WE ARE HOME

Ben was at the airport at 2.00am on our Saturday arrival and airport staff was anxious to get us through quickly and get home themselves. The following days were tiring - how much was jetlag and how much the effect of the excruciatingly uncomfortable Emirates seats? It was great to catch up with the family over Sunday lunch and to be entertained by those speedily growing boys, Toby and Hamish. They were presented with their presents from Chris and Stu, first cutlery sets made in Sheffield, along with Istanbul T-shirts (size 1 should fit by summer).

Reflecting on Greece and Turkey will take time. We'll first have to sort out which ruin was which (a bit like which cathedral is which, if you've holidayed in Europe).

It was great to catch up with Chris and Stu and we intend to start "skyping" as soon as we find an Apple compatible webcam. Initial plans have been discussed for another reunion next year in Berlin. It is wonderful to seal up a gap of 37 or so years in a friendship and continue as though we had never parted.

THANK YOU

Thanks, Ben, for sending those email addresses. We had a farewell breakfast with Chris and Stu this morning, then Andy, Christine and I headed down to the European part of Istanbul and had a great time - it's a public holiday here, so a party mood prevailed.

We look forward to seeing everyone soon (hope there are plenty of dog biscuits left for Toby for his Sunday lunch!)

Much love to all.

We can't download photos on this computer - sorry about that.

WHERE IS VANESSA OR FLICK?

Andy is having trouble getting through to Flick via email.

BEN, WOULD YOU PLEASE CHECK VANESSA'S AND/OR FLICK'S EMAIL ADDRESSES AND LET US KNOW ASAP. THANKS

BACK IN ISTANBUL

We've covered 3,200 kms of wonderful Turkey (not counting air kms in the balloon in Cappadocia, as the weather changed to our advantage). Returning to the Conrad in Istanbul is like returning home (Shoreham being our usual 5 star venue). The tour is now officially over, after a farewell dinner tonight. Andy leaves Friday morning and we are picked up from the hotel at 4.00pm on Thursday. That gives us ample time to live it up before normality returns.

WE STILL EXIST

Sorry about the gap ın communıcatıon, but we have had very full days of travellıng, sıght-seeıng and collapsıng ın a heap wıth lıttle or no access to computers (even ın 5 star hotels!) We are now ın Cappadocıa and hope to see ıt from a balloon tomorrow mornıng, although wıth today's wınd and dust storms, ıt may not happen.

Hıghlıght of the last few days for John: swımmıng ın the freakıshly blue Medıterranean ın a small cove from a boat.

Hıghlıghts for Chrıstıne: Hard to thınk after a very hot and dusty day today! (We have really been caught unprepared for the hot weather - has been ın the mıd thırtıes for most of the week and the wınd today was real bushfıre wınd!)

But back to what we have been doıng..... I found both a pottery demonstratıon we saw yesterday fascınatıng as was the carpet weavıng demonstratıon thıs mornıng. However I left both the $60 A hand paınted mugs and the $4000 carpets behınd, as gorgeous as they were. Perhaps ıf I was to hıghlıght one thıng ıt would be a 12th C gold thurıble I saw ın the museum ın Antalya. It was ın amazıng condıtıon - looked lıke you could use ıt today - and around ıt were scenes from the lıfe of Jesus startıng wıth the Annuncıatıon and endıng wıth the Resurrectıon. Every fıgure was as clear as ıf ıt was new. Amazıng!

Flıck - a very happy bırthday from us all here - we have been thınkıng of you.

Hope all goes well wıth you all. To thınk we wıll be home thıs tıme next week!

MORE TURKISH NEWS

We are now ensconced in a magnificent hotel right on the Aegean. The waves are literally coming under the deck in which the pool is set. Such hard work to sit here on a free afternoon and enjoy the view!

However I get ahead of myself .... We spent several hours on Saturday at the the area of the Gallipoli conflict - an experience that I was not sure about in advance. The crowds were enormous - interestingly many buses of Turks for whom this is the site of victory for the "father" of their modern nation - "Ataturk"

I was moved by some of the things we saw - it was wonderful to see the "Lone Pine" given our plan to plant one of its progeny at Balnarring and the graves were beautifully cared for - especially those at Anzac Cove. However I must say I was grateful that I was not there on Anzac Day.

Today we spent an extraordinary time at the ancient site of Ephesus. It is vast - what amazing work archeologists have done over the past century. A highlight was the amazing reconstruction of the library . Librarian brother Andrew was interested to know that the library had a hidden passage running to the brothel!!!

WE CAN'T GET AWAY FROM ZOE

We see Zoe, Empress of Byzantium, in company with Jesus at St Sophia in Istanbul. How about that!

AN UNHOLY TRINITY IN ST SOPHIA

AT TOPKAPI PALACE IN ISTANBUL

Christine x 2 plus Stu, relaxing in the shade

TYPICAL BEER DRINKER IN ISTANBUL

With tax on wine at 400%, I've been drinking more beer than usual

IN THE LAP OF LUXURY

We're now half way down the west coast of Turkey in the Charisma Hotel, which really lives up to its name. Our suite (separate bedroom and sitting room) overlooks the lavish pool and the Aegean is just past that. We'll retire for the night with the sound of the waves rocking us to sleep.

Everything is going so well. Istanbul was great and the reunion with Chris and Stu (and Andy) a real treat. The tour is a big group, but that hasn't hampered our enjoyment.

Well post pictures tomorrow.

Much love to all.

NEARLY SABOTAGED, BUT NOW IN TURKEY

We left our hotel in Athens with the city in chaos with a new set of demonstrations (only one block away). The taxi could barely move, so the driver took us to the station via a dizzy mix of narrow streets and near scrapes. What a drive! The train to Thessaloniki was very comfortable. THEN HORROR STRUCK! The train to Istanbul was cancelled - no more until Thursday. Luckily there was a Turkish-operated bus scheduled for a 10.00pm departure (three hours later) and we managed to find the depot (if you could call it that). Turned out to be a quite luxurious bus - movies for each seat, drinks etc. Withe the refund from the train, we weren't out of pocket, either. We phoned our tour's emergency number to arrange transport to the hotel - and here we are at the Conrad - very grand - 5 star - and Istanbul looks fabulous. Andy will be arriving later this afternoon.

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

BELATED BIRTHDAY GREETINGS TO BOTH ZOE AND WILL. WE HOPE YOU HAD GREAT CELEBRATIONS. MUCH LOVE TO YOU BOTH.

ON THE WAY TO TURKEY

Here we are in the Olive Garden, the rooftop bar of our hotel with the picture postcard view of the Acropolis. We are now about to board the train to Istanbul, where we arrive early tomorrow morning. Christine will continue with news of our exploits:

Athens has been a noisy, chaotic yet vibrant city to visit. The mood has changed from dramatic - street marches that turned violent although not when we saw them go by. A couple of our friends were mildly affected by the dregs of tear gas clean up and a media van was set on fire in a square just down from our hotel.

Yet we have also found everyone helpful and pleasant and the weather has been just superb for walking, climbing many, many steps and stopping for the occasional "cappucino freddo" - the last rather like very strong iced coffee with froth on the top. This is definitely the drink of the moment!

Hope you are all well, happy and not working too hard. Thought of many of you in your respective parishes last Sunday. Hope "Gathering with God" went well at Rye. We went to the local Anglican church here - very C.of E.!!

Message for Ben - can you check our Mastercard balance before you go off to Perth. We cannot access the balance at the moment. Thanks !!