Leaving the ol' lady.

Well, I have successfully made it back to Fethiye and the Yacht Plaza Hotel where the sailing segment of my journey first began. We filled the boat with water, and charged the batteries on our jaunt across the bay and securly anchored the boat in a great local for the next month. The last week was again a good one. This time along with the lazing and reading, there was some socializing scattered throughout our days. We met a New Zealand man who recognized Trish's boat from when he sailed on it with the previous owner as well as the man who commissioned the boat. (The boat was commissioned by a guy who built racing yachts, thus creating a cruising boat that sails remakably well) We spent quality time with an Australians and and a few Isrealites (one of whome works in Emerald Plaza- just down the street from where I lived in Saigon!!- for fellow Vietnamese travelers- she loved Au Parc!!) They were very hospitable cooking us great food and sharing some ok wines (hard to get quality wine in Turkey). We took a day outing to Gocek on Eve's (one of the Isrealis) catamaran 'Eve' - its a nice way to travel sitting in the netting on the bow of the boat. Its also quite nice to be on someone elses boat with no worries. The next day we were invited out with Mike- the guy who recognized 'Entheos' and we visited a lagoon like area. Again a quality day outting topped off with great food. For the record, he was able to cook mushrooms in such a manner that I went back for seconds. However, now this is all behind me and I am packed up and ready to move off of Trish's yacht. (Hasan, a guy who works for Yacht Plaza Hotel, says that its time to cry- he is reading over my shoulder). Tonight or tomorrow morning I will move to Moonshadow. Richard the Portlander's boat. He will take me out for a few days of intensive sailing. I then must catch a bus to Bodrum on the afternoon of the 21st where an old friend Burcu will meet me and host me for a few days. After that my plans are in the air. The goal is Istanbul on the 1st of Sept and to have a good time on my way there. I will be back in the states the night of Sept 4th (and if anyone is in Boston for the night, please let me know as I have 12 hours there) and home on the 5th.

Sidenote: the world is getting smaller, just met a family from DC- living on Porter Street. Dre, the daughter Suzanna? went to Brown and graduated this year.