Brent's Ramblings

In Selçuk, I toured Ephesus with Jerry and Andrea—a meticulous planner and a Danish journalist full of trivia and celebrity gossip. Between ruins, we bonded over awkward beach moments, chest wig stories, and shared laughs. We parted ways, but I continued to Athens via ferry, met more Aussies, and tangled with a grumpy Greek “sleep police” guy. Travel teaches you that good company and unexpected moments make the best stories.

I dove into belly dancing lessons in Istanbul—until the instructor pulled a man from the audience, stripped his shirt, and my fear kicked in. I escaped to the bathroom. Later, a carpet salesman coaxed me into a 30-minute tea-and-sales-pitch session, laying out twenty rugs and weaving stories of Noah’s Ark. At dinner, a waiter's arm-around-the-shoulder friendliness earned me a free meal. I ended the night in the Blue Mosque, awkwardly clad in a Velcro skirt.

Rambo! That’s what I heard shouted by Turkish passersby—likely sparked by my sleeveless shirt. Two hours ago, that was my welcome. Today, Istanbul has been kind: a peaceful breakfast, a quiet moment with God in a café, and a run along the sea. Hot air balloons floated, ships bustled, and a little boy shouted “Thank you!” after trying his English on me. In 30 minutes, I’ll board the bus to Ephesus.