On Wednesday Willie, Andrej, Hugo and I trammed across the city to a stop where a good friend of ours waited for us. He took us to their apartment and we had a wonderful visit and lunch with him and his wife. It was special to see one another; for them to see Hugo after 10 years; and to share our life and work experiences.
The visa cloud was still hanging over us, because we hoped that it would come during our stay in Istanbul. It did not.
Thursday, 10 February
We decided to continue our southwards journey - with a difference though. Our bags were moved to the rooftop and it was bliss to have more space. All 5 of us were also ready to camp so when the sun started to set Willie took a side off-the-highway road that soon turned into a real 4x4 track. As the guys unloaded, opened the rooftop tent I prepared our first camp dinner - lentil soup. The temperature dropped faster than I could cook and we were freezing as a cold wind pierced into the marrow of our bones. We ate a chewy, but steaming hot lentil soup and it was wonderful - in normal circumstances we will say that it was not done yet!
By 7 pm the below zero temperatures pushed the boys and Sammie into the car and Willie and me straight into the tent. We slept with all our clothes, gloves and scarves under a down duvet and it took 4 hours for my frozen feet blocks to thaw out.
It makes for a very long night of tossing and turning, but there is very little reason to want to get up and out.
In the past, Willie was usually the first to wake up, make coffee and have a photo shoot before we moved, but even he was frozen up by the cold. The sun did shine the next morning and it made the world at least look brighter, although there was no doubt in any of us 4's mind as who is reigning - King Cold!
The visa cloud was still hanging over us, because we hoped that it would come during our stay in Istanbul. It did not.
Thursday, 10 February
We decided to continue our southwards journey - with a difference though. Our bags were moved to the rooftop and it was bliss to have more space. All 5 of us were also ready to camp so when the sun started to set Willie took a side off-the-highway road that soon turned into a real 4x4 track. As the guys unloaded, opened the rooftop tent I prepared our first camp dinner - lentil soup. The temperature dropped faster than I could cook and we were freezing as a cold wind pierced into the marrow of our bones. We ate a chewy, but steaming hot lentil soup and it was wonderful - in normal circumstances we will say that it was not done yet!
By 7 pm the below zero temperatures pushed the boys and Sammie into the car and Willie and me straight into the tent. We slept with all our clothes, gloves and scarves under a down duvet and it took 4 hours for my frozen feet blocks to thaw out.
It makes for a very long night of tossing and turning, but there is very little reason to want to get up and out.
In the past, Willie was usually the first to wake up, make coffee and have a photo shoot before we moved, but even he was frozen up by the cold. The sun did shine the next morning and it made the world at least look brighter, although there was no doubt in any of us 4's mind as who is reigning - King Cold!
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