A Destination to Visit

Turkey could be a destination to visit. I think that I could learn interesting things through a study of the Ottoman State. Istanbul was Constantinople. Perhaps I could gather some wisdom in such a study. Such a study might, for example, give an excellent perspective from which to watch the doing of mankind from, say, the height of Byzantium to the policing of the world by the United States. It could also provide a place from which to gain some understanding of the Arab body politic or of the movements of the Catholic body politic.

I have head that the ottomans caused Dracula sleepless nights. There are interesting destinations in Eastern Europe too.

Gathering information from dim past or chaotic present seems a worthy way to stir the imagination. My imagination is moving from visit to history. They are both a trip.

My historic imagination of the moment moves me to around the end of WWI. But, I think that I have written of these things before. I'll try to get back to looking at tentative destinations for a visit,

"Visit"

It's what I used to call travel.

Looks as though I may be able to do it once again.

I'd like to try staying in the same place for 60 or 70 days. I am just learning to take care of a 73 year old body and have thought that I should perhaps not leave home alone. But, perhaps, if I stay put in one place it will not be beyond me to go it alone. I could try relaxing in one place as so many do, and have done. Maybe this old dog can learn a new trick.

It's not that I like to travel (visit) alone better that traveling with a companion. It is that not many who can, or want to, stay in one place for a month or more; especially if happens to be a place 4 days outside of Ulan Bator.

I figure that I'll have to save up about $5000 for for a trip (visit) of a couple of months. I have begun to save. I may sell a few things. I have a "For Sale" sing over some stuff in the driveway right now. Perhaps I'll put a few things in storage and put this place up for rent.

Now I can begin to dream of destinations and then to contemplate them.

When Will I Know I"m "There?"

Further consideration of the how of this trip may be called for as well as for the why of it.
How includes conditions, right? I have already written a bit about conditions. For example: flights are to be of less than 10 hours; bus trips less than 5; there must be plenty of sleep and rest. Now I add some conditions: good companionship; good conversation; play in water, travel on water.
It's a lot for me to keep in mind. I hope you find some use for this discussion.

What may I say about the why of this trip?
Why? to:

• get out of town


• get out of the house


• get newness and variety I have craved


• experience discovery


• experience exploration


• experience fun and joy


• experience love and compassion


• go where this man has never gone before


• look for a home (?)


• be energized


• urge myself to greater alertness and awareness


• get into pleasant hot water


• go one step beyond the step beyond


• be where the air is pure


• travel on water in sight of the shore


• enjoy a hot mineral water spa


• play in and on the water


• learn a language


• come to better understand a culture other than my own

There are others, but these come directly to mind.

Which of the items above seem most specific to a particular trip or destination? Most of them could be accomplished on any trip. Many can be done at home. The items most useful in selecting a destination are the destination specific. It's beginning to seem easy and simple. Those most destination specific are:

1. travel on water in sight of shore

2. enjoy a hot mineral water spa

3. be where the air is most pure

So, an ideal destination would include one or more of the three enumerated. There are hot water health spas not far from the Danube. I wonder it there is any very clean air along its length.

It seems I do have reasons to travel and some idea of what constitutes an attractive destination.

There are others,but these come immediately to mind

Which of these whys are most specific to a specific trip. Most of the the whys above I could accomplish on any trip. Most of them I can do at home. I'll note the items which seem particular to more specific trips or destinations: travel on or by water where the

Travel Decisions?

These travel decisions are not easy.
My '97 Astro Van is still in pretty good shape It's in the garage now being kept in 800 $ good shape. I can sleep in it. I put a futon mattress on the floor. On a driving trip I'll sleep in it about half the time. I imagine that each night in the Van adds 50 + $ to the gas budget. It is also my escape from a noisy motel or hotel.

So, I could start this trip in the Astro. I probably would not drive it to Finland or Turkey.

What I have done is start driving and then sell the vehicle at the shore or airport to be rid of an encumbrance and to finance my onward journey. I've sold two vehicles in Miami and one in Tegucigalpa.

Maybe someone going 'my way' would drive. Loves come and go. My love of driving is going.

I suspect that a lot of the Astro comes from Japan. Maybe I could drive it there. Driving to Japan may nor be a good idea, but going to Japan sounds very good at the moment. Just watched and old movie about American baseball players in Japan. I don't play baseball, but I can see myself at a quiet country inn with easy access to a hot water spa. I see myself eating wit a fork.

I still have not decided in which direction, or to which destination I will turn my first step. I am putting obstacles in my own way. I am a bit farther from transportation centers here, than others are elsewhere. Which thought suggests that I am feeling sorry for myself for the slight added difficulty and expense of beginning a trip from here. My goodness. Weaknesses and fears of age and fixed income are raising their ugly heads.

I have begun to put a few things in a suitcase.