USA

Yep....I made it home, safe and sound. Not problems, no horror stories, no obnoxious people on the flight (except the guy next to me from Cameroon who did not know how to keep his elbows in his space. Now I know planes are tight these days, but crikey!! I think I have bruises on my arm from his restless wiggling..he was worse than a two year old!)

It was a long trip home. Left Goreme, Turkiye at 3 PM Sunday (8 EST) and here is what followed:

1 hour shuttle ride on a cold, crowded mini bus from Goreme to Kayseri. I had been given so much tea in the hours before I left that I thought my bladder would burst by the time I got to the airport in Kayseri. I had the driver a 20YTL bill and tell him to keep the change because I have to pee so bad. Oh, but then I have to go through security! Standing there, wiggling, turning yellow I'm sure I finally make it through only to have the guy at xray call me over and ask me what is in my tripod case. I explain to him what it was, he looks at me strange then tells me to go. Ok, now I have to go check in because I can't get my huge 29kg bag into the bathroom. So I check in, get my luggage checked and literally RUN to the bathroom and never in my life have I been so glad to see a squatty!! I'd take a freakin' hole in the ground at this point. Thank goodness I am pretty adept at doing the squatty potty and I didn't pee on my pants or my shoes. So it's through a second round of security which went smoothly and then about a 45 minute wait in this rinky dink tiny airport waiting for my flight to leave.

2 hour flight to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines. I like Turkish Airlines. They serve you food, even on 1 hour flights. Real food, not peanuts or pretzels. Food, beverage, hot beverage...all at no extra charge. Olympic Airlines does the same, but there food is always a mystery to me. Turkish Airlines food is identifiable at least. Usually a sandwich, a salad, and desert. Arrive Istanbul 7:20ish PM (noonish EST Sunday)

12, long, boring, long, sleepless, long hours in the Ataturk airport. Thankfully wi-fi was available. Outlets were not as easy to find though. Food was expensive. People were loud. The lights were bright. The seats were hard, cold, metal. Thank goodness nej entertained me with advice on farts. I chatted with both my DD's....I people watched. I read, I dozed. I about jumped for joy when the counters opened for me to check in at 5am. Through passport control where the guy notes I have been to Turkiye before and tells me he bets I will be back (he's right, but I will never spend another night in the airport again if I can help it) and then he asks me what color my eyes are. Uh, red, white and blue....bloodshot. Finally I can do some duty free shopping!! Then when I head to my gate I find that a large group of travelers had moved into the area in full and were sleeping on all the seats and the floor in the area. So there was no waiting there...back out to Duty Free! Finally got to board, after another security check, 20 minutes late.

3 hour flight to Zurich...I've lost track of time by now. I think it departs around 8 AM (2AM EST). Breakfast is served, thank goodness. I'm starving by now. I sleep a little. Land in Zurich a bit late, I have just about an hour before my flight leaves to DC. Thank goodness I didn't have to move from one terminal to another. This one boards and leaves on time...I think around 12:35 Zurich time (it's 6 hours earlier here I think...so around 6:35 AM EST)

9 hour flight to Dulles....boring, long, elbowed numerous times, video system quits working so I can't watch movies...at least the lady on the other side of me is nice and interesting to chat with. She's a linguist who works for the US Army. Jordanian born....tells me I should visit Jordan and Syria....I would love to! I have to say it was the most uncomfortable flight I had ever been on. Window seats are the best, I hope next time I get one.

Customs at Dulles was a piece of cake and finally I was greeted with a long, very long, very needed, very wonderful hug from my hubby. Boy did I miss those! I was so wired though, I insisted on showering, dressing in some clean clothes, and heading into DC for dinner. Yes, I miss the cities. It was nice to just walk around that evening, with Tim by my side. We had dinner at an Irish pub and then headed back to the hotel, where I think I fell into a deep Turkiye dream filled sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. In fact when I woke up I thought I was still in Turkiye! Tuesday we drove to Charlottesville where we had lunch and then to Madison Heights to visit with my youngest daughter. It's nice to see family again. I think once we left there I must have slept on the way home, because I do not remember much of the trip. My parents were happy to see me back and it's good to be home. I'm finally getting my body back on Virginia time, although I am still having dreams that I am in Turkiye. Every night. I've managed to take some walks and did a wonderful 7 mile hike yesterday. I am determined to stay in shape. Walking in Athens and hiking in Turkiye did my body good. Let's hope I can keep it up.

