July 22.
I looked at my Visa bill and managed to not have a heart attack but it was close. I have now paid for my trip! No going back now. Not that I was planning to cancel but now it's real.
I have no idea when/where I'm going to pack. My spare room is booked right up until a couple of days before I leave. As followers of my trips, you all know I use my spare bed to throw things I might need and leave them there until it is time to shove everything into a bag. No throwing, no shoving until Sept 9!
I am almost done my History of Central Asia book. I had some time to kill in/on an airport/flight so I caught up. I am almost to the Russian era.
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I covered 1200 years of history, on a round trip Victoria and Edmonton |
July 28.
Today I had my travel clinic appointment. I am generally good to go but my typhoid vaccine is due. So, that plus my favourite, Dukoral. I thought I might get a measles update but apparently I am so old, I am for sure immune. I do remember getting it when I was little. It's the reason I never learned to ski. My parents were newly split and my dad was going to take us kids to Mt Washington while my mom went on a road trip. I woke up the next morning covered in red spots. My dad said to my mom, something like 'too bad about your trip' and then she left, probably laughing all of the way back down island.
July 31.
My brain is starting to remind me that I need reminders.
Things to do that I might forget:
- get a hair cut (booked)
- get the car serviced (not because this is a pre-travel thing, my oil change light is lit) (Booked)
- get money. But first figure out how much money??
- top up the lottery account so I might still win big while I'm away (and so my co-workers don't kill me if we miss a jackpot)
- set up payments for bills.
- figure out when I have five days in a row at home to take my typhoid pills
- contact the second cat sitters for the hand off of my borrowed cat.
I also created this so I can sort of keep track.
I got an email this weekend that my flights from Istanbul to Bishtek had changed. I looked, same day, same time. Confused face emoji! Then I noticed that the airport code has been updated. Whew. I did not want to lose any time in the Istanbul business class lounge!! Or my trip I guess...
BSZManas International Airport in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, has officially changed its IATA code from FRU to BSZ, effective 9 August 2025. The change, implemented under IATA Resolution 763, was first announced on 9 May 2025. The previous code, FRU, dated back to the Soviet era when Bishkek was known as Frunze.
I start my typhoid vaccine (four doses) tonight. If I remember? I already forgot this morning so it isn't starting off well.
August 18.
Dammit! I forgot to take my fourth Typhoid pill last night!!
Later that day. Time to go home and take my typhoid pill but instead I am searching Guru Walks for 'free' walking tours in Istanbul. I am going to die for sure. I booked four!!
- Istanbul Old City Tour; Byzantine and Ottoman Tales (Sept 13 @ 10 am)
- Istanbul Spiritual (Sept 13 @ 1:45 pm)
- 2 Continents 1 City: From Europe to Asia (Sept 14 @ 10:30 am)
- Fener-Balat Walking Tour by Art Historian (Sept 15 @ 10 am)
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| GuruWalks is everywhere! |
August 19.
I remembered my typhoid when I got home.
August 25.
Getting close now. 17 days according to my Trip Countdown app.
I picked up my Euros and Turkish Lira. My friend Rob helped me download a e-sim for Turkey. I can decide on the other countries as I go.
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| Money, money, money, must be funnyIn the rich man's worldMoney, money, money, always sunny, In the rich man's worldAhaaaaaa |
I don't think I mentioned that my friend Rob is going to be in Istanbul at the same time as me for one evening! And, saint that he is, he is going to meet me at the airport and get me into town. He is also on the 'free hotel' plan. In fact, it was him that told me about it (it was he...? whatever that sounds dumb, correct but wrong - am I digressing again, so soon!?).
Rob's free hotel is very near mine so he will get me to the neighbourhood and we can have dinner and a bit of an orientation walk-about. He is heading out the next morning so I will have to make my own way after that but the 'how to take the metro with metro pass already in hand' is going to be a life saver after a million hour flight.
I have been reminding myself how to play backgammon online just in case the opportunity arises. Apparently, this is something people do in the part in Turkey. I'm sure, should I get the chance to play, I will be beaten mercilessly but I might remember when to put my little disks to start.
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| Good old CBC Kids Games (no spam or ads!) |
I finished my Central Asia History book. It was a slog, let me tell you. All I remember is Alexander the Great.
August 26.
I think I am going to take the city bus to the ferry for the noon sailing. Then take the Vancouver transit to the airport. That should get me there in time to check in around four hours early and have time to enjoy the Maple Leaf lounge (Gate D52 if you are wondering) for a couple of hours of free lunch and kooshy chairs.
August 27.
Today I got my cortisol shot in my knee. My knee has not been acting up lately but I don't want to risk it. In fact it has been so good, I am only 90% (80%?) sure that I got him to do the correct knee. I'll let you know if I got it wrong! I'll take my stash of Tylenol, just in case.
I also organized the borrowed-cat hand-off to her next foster people. I will miss the little bugger, 4 am yelling and work-from-home lizard killing and all. The once weekly snuggle is worth it.
It's time to end the pre-packing planning post and move onto the peri-packing planning post.
Two weeks to go people!
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