https://rhiaro.co.uk/2020/01
type: Collection
type: Container
contains: star-wars
contains: sick
contains: photos-bursa
contains: started
contains: week-in-review
contains: photos-ayvalik
contains: photos-lesbos
contains: photos-ayvalik-2
contains: photos-bursa-2
contains: week-in-review-2
contains: photos-uludag
contains: bus-tr
contains: photos-bursa-3
contains: sofia
contains: cat
contains: burns
contains: bus-days
contains: week-in-review-3
contains: flight
contains: cgn
contains: photos-manc-edi
contains: week-in-review-4
contains: photos-sofia
contains: photos-kitb
contains: sleep
contains: 2019-in-review
name: Posts between 2020/01 and 2020/02
total items: 26

2019-in-review
type: Article
content: In 2018 I travelled all over Europe, mostly alone, and got to know myself better than ever. 2019 was a continuation of this, with a few unexpected twists, new lessons, and reinforcement of things I discovered last year. I posted logs or photos or blogposts to my site 4,974 times and posted 9,032 individual photos. tl;dr Continued to travel around Europe; visited lots of new places, and returned to places I know and love. Met a few wonderful new people. Kept in touch or reconnected with many others. Tested the limits of my sociability. Did contracting work as well as my day job, but not enough to add up to full-time. Went out of my way to attend RWOT conferences twice. Looked after other peoples' pets. Took a detour to visit Elizabeth in Zimbabwe for 2 weeks (broke the no-fly rule). Had a rhino-related near-death experience. A long, hot, Balkan summer; swam in the sea often, got a lot of migraines from the heat. Learnt to read Cyrllic with ease. Returned to the UK for Co-op and family stuff. Did more exercise than last year. Not that the bar was high. Fell in love with the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Won NaNoWriMo! But overall wrote less than last year. Overcame a bit my aversion to fire, through necessity. Goals for 2020: more of the same really. But with more solitude. Words I wrote 321 things. On my site I posted 261 short notes or commentary with photos, and 60 longer articles. I also logged non-blogpost writing 34 times. These all comprise approximately 95,722 words in total (52,001 off-site). That's a mean of 262.25 words and 0.88 posts per day. That's less than last year; missed my 'write more' goal. I wrote about 153 different topics, with the most common being travel (99), life (69), week in review (50), nanowrimo (29), writing (21), food (15), tourism (13), vegan (12), Bulgaria (10), ods (9), montenegro (8), and hiking (8). My NaNoWriMo project was Quest for Brothers, but I didn't write much else. Travel I stopped in a total of 22 countries; I visited 12 cou…
name: 2019 in review
published: 2020-01-31T23:24:00+00:00
tag: didwg
tag: writing
tag: food
tag: quantified+self
tag: https://rhiaro.co.uk/tags/2019
tag: life
tag: year+in+review
tag: travel
tag: week+in+review
tag: digital+nomad
tag: transit
tag: logs
tag: ods
tag: w3c

burns
type: Note
content: Burns' Night and Chinese New Year are at the same time this year, and I'm gonna be in Scotland. This sets all my favourite food senses tingling.
published: 2020-01-19T12:14:00+02:00
tag: life
tag: food

bus-days
type: Note
content: Okay imma go be on a bus for a couple of days (literally), see you on the other side.
published: 2020-01-19T23:59:18+02:00
tag: travel
tag: bus

bus-tr
type: Note
content: I hate how Turkish bus stations are such a hustle. Like you're surrounded by bus company reps all trying to talk you into taking their next bus to wherever. As if you've turned up to the bus station without having already decided where you're going and when. I mean occasionally, sure, but it can't be often enough to justify the amount of effort they put in.
published: 2020-01-16T17:25:00+03:00
tag: turkey
tag: bus
tag: travel

cat
type: Note
content: At a cafe in Sofia, the biggest cat I've seen, possibly small tiger, has made herself at home on me. My legs are numb, and at one point she wrapped her arms around my waist under my hoodie and stuck her claws in. I guess I'm never leaving. Btw nothing makes me happier than this exact scenario.
published: 2020-01-18T11:14:00+02:00
tag: cat
tag: travel
tag: life
tag: sofia

cgn
type: Note
content: I'm in Cologne Airport again. It's one of my favourite bus stations. Good signage for buses, seating, pretzels and coffee, power and wifi (mostly), and warm fuzzy memories of all the other hours I've spent here between unreasonably long bus rides.
published: 2020-01-21T16:47:00+01:00
tag: cgn
tag: life
tag: travel
tag: bus

flight
type: Note
content: Me: mentions being just off the nightbus on the first leg of my journey from Turkey to the UK Colleague: but you're going to get on a plane eventually right? Me: ..... a what?
in reply to: bus-days
published: 2020-01-20T00:33:00+02:00
tag: life
tag: travel

