Reading my blogs back, I reckon a comma or two wouldn't go a miss.

Ok, so the forcast for the first 4 days is rain, I didn't think this was possible in the Middle East.  At least the delay in packing to the last minute allows some element of planning for these kind of emergencies.  I also have a camera, no thanks to Royal mail who lost the first one or allowed a random stranger called Dodd to sign for it.  Amazon kindly refunded my money and the best market place seller in the world has managed to get one to my house today (saving me £50 in the process)!  Hope Dodd is enjoying his Amazon freebie!

 

The plan is there is no plan and this is what should make it kind of fun.  Given that the train line into Syria is now officially broken forever (the Turkish tourist board have been giving me daily updates) we are taking the bus to Syria.  This equates to a 16 hour bus journey which if flying would allow time to get to Australia and still have chance for a quick beer before bed.  I am a bit pissed that we wont be entering by train as besides the comfort some of the train engines were still steam engines!!  Once in Syria the plan is still Aleppo, then to Damascus, with trips to Palymria and also Krak des Chevaliers.  Paul is keen to take in Beruit, just voted one of the best ten cities to visit before you die (I am presuming this was number 10 on the list).  I am hoping that the text message sent to his wife regarding this plan means we will be heading south to Jordan instead.

 

Once in Jordan the plan is there is even less of a plan.  Aim is to stay in Petra and to visit the city for a few days and explore it both at night by candlelight and in the early morning before everyone gets there.  I am interested to see if things have changed much since we were last there.  Out of Petra to Aquaba and then a fast ferry down the coast to Sharm and then a flight back home.  We have one hotel booked and a list of other places we could stay enroute.  Anyway, I am sure there will be more adventures to come soon!

 

The next trip is already planned by Paul, this is cycling to Alaska!  I am hoping to find the magic bus when we go.  Watch Into the Wild.  Actually the next trip is December, Helsinki to Tallin by boat.

Well the plan is unfolding, the visa's turned up today which now formally bans me from Israel and will make for interesting conversation with American imigration officials the next time i am over there.  What has happened is that we are no longer getting the train from Istanbul to Syria as the train has yet to bee mended fully, therefore instead of  35 hour train journey there is a 15 hours bus ride to the border and then onwards.  The tourist office in Turkey has been pretty cool answers questions within the second, this is no joke, and they have helped get the plan in place.  Next comes the guide books and a final plan sometime next week as to where and when we will be on each of the 10 days.  The trip down the coast of Egypt is no longer too daunting with regular buses and a fast daily ferry from Aquaba to Egypt. 

 

Have to say I am looking forward to being away from an ever tense work place and also in finally getting some sun although last weekend here provided a bonus in the great north run being  basked in sunshine, even got to hi-five Tony Blair and Chris Hoy. Anyway a time of 1.41 beat last years time and gives me hope for a sub 40 min 10k.  Maybe that time will come while running the final leg to catch the plane back to the UK from Egypt.