Written by Mary - 10/29/20 - Wrapping up this Voyage

We’re on our way home and it all seems quite bittersweet! We didn’t move as much as the original gap year plan but we sure moved around a lot. 12 houses in 62 days. We learned our kids are capable of far more than we thought! Using restrooms they wouldn't dream of stepping foot into, Handling 17 hour travel days like champs, waking as early as 4am and then forcing mid day naps to regulate. They’ve learned how to self teach portions of school they missed and catch up on school work under the gun. They've learned to entertain themselves with out toys. Coasters, trash and recyclables became quick entertainment! They’ve also learned to communicate with verbal language and handle less boundaries than Americans are used to when it comes to touching them or speaking at them. When the girls and I arrived at our hotel air balloon destination at 5:30am, the van doors flew open and a balloon employee grabbed Rosie (fully picked her up) and carried her across a field (I was running behind to catch) and placed her in the balloon. He was just trying to help. I think I was more frantic than Rosie. Once when we were tasting wine at a vineyard a man pulled his motorcycle over, walked up and squeezed Rosie's cheeks and talked to her for a few minutes in Croatian. Our first day In Dubrovnik, a very elderly man walked up and blessed Mikey chanting over him touching the top of his head repeatedly. Mikey still refers to his short lived fine as a celebrity in Istanbul With fondness although he never cared for being picked up without permission! All of these instances they rolled with and although they couldn't underderstand it, they respected it. As we enter the US with spiking covid cases and virtual school, we're thankful to be home, but mostly thankful we took advantage of the guven time overseas!

Written by Mary 10/24/20 - We love Turkey!

Turkey: Istanbul is magic! The challenges (finding clean water, dodging scoters and taxis, late nights, finding your way when Apple maps are unreliable, etc) are all the things that exhaust me but what I love and crave! I love the Call to prayer as it frequently reminds me of our spirituality which is drowned out in the US, I loved the Pretzel bread delivered to your door by the man carrying a tray of them fresh on a platter on his head, the kids loved the Endless animals - cows chickens sheep (outside of Istanbul) and of course the Cats and dogs. All the things in any populated city - things we’ve missed since leaving Manila 12 years ago. The culture fascinates me. The male female interaction stumps me. I can ask for something or suggest something but it is best when affirmed by Andy. The modern cosmopolitan city with obvious old traditions and new additions are exciting. We are a sight with three kids. I’ve been asked several times if we are Mormon, asked onece if Russian, twice if Spanish and all remaining inquiries assume we're British. We've met no Americans in turkey but met many couples who have been separated since covid meeting up in turkey and Croatia. Thanks to advising of friends who ‘gap yeared’ before us, I allowed myself to shop away thru turkey as the dollar goes a long way and the handmade crafts in Turkey are glorious! Turks like to stay up late (like 2am in our apartment complex) and we finally adapted and stayed up late too (better than laying there waiting). After a week in funfilled Istanbul with bazaars, mosques, tours, boat rides, shopping and hummus (did I mention the food is outstanding); we headed to Cappadocia. It felt like leaving denver for the mountains. The air was cooler and the towns were peaceful. We rode hot air balloons, hiked and fell in love with the small towns!

Written by Mary 10/20/20 - Good bye Croatia

Wrapping up Croatia: I think my favorite parts of Croatia will always be how we lived there instead of toured there. We shopped at the grocery every two days and I even learned how to cook their fish (frozen) and bake their tomato soup (from a packet). We would school and andy worked everyday while I tried to figure out local laundry and reserve our next travel spot. Most of the time we just set out to to explore, unlike a planned destination of a tourist. We were there long enough to make friends, play in their playgrounds regularly and really learn about life there. So long Croatia! We saw 11 of your cities and none disappoint!

A few more pics...

Written by Lucy 10/20/20

I am VERRY exited for Halloween. It will be so fun. Even though we will not get to go trick or treating with all of our friends. I love my costume! Rosie is going to be an inflatable giraffe, Mikey is going to be the Pokémon siduk, and I am going to be a pageant girl. Happy Halloween!!!