photos-ayvalik
type: Add
content: I missed the coast, so went to the sea! Via a 4.5 hour bus ride from Bursa to Ayvalik. There, via CouchSurfing, I met a beautiful cat and a beautiful human who let me stay in their home for a few nights, even when my plans went slightly squiggly due to weather. Ayvalik is lovely and I came so close to staying there instead of Bursa, and may have made a slightly wrong choice, but now I know I can go back for longer in the future. I reconnected with another couchsurfer who I'd met in Bursa, and we walked the two hours or so around the coast to the island (connected by bridges) of Cunda, which has a charming seafront and view of Ayvalik. It was very windy and gloomy, but that made coffee at the other end all the more welcome.
published: 2020-01-07T21:10:48+03:00
summary: Amy added 61 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202001-coast/
target: 202001-coast

photos-ayvalik-2
type: Add
content: Return ferry to Ayvalik where the weather was beautiful again, a day of working with a sea view, a nice breakfast with my host, and a return bus to Bursa.
published: 2020-01-11T19:52:30+03:00
summary: Amy added 39 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202001-coast/
target: 202001-coast

photos-bursa
type: Add
content: New Year's Eve with my new friends from CouchSurfing. We watched Putin's speech and stayed up all night talking and playing games like jenga and charades. I slept (eventually) in a bed shaped like a car. At the weekend some of them came to Misi for breakfast; we walked around the village, then took a trip to the lake at Dagyenice. We (they) built a fire, roasted chestnuts and made tea, and played with the local ducks and dogs. It was a wonderful afternoon.

photos-bursa-2
type: Add
content: The Bursa 1326 Panorama Museum, which is a big dome painted on the inside with a scene of (I think) the founding of the city. It's surprisingly cool! Entry is 5tl (less than €1) and there's all kinds of interesting cultural stuff inside the building too. When I went in there was a traditional drum and dance performance happening. I also wandered past the Ataturk House museum, and through Kulturpark and Merinos.
published: 2020-01-12T19:35:45+03:00
summary: Amy added 17 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202001-tr/
target: 202001-tr

photos-bursa-3
type: Add
content: My last days in Bursa came all at once. I squeezed in some more museums - the Ataturk House (which is nice to visit but has no signs or information, just furniture and pictures, and took me all of 5 minutes to go around); the Archaeology Museum (which has plenty of info in English and is as good as archaeology museums always are); the Textiles Museum at Merinos (which is in an old textile factory, and incorporates a lot of interesting social history about the local industry as well as technical information and old machines); and the Immigration Museum (on the top floor of the Textile Museum; not much in English, but fascinating exhibits all the same). I worked from Good Call and At Kafe. I spent my final night in Gorukle at the meeting of Bursa Speaking Club, saying farewell to all of the amazing people I met this month. I stayed over at Juli's and in the morning Fatih came over to make us delicous soup for breakfast. What a sendoff! In the Mado cafe by the bus station, I discovered a vegan ice cream menu; they didn't have any of course. The last thing I did before I got on the bus was eat cig kofte... of course.
published: 2020-01-16T19:48:28+03:00
summary: Amy added 31 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202001-tr/
target: 202001-tr

photos-kitb
type: Add
content: I convened a gathering of some people close to KitB, to treat him to a fun long weekend before his imminent wedding. The concept of a 'bachelor party' is pretty gross, so we called it a Stag Don't or the #kitparty. On the first day we stayed in Edinburgh, ate at Snax and ConsiderIt, and went to the Camera Obscura. I didn't have high hopes, but it turned out to be awesome. The views from the tower are great, and the silly museum of illusions is surprisingly good. We most enjoyed the Vortex and the Hall of Mirrors, and ended up spending more than 2 hours there. Then we all took a train to Dunkeld & Birnam, a little village an hour and 40 mins north of Edinburgh. I fell in love with the place. It has hills and waterfalls and vast ancient forests, and a secret vegan food scene. We walked around the area, ate a lot of course, and chilled and played board games in our hostel (Jessie Mac's). On the 25th we cooked ourselves a Burns Supper. I'd definitely consider moving there.

photos-lesbos
type: Add
content: The ferries were still running from Ayvalik to Lesbos! Only a few a week, and the one I wanted to take got rescheduled due to wind. Anyway I made it, Eleni (from last year!) met me in Mytilini, we ate pancakes, then took the bus to Petra where I stayed again in my favourite seaview room where the ocean rolls constantly. The next day I worked from there, then went to stay at Eleni's house in Filia and hang out with her family. We ate many good things and I'm so grateful for random connections that turn into lasting friