in Christian and Islamic history.
We have some island interviews scheduled for our Adventure Columns and are linking those with a mandatory Visa renewal. We will be "boots up" for the next 8 days.
After That? Our spring season is busy;

• A move across Istanbul to digs closer to our Istanbullu family (now I won't have to walk to be force fed)
• Set up of our mountain base apartment in Dogubeyazit (just floors and walls right now)
• Hooking up with the tribal nomads as they start migrating to higher climes.
• Village life under the stars
  Not sure of the timing and details...just flowing as the days dictate.

Prone to Wander

In a moment lacking in subtlety one of the prettier members of our crew (anonymity demanded) made the following comment; Dad needs to be on the move constantly. He could never settle down…anywhere.
While I thought that was a bit harsh I was assured that it was intended as a compliment and not a slight. I held off on my response until yesterday when we passed this family owned basement workshop, located in 500 year old Ottoman craftsmen quarter deep in a hidden Istanbul neighborhood far from the tourist’s traps and reeking of surliness and surprise. It was certainly not a place for the timid to tread.
Wading through the clutter and speckled with flying chips I talked with the owner and agreed to return for çay and a longer visit. I walked away from this jewel of a find and the promise of a friendship—a bit richer for wandering on the far side of the world. Prone to wander—Lord I feel it.

World Wide Trouble Makers

With Levent & Kemal
You've got good friends when they are happier than you are when you finally get wheels. Our first stop was a mandatory Turkish inspection by our Istanbullu family. Without a word I gave up the keys and they were off on a test drive while I tended their shops. Only in Turkey can a SoCal boy get a car, lose it 5 minutes later, then inherit and run a cell phone shop and dry cleaners while the owners joy ride in his new truck. You know its home when it all seems normal.