Bodrum: Castles and Boating

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Turkey

Back to work

After slacking off in Italy with digging, socializing, travelling, and occasionally a few hours of sleep; I’ve finally time enough (and energy) to revive the blog. While in Italy, I picked up much of the culture: not following rigid guidelines, showing up 15 minutes late, and eating and drinking from lunch onward. Regretfully, these customs affected Rlosstinspace, as he was truly lost in space many mornings. Alas, without further ado, some of the highlights (in photo form) of my month in Italy. Here’s to a more updated track of my work and travel in Turkey at the ancient city of Sardis and beyond.

EmBarkation

Home for two days, but the heat is close on my tail, and in my final summer vacation I must accept my Napoleonic exile-in-paradise. Doyle is well aware, his winter coat is shedding too; plus, he won’t leave my side. Did Napoleon have a clairvoyant pup as well? At age 7, there’s hardly anything outside of Doyle’s ability, be it predicting my absence, or posing perfectly for three straight pictures. It’s possible he knows that his immortality is at stake. Meanwhile, he’s engrossed by every word that I type, making sure at least one of my hands is petting him at all times.

In spite of Doyle and my human friends in Central Pennsylvania, tomorrow I shall depart for Marina di Cerveteri (Ceranova) and my studies  dig at the archaeological site of Caere, where I will spend one month, prior to a week of wandering and a six-week stay at the excavation of Sardis in Turkey, thus rewarding me with a 3-Continent summer of grand proportions. With just a duffle bag and backpack, I cannot wait re-entry into the USA when Customs agents will struggle to believe my well-spun tales of travels, dirt-digging, and lab work with little to no monetary incentive. Fortunately, that can wait till August, and leaving the country is much easier. Barring any strange events, I will be breathing Italian air by this time tomorrow.