Post trip musings - preface

Well, have been back from Turkey for about two weeks and am finally getting around to putting some words to, well, the screen, and sorting through a load of pictures. After how many trips to how many places it's about time to start keeping some sort of journal, regardless how consistent or sporadic it may be.
That said, it might be a good idea to preface this with a bit of my own philosophy about travel and what it truly entails, and although food may appear to be a dominant theme in nearly every jaunt, well, to be realistic, it seems to be the basis of my travel, there are other ideals that are preserved, oh, and talk about preserves, my best friend in Germany makes the best Himbeer jam... sorry, one of those Ellen DeGeneres moments... so back to the post.
A commonly held belief is that every journey must have a beginning and an end, that there must be a distinction between what is perceived as reality and other than reality. It is here that we discover the difference between simple travel/tourism and the wonder of the immersive experience. This is not to discount the person who flys half way around the world to have their picture taken in front of some landmark or other. This is to express the joy of embracing the environment and people surrounding that monument and that moment. It extends beyond simple curiosity to allowing the experience to exist and become a part of the reality that is life. In achieving this we discover that after departing that destination there is a piece of our life missing, that we have indeed allowed an addition to what is our identity. This is the journey, and depending on your belief system, ones identity is in a continual evolutionary state, thus, it is a circle. No beginning and no end.
Well, that's my thought anyway.
So now to start playing catch up on the pictures and observations of the most recent jaunt. An attempt will be made to keep it in some sort of chronological order, but A.D.H.D. is my friend, so there is no telling where this may lead!