SOLO TRAVEL FOR WOMEN by oldbirdtravelsSep 11, 20234:36 pm

THE ZEYBEKS.MUSEUMS AND HISTORY.

OR, HOW I FOUND MY MATE ELIF FROM KENT MUSEUM BUSILY STARTING THE ZEYBEK MUSEUM UP THE ROAD!

NEVER TIRED OF TIRE!

This beautiful old house has a collection of historical artefacts running through from approximately the 16th century up to the era of Attaturk. Its proud history has been well-curated and was an eye-opener to me! Strong and wily people the Zeybeks are worth a good look at and you can clearly see the resistance of the ancestors in those who live here now. I must add that I also said to Elif, that a lot of the showcases and items had the aura and feel of the Mexican bandits of old. She agreed. The anecdote about the purple bolero in the womans showcase was also hers.

Apparently, if a woman was beaten by her husband she would don that purple bolero as a sign for the rest of the village to shame him and also give him a beating. Sounds a very good plan!

The purple bolero that signed a man was a wife beater.

SOLO TRAVEL FOR WOMEN by oldbirdtravelsSep 4, 20235:02 pm

GARDEN. MY LOVE OF THE MOUNTAIN REFUGE IN TURKIYE.

OR, NOW I’M DEALING WITH A JUNGLE!

When finally I got back to the mountains and went up to my garden a bit of a shock was in store for me.

Brambles and vines hide a wall down to a secret garden

The beautifully ploughed field was shoulder-high in weeds and very thorny thistle-like weeds, and the trees had all got a lot bigger! Not just a bit, but about doubled in size. I turned my attention to the top terraces by the broken beautiful carcass of a house and there I saw nothing but weeds, ivy, vines, rocks and bloody plastic. I would have to have a proper plan and I needed a less shocked and overwhelmed brain to process it. I would have to put my gardener’s brain in gear and see what could be achieved that wasn’t reckless and well, a waste of time till the rebuild.

In the exposed secret garden, Henry the Tortoise has reappeared and Doggo who ‘helps’ with the garden. I say that loosely as he feels kipping on newly cleared bits and chewing pine cones his main job.

SOLO TRAVEL FOR WOMEN by oldbirdtravelsSep 2, 20239:57 am

BAY FROM HEAVEN ACCESS FROM HELL!

OR, THE BEST PLACES USUALLY REQUIRE EFFORT!

Alert: My artwork can now be found on this link, click on photo:

I was in a weird mood. My back was better due to sleeping in a proper bed, but I was having trouble sleeping through the night. I’d bought a Melissa tea but hadn’t noticed it had St. Johns Wort in it, which doesn’t agree with me at all, instead of calming me it makes me edgy. I was eating very little and drinking and smoking a lot and the very idea of getting on another minibus to a beach I had discovered on the map just filled me with dread.

SOLO TRAVEL FOR WOMEN by oldbirdtravelsAug 24, 20232:43 pm

RECAP OF FISH RESTAURANT, ORCHIDS AND AYDIN MUSEUM. TURKIYE.

OR, LUSH GARDENS IN THE MOUNTAINS AND FABULOUS ARTEFACTS

I made it the other day to my paradise and was exulted to breathe that clean mountain air again and drink water from the mountain spring. After being here in winter the garden had developed into a jungle of flowers (especially orchids), herbs, vegetables and fat fish swam lazily in their pool unaware that for some it would be their last day before being cooked!

The family gave me such a welcome that it brought tears to my eyes. I had been gone so long! A great fuss was made of me which made me very happy indeed. My pals were very impressed too! It looks like I’ll be squeezed into a cabin there as I’m family!

SOLO TRAVEL FOR WOMEN by oldbirdtravelsAug 22, 20237:50 am

KLAROS AND THE BEACH.

OR, A DAY OF LONG WALKS IN THE SEARING HEAT FOR MY LOVE OF ALL THINGS ANCIENT.

