Change In Plans

This post is the last one before we depart for Spain later today. From here on out, the “travel blog” should be a lot more about travel.

We are ready to depart. There is a little last-minute packing to do, and we need to close up the house, but it feels manageable. The next eight weeks look like:

• Spain (Madrid, Mallorca, Barcelona, Tarifa)
• Morocco (Fes, Sahara camping, Marrakech)
• Tunisia (Tunis)
• Turkey (Istanbul, gulet sailing, Cappadoccia)
• Italy (Naples and Positano)

Then we will be back for a few weeks.

India has done an incredible job in conceiving, planning, and confirming a very detailed itinerary, not only for the next eight weeks, but for the longer trip which we will start in late October. A blinding glimpse of the obvious: the Internet is an amazing tool for planning this kind of trip. Between exchanging e-mail with people on the ground in whatever country, and being able to look at and reserve accommodations quickly, the Internet has made the planning feasible. I think India has enjoyed this process, although I am sure she wishes I had been more helpful.

We are working hard on the home-schooling curriculum for Zola. August and September will be organized around Greek myths and stories (most of which are set in Turkey, so we will visit the sites). It has been fun to try and create a structured program which is both interesting and rigorous. Let’s hope he learns something in the process.

Morale is high: the tension and pre-trip anxieties of the last week have given way to real excitement for everyone. We are embarking on a great adventure, and will be in Madrid by this time tomorrow.