A taste of home

What more could one want from one's parents besides their unconditional love, a few free meals and a complimentary ticket to the Topkapı palace?

2 bags of Tayto crisps and 3 big bars of Cadbury's chocolate does go a hell of a long way, though I believe I have my sister to thank for that one! Before even mentioning to my Turkish hosts the fact that Tayto crisps are actually made by Carlsberg, they were tucking into their second packet!

Having completed nearly two thirds of the trip, and meeting my parents in Istanbul, I've been lulled into the false sense that I'm just about home. I feel good, but I think that 14 countries and several mountain ranges will change all that.

My week in Istanbul has been good to me. I've enjoyed the hospitality of Deniz, Can and Serbay in their flat in the European side of the city and enjoyed the company of my parents, aunt and uncle in the tourist side of the city. Even managed to fit a big night in that went something along the lines of...

drank cans in a field,
drank beer in a pub,
drank whiskey on a boat,
drank whiskey on the street,
drank beer in a house,
drank whiskey in a house,
drank beer in a pub,
drank beer in a reggae club
fell asleep eating a kebab,
woke up in bed.

Sicandar has even benefited from the long rest. A visit to a bike shop is like a visit to a dentist, So besides a new chainset, chain and rear cassette, I find myself with a new bottom bracket, rear hub and €170 less than when Sicandar's shadow darkened the man's door.

Good times!

But no maps.

Ma, Pa and Me

Jaques, Nicky, Mum and Dad in front of the Blue Mosque