After nearly a week of stress organising myself in Turkiye, I finally got out to see some archaeology! Heaven!

SOLO TRAVEL FOR WOMEN by oldbirdtravelsAug 9, 20236:26 pm

CHESHAM WALKS A STONES THROW FROM CENTRAL LONDON.

OR A GUIDED AMBLE, RAMBLE, STROLL, STAGGER OR CRAWL.

Due to my laptop being very naughty and freezing every two seconds I will add to this tomorrow but for now, publish and be damned!

Well, I for one am suspicious of the word hike. If I hear someone say it I shrink away. It is a bossy unpleasant word and sounds far too much like hard work to my liking. It sounds suspiciously a word that involves a group of people marching along rather grim-faced and determined and just covering miles rather than breathing in the atmosphere, air and nature. It is the antithesis of a grounding, loving experience rather than a childlike marvel at country surroundings and discoveries to be found all over.

SOLO TRAVEL FOR WOMEN by oldbirdtravelsJul 26, 20239:28 am

KEW GARDENS

OR DAYS OUT IN LONDON. ART AND NATURE.

Sue Wickisons exotic lighting feature and my friend Daniel absorbing its wonder

Kew is always a must-go venue when it’s going to be boiling hot, so when my mate invited me the other day I jumped at the chance. What could be better than a picnic and wander around at these venerable gardens on a hot July day?

Although I woke a little late, I still managed to scramble and fixed myself a flask of iced coffee, boiled a couple of eggs and made a pita and cheese sandwich with bits of cucumber poking out in this rather crude fare. I also whizzed up a smoothie and put filtered water in my copper flask to rehydrate during the course of the day. The day was glorious and I wasn’t in a moany mood so I went straight into the gallery to check out the amazing new exhibition which indeed was amazing.

Daniel, my British Museum pal, who has been saving my sanity while I wait on Turkiye and the various disasters that have mercilessly struck me, was quietly insistent about the order of the day’s itinerary. He was spot on as I was to find out by the end of this hot sunny day.

SOLO TRAVEL FOR WOMEN by oldbirdtravelsJul 11, 202310:23 am

PLANS FOR ART AND CRAFTWORK ABROAD

OR, ARTY TURKIYE HERE I COME. Alert: Another unplanned absence folks but been busy getting ready! The Things Old Birds Can Do To Earn a Crust Abroad. Although there can be a lot of casual […]

SOLO TRAVEL FOR WOMEN by oldbirdtravelsJun 27, 202312:59 pm

BACK FLYING AGAIN AFTER A SMALL NERVOUS BREAKDOWN!

OR MY SEARCH FOR A BETTER LIFE IS LOOKING GOOD. Depression hit me like a wall after trying to be positive during my horrible break from travelling thanks to the government nicking my savings for […]

SOLO TRAVEL FOR WOMEN by oldbirdtravelsMay 31, 20232:27 pm

BAREFOOT IN THE PARK AND A NEW PERSPECTIVE. AFTER TURKIYE.

OR, TRYING TO KEEP SANE WHILE WAITING ON MY MOVE.!

I’m still waiting, and we all know how I hate waiting.

Haircut and newly designed and upcycled favourite shirt!

Been nearly two months since returning from Turkiye’s beautiful mountains. Easter, Ramadam and Idh had to be got through in my eternal endeavour with the long slow machinations of red tape.

My seeds should have gone in and I should be half-through rebuilding but one person’s cock-up has ground it all to a halt.

On Monday I got out of bed and cut my bloody hair. Swore I wouldn’t cut it until my move had gone through. This was clearly a bad idea. I looked like I had a mullet and my hair was, well, heavy. Chop chop and that was sorted. Next was to paint over the writing on the back of my favourite shirt. I had already done it once but forgot to seal it with an iron and washed most of the design off with the bloody letters staying firmly in place. So I got to it and was very pleased with my Boho look along with a neat short ponytail.