Strasbourg to İstanbul

We are writing from İstanbul (on a Turkish keyboard, hence the recurring problem findıng the 'i'... ) anyway, all is very well so far. We are sad to leave İstanbul today, it is an amazing city and amazing to see what all the guide books describe as the real fusion between east and west... hard to describe in better words than that, but actually so much more when you're here. We'll be back one day...

The 4 day trip on the train from Strasbourg to İstanbul went well despite some short nights interupted by passport controls, bumps, bangs and swayiıng furniture. We saw Europe unfold through our cabin window: slept through most of Austria, saw Hungary, Rumania, Bulgaria and finally Turkey.

Pic: Sylvia starts nesting at last.... in our very cosy cabin for two...

Budapest was a welcome break and merıts so much more than a greay day in January, but we made it to the baths for a wash and a dip outdoors (-3 C!) with the Budapest-ois.

Pic: This is a picture from Romania...as seen from the train as we left Bucharest...

İn İstanbul we received the most warm and generous welcome from Filiz and her husband Giorgio, contacts of Harriet's dad's, who took us all over İstanbul and to the best restaurants in the capital. Wonderful people, wonderful food, expandıng waistlines and new fettish foods - Mmmm!

Off to İndia this afternoon - strange to leave our warm clothes in a pile here and to get on a plane for the next step - train travel has been a great way to start the trip.
We'll post pictures from İndia.... a bientot!