Reading The 1001 Nights, stories of Sheherazade, in my early teens, has planted the germ of desire to visit Samarkand, Bokhara, Khiva…

It has taken almost 60 years to get to the point where planning and actual travelling is taking place, but I AM DOING IT. The start is the flight to Istanbul on 9 October 2023. simply because I have not visited there before – and Turkey is a part of the Old Silk Road. I’m doing it “backwards”, going west to east, and very much looking forward to unpicking the way. I want to avoid air travel as much as possible, so road and rail (and camel?) will be it. October should be a lot quieter than the summer months – especially in places like Pammukale and Cappadocia, Ephesus and Hierapolis, Kanya and Kars. The trip is very fluid – out of the 6 months earmarked for the journey, nothing booked beyond the homestay in Istanbul for 6 days…

Should someone wish to join me at any point, for any length of time, I would welcome it.

The blog seems like a good place to let those who wish to know where I am – and how I’m faring. I look forward to a true adventure, and sharing it.