Antalya

Wow. Turkey really is a place the requires far more than 8 days to see. There is so much here - like India - it is worthy of a return visit. This morning we arrived in Antalya, a beautiful coastal city on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. The huge mountain range comes to a crashing halt at the sea - creating spectacular vistas! We are staying in the old city, very near to the harbour. As you enter the old city, you walk through the archway of triumph built by the Romans in 130 AD!!! The city itself is so old...the streets are cobblestone, and skinny, and full of lovely restored pensions. At the harbour, the cliff drops dramatically into the sea which is an amazing blue/green. Today was 26 degrees and sunny - a welcomed relief to me. Nate was too hot, and seemed miserable all day, and I fear he may not survive the far more dramatic heat of southern India.

We walked and walked today, until Nate about collapsed. I was just so happy to be near the water and in the sun, that my feet withstood the cobblestone quite well, and I never mind the heat. So, we walked several miles to the beach, but after a short time there, and a quick lunch, Nate was begging to go back to the hostel...so...we may have to do some trading of activities...I will go the museum with him - happily - if he will go the the beach with me - happily. We will see how that goes.

Today we did a little storming, and are having to negotiate a number of things in order to get along and make the best of our trip. Travelling together like this is not always easy - never easy - and at times I wonder what kind of masochist travels with their young adult sons...BUT, I am bound and determined that we will get through our struggles. I love my son, and am convinced this adventure will stretch us both, and bring us closer together. But growth is difficult.

So today I tired, a little sad, and am missing my fiance Stephane more than ever. When I feel insecure, he is always there to support me, and show me such unconditional love, and at this moment, I just wish he were here to wrap his arms around me. I am tired already and it is only day 7 of 48. Perhaps I should avoid those darn overnight buses. They really are brutal, and a good night sleep is impossible. We will go to bed early tonight, and hope for a better day tomorrow.

I am blessed. And no matter what, I will remember I am blessed so have such great kids, and the privilege to travel the world...for it is a truly beautiful world, and it is worth almost anything to me, for my kids to see it. For in seeing other cultures, I will hope for them to understand their own selves better. And in seeing beauty around them, my hope is they themselves will treasure their own inner beauty.