Damascus and Beyond

I am confused by this site. I am curious if i’ll be able to get it to work properly. Today is Monday, which means I have only three more days before I leave. I wish I was leaving later than 4:30 pm. What a stupid time. That means I have to try and go to sleep for at least 5 or 6 hours at around 7:00 pm Chicago time. I hope the “mother’s little helper” that Keith gave me will work. I tried one out last Friday night and really couldn’t feel any difference. I still woke up at least twice during the course of the night. But, that will have to do because i’m too uncertain about taking more. I will want to get up and walk on my own when we get to Amsterdam. I wonder if i’ll have time to see the world’s biggest mall? I kind of hope not cause I really don’t need to do any shopping before vacation even starts. Anyway, I think it’s a pretty quick turn around. I will have plenty O time to do whatever when we get to Istanbul. I plan to buy my visa and hopefully check my bag so I can go into the city for a while. I want to try the new metro and see how well it works. I figure i’ll just go to some new neighborhood and wander around to kill some time before my 11:30 pm boarding for Damascus. And speaking of 11:30 pm boarding times. Whose brainy idea was that? I understand that most or maybe all flights from Europe get in in the midle of the night. So, the airport might be hoppin’ at 1:30 am. The only advantage I see is that the drive to the hotel should be quick. I can’t imagine sitting in hot, polluted air, stuck in what sounds like really bad traffic conjestion, after traveling for almost twenty four hours. Maybe I should consider some “wake me up pills” in addition to the “sleep tight” ones. Or maybe I’ll just rely on the local java. That stuff puts lead in your pencil.

Still messing around with this blog thing. I have no idea if I’ll even be able to get to it in Syria so if you log on and don’t see anything for days and days, don’t just assume i’ve been sold into white slavery and am spending my days bellydancing (badly) for the local pasha or sultan or whatever they have there.

Thanks to Demian and Mike for the comments. Keep ’em coming.

Why am I going to Syria? Hmmm? I needed a companion country for my ninth trip to Turkey and well, it was in the neighborhood. Also, it fit the bill on other fronts. I like the vibe from middle eastern ... [Continue reading this entry]