Psalters

It was my plan to go to Russia at the end of November, the southwest corner. As the time drew near, it was looking like either entering through Moscow which carried the expensive risk of being deported (because if you look at a map, you will see southwest Russia is not an area their government is particularly keen on having people visit) or to try to go directly into the rather volitale area - which would have meant about two weeks of waiting around Istanbul for the chance I might be approved for a visa.

Our last stop before Anduin flew home was a couchsurf with a carpet salesman near Ephesus. He grew up in the southeast of Turkey, from a Kurdish family. After our three days of couchsurfing, he invited me to travel with him from the west coast to the southeast of Turkey where he would be guiding a musical group from America. If you follow the life and times of HNNH, this sounds suspicously similar to a trip I made to Italy about a month ago. Main concern: being a dog returning to its vomit.

But after hemming, hawing, and discussing every possible angle with Anduin, I decided to go. How many times in life does one recieve such an offer?

The musical group turned out to be a tremendous joy. They are called Psalters. Aimee Wilson was also along. We scooted all over the south of the country with little internet time. In the next few days I hope to tell some of my eventful days with this group of unshowered hippies who normally live in a bus that runs on vegetable oil.