GETTING READY TO BACKPACK: (Thessaloniki)

So it's been two and a half months since we left Bristol and have been having a fantastic time exploring Europe...but it's time to get away from the familiar and head to where East meets West: Istanbul! So it's bye bye to Jackie Boy, 'the good life', open top motoring, those deliciously comfy cream leather seats, Tom Toms, Maria's cooking, camping under the stars - and a big hello to pubic transport, big backpacks and hosteling. FUN. We're taking the sleeper train later this week, and in spite of our love affair with Greece, I'm sure we'll be humming the tune "Istanbul, not Constantinople."