11:35pm

We are packed yet again and ready for the next leg of the journey, onward to Istanbul. This will entail another overnight bus ride, which Sara is REALLY looking forward to. I think we should just all do a blue pill when we get on the bus, but she's worried about not being alert enough to watch out for the kids, you know, traveling through Turkey and all ;-).

Yesterday it rained and stormed all day. We thought to take a drive around in the afternoon, but found the Jeep dead once again. I think it's got bigger problems than a simple battery. Last time I drove it, three new warning lights came on. Hopefully we'll get a bit of a refund on the rental, but it's Bulgaria, who knows! There's a butt-load (to borrow Nacho Lebres words) of burnt DVD's so we ended up having a movie day, the ONLY movie day of the whole trip. Bruce Almighty (I laughed so hard), Jumper (stupid movie with no point to it), and August Rush (almost cried...kidding).
around 8pm we went looking for supper. All the restaurants within walking distance were closed, which makes perfect sense considering this is the height of the tourist season ;-).

So, we opted for some groceries to create our own feast. Eyes were way to big for our stomachs and we ended up being completely stuffed. One more movie before bed, so in goes Bourne Identity (great movie!).

As we go to bed, lightning is flashing over the BLACK sea.

Now that our time in Eastern Europe is drawing to a close, Sara and I find ourselves wondering if we've gotten what we needed to get out of the time away. If it's rest we looking for, probably NOT. The amount of things we've done and seen over the last four weeks can make you dizzy just thinking about it! But then, is rest ever the point of holidays...really? If I was after rest, I think I'd stay home. It seems the soul is never more at peace than when it's in it's comfort zone, and for us that's 13243 267 Rd, Fort St. John, BC.

Maybe the real purpose of taking a trip or holiday is getting a change in perspective, whether a beach in the Bahamas, a Safari in South Africa, or a backpacking trip through Eastern Europe. Maybe a good holiday shouldn't mean you feel "rested" on your return (honestly, I can hardly think of one holiday where I've felt like that). Rather, you come back from your time away and you appreciate with new eyes the locale where you'll spend at
least 9/10's of the year. All the quirks and conveniences, blessings and headaches, mean something more to you, and are held dearer somehow. It's home. And that's where you belong, and it feels right.

So, if the purpose of a holiday is a different perspective on life, we heartily agree that this has happened, in abundance! And there HAS been rest as well, make no mistake. Some of the ways our perspective has been enriched (from a conversation Sara and I had last night falling asleep):

1. Unhurried life. Even now we are waiting again for our transportation to Varna. People just aren't hurried around here, and though at home tardiness is a black mark, here it's just a way of life. So everyone's agendas slacken a little to make room for it. Balancing the need to respect other people's time, etc.; I feel there's something good here as well. There's got to be a way to open up some time to be unhurried, even in Fort St. John.
Invite people over for dinner at 5pm, but don't eat till 8pm. I don't know, just an idea.

2. How precious is the ability to communicate. Anytime we've come across someone who can speak English (even broken English), it's like we're starving for conversation and we jump right in with both feet. Yet we take this "common language" we have for granted at home and seldom "communicate" to anyone except those within our circles. I think we might be missing out on so much because of this. There is great joy in connecting through spoken language with those outside of your circle, your sphere, your experience.

3. Simplicity. We have lived for four weeks now out of backpacks, with just the bare necessities really, and we've been fine. Twice we've slept on buses, several times all in one room with one small bathroom. Numerous times we've had no idea of what was going to happen next, just a thought maybe. Each night we have grown to appreciate the simplicity of having a roof over our heads and food in our stomachs. Every trip we've appreciated simply knowing we're moving in the right direction, be it plane, train, or little tiny taxi. The simple things have been so appreciated.

4. The Unknown is nothing to be feared. After so much unknown, from culture nuances, to menu items, to maps and streets, to hosts and hostesses, you get to the point where the unknown is a way of life and nothing to be feared. I hope this impacts my life in FSJ, where the unknown DOES take place every day, every week, sometimes every hour! But it's nothing to be feared and can in itself be a great rush of excitement and adventure. Tomorrow morning we'll be in Istanbul staying with people we have never met. We don't know what they are like (other than a profile in Couch Surfing), never been in their house, we know nothing really. And it's kind of exciting! We spend so much time (me most of all) trying to remove the "unknown" factors. Maybe we shouldn't.

5. Cheese and High Heels. In other words, healthier lifestyle :-). This is coming from Sara by the way, and I thought it might be good to include. I'll let her type here :-). The women are tiny here, in bone structure and weight! Most I see have perfect figures and I've been trying to figure out why....I think its all the cheese they eat over here, and yogurt....and I've come to figure out why their legs are in great shape too....they walk in high heels all day!! I'm sure IF I could ever do that I would be able to tell you if my legs got a workout! I have bought one pair of heels, but didn't think that I'd be able to pack my backpack around while wearing them and I would slow the family down. (Tony writing again). Okay, I think she should do it. Luke thinks that would make a great profile picture: Sara with a backpack and highheels. I agree!!