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Riding to Byzantium Riding to Byzantium
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  #1  
Old 4 Aug 2011
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Riding to Byzantium
Hi. I'm in Bulgaria, on my way from UK to Turkey, and hoping to head as far east as possible in Turkey before coming back via one of the Greek islands and doing a hop into Athens to meet the other half, then back to UK the easy way (ferry to Italy etc.).

Anyone in Bulgaria or Turkey now? Would be great to meet up with a fellow traveller at some point. I thought there would be many more bikers around but I've not seen many at all, least of all in campsites.

Any tips on what to see out east? I'd rather see things off the beaten track and keep away from the tourist spots if poss.

Finally, anyone seen or heard of BrettfromOz? He was headed this way I think.

All best,

M
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  #2  
Old 4 Aug 2011
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There is no Byzantium anymore. In which century are u living?
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  #3  
Old 5 Aug 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by istanbul bisiklet motosiklet View Post
There is no Byzantium anymore. In which century are u living?
Yes I know that of course. It's a reference to a poem by W B Yeats, Sailing to Byzantium, which I guess is unfamiliar to you.

Sailing to Byzantium - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I'll be crossing the Bosphorus in an hour or two - just found a wifi connection on the motorway short of Istanbul.
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  #4  
Old 13 Aug 2011
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I've had a wonderful time in Turkey and especially out to the east. If only I could have had more time, but I have a deadline to get to Athens so this will be my last night here.

If anyone's interested, I've blogged the journey from London here
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  #5  
Old 21 Aug 2011
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I looked the poem up and had a quick read and after a few repeats it started in parts to be also relevant to me. (being a pit past it) Then I went to the pub and on my return read it once more and lo, it all made perfect sense, bloody Irish writing style, cost me £3.20 for each of 7 pints to understand it. Ride safe.
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  #6  
Old 22 Aug 2011
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Contantinople is a very long word - can you spell it ?

David
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Old 22 Aug 2011
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Even Constantinople !
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  #8  
Old 23 Aug 2011
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Originally Posted by maja View Post
I looked the poem up and had a quick read and after a few repeats it started in parts to be also relevant to me. (being a pit past it) Then I went to the pub and on my return read it once more and lo, it all made perfect sense, bloody Irish writing style, cost me £3.20 for each of 7 pints to understand it. Ride safe.
It seems to be one of Yeats's lesser-known poems. I came across it on my first visit to Istanbul (by plane) in 2008, and it struck a chord with me as my father was at that point very old, frail, and had lost his independence. In particular the plea of verse 3:

O sages standing in God's holy fire
As in the gold mosaic of a wall,
Come from the holy fire, perne in a gyre,
And be the singing-masters of my soul.
Consume my heart away; sick with desire
And fastened to a dying animal
It knows not what it is; and gather me
Into the artifice of eternity.

It was a wonderful experience to ride all the way to 'Byzantium', and beyond, from the UK. If only there was time in life always to travel overland - to me it feels rather fake to fly and drop suddenly in on some distant city...
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  #9  
Old 23 Aug 2011
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Originally Posted by Davypo View Post
Contantinople is a very long word - can you spell it ?

David
Κωνσταντινούπολις ?
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  #10  
Old 23 Aug 2011
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Nice try, but to know the correct spelling you have to be under five :-)

Beutiful poem, I'll look that up

Try Pamuk's Istanbul if you want a good read

David
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  #11  
Old 25 Aug 2011
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"Saılıng to Byzantıum" ındeed
MOTORBAKER, we just rode the Black Sea coastal route after Istanbul
and are now ın Sınop. Thanks for sharıng the poem, it expresses my
feelıngs exactly - but agaın.. I am a bıt older than the poet when he
penned ıt.

Remınds me of a poem I wrote when I was half as old as I am now.

"Set Your Spırıt Free"

I am not my thoughts
for my thoughts are caught
ın words and memorıes
that brought me to my knees

I am not what I do for that
ıs caught too ın love and fear
and money - funny

My lıfe began wıth a belıef
I am a spırıt bound to be free

Eınsteın was rıght
our bondage ıs tıght
ıt ıs lıes we see
through our eyes

The truth ıs ın sıght
but the lıght so brıght
I close my eyes
to see you to see me

I stopped thınkıng
and the truth set me free

A spirit set free
I can be me
I can just be
Set your spirit free

copyrıght 1979 EVG

see thread TRAVELERS:Spaın to Turkey and return for more on Black Sea route
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  #12  
Old 30 Oct 2011
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Where are you Motobaker?
Where are you. How are Y0U? We are back in Spain.

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