Now I have to go back through my photos and do some backtrack posting of adventures that I have left out. After that I think this blog will come to an end, but there are more adventures ahead, I assure you. I will likely start a new blog. Who knows. I'll see how busy life gets.

This entry is not related to my journey but that of a wonderful cat we called Gizmo Gilroy.

Yesterday, all day, my mind was back in Virginia. I did not know why, but I kept thinking I should call my parents. I put it off, and put it off. It was probably a good thing. I had much studying to do and could speak to them today, or tomorrow. Now I think I know why my mind was back in Virginia. I found out last night via a tearful phone call from my husband, Tim, that our cat Gizmo made his journey across the bridge. I type this with my best effort to hold back the tears. On one hand it is almost a blessing to be removed from the familiarity of surroundings when you lose something you love. On the other hand, being alone when you are hurting from loss simply stinks. Period. This was my biggest fear when I decided to leave for such a long period of time. Something happening to someone I love back home.

Gizmo, the Big Galoot, Fuzzbutt, Big Boy, Giz the Piz, Gizimodio. He had many names and gave us many years of love, joy and comfort. We almost lost in in 2001 to liver disease, but with our constant vigilance, great vet care, and his staunch perseverance he pulled through. Thankfully he remained to give us another 7 years of joy. He was a pain at times. He hated Willow, he fought with his mother Frodo, he had litter box issues, but all of those seem so insignificant now that he is gone. Gizmo use to love nuzzling in my hair after I had washed it. He had a passion for food, especially yogurt. He could lick a yogurt cup clean if you let him. One of his favorite games was chasing a fat rubber band. But the thing that defines Gizmo most of all, was his obsession with the bathtub tap. Yes, he was obsessed. Beyond obsessed. He loved drinking water from the bath tap and would head that way often looking up at you as he went as if asking "can I have some? Can I?"

When we moved to Virginia my parents were kind enough to let Gizmo live with them since our living space was rather small and Gizmo terrorized Willow. Gizmo then became my fathers buddy. He would sit on my dad's lap for hours. Follow my dad when he got up thinking he was going to give him bathtub water. My dad loved talking to Gizmo. I hurt as much for my dad in this loss as I do myself. I'm 5000 miles away, but I can feel the quiet loneliness in their home. Last night as I sat on my balcony crying I looked down on the street and saw a gray and white cat saunter across the sidewalk. No, it wasn't an identical cat to Gizmo, but the fact that it was gray and white gave me a little comfort. I felt Gizmo's spirit with me last night. I felt a peace for a while. I imagine I will cry at times. It is hard to lose such a faithful friend. I was there when Gizmo was born, I should have been there when he left. But I wasn't and maybe he wanted it that way. Safe journey Big Boy. I love you.

As I said in my last entry, time creeps up on you. It is subtle and quite and then it slaps you upside the head and screams NOW!!

Yes. I'm packing. I hate packing. I have this paranoia that I am going to leave something crucial. That is not such a big deal when traveling within the US, at least usually, but when traveling out of the country it can make you nervous. Ok, really, is it such a big deal if I forget my extra camera battery? Wait, I forgot to buy an extra camera battery. One more trip to the store and I should be done then. But the truth remains that finding the things you need in another country can be a challenge. It's not that they aren't there, it's finding them.

So I have my list and I'm checking it twice.

My cat on the other hand has me on her you-know-what list. She's not happy that the suitcase came out. She has since commandeered it and refuses to move. The looks I'm getting are frightening. I just know she's going to change my alarm tonight while I sleep so I won't get to the airport on time. Cats are cunning like that you know.

No, you can't leave me.

Wow!

Hard to believe the time is upon me. It seemed like months ago that I was telling myself that I would be ultra organized and get everything in order with ample time to spare for this trip. Wait. It was months ago. So much for resolutions to become organized. Ok, to give myself credit I did get my visa and ticket in ample time and I did manage to make the deadline for a wonderful scholarship. I'm not a total loss after all. What is making me nervous now is the fact that I haven't packed. The suitcases are nowhere in site. It's not for lack of excitement, it's just my nature. Pack and stress the night before. If it makes anyone feel any better, I do have stuff somewhat thrown together in one spot.

Doesn't make me feel any better.

So I'm off to organize some clothes, shoes, and accessories before I get a (hopefully) good night sleep. 2 more days and I'm out of here! (Shhh...don't tell my cat, Willow. She's not very happy when the suitcases come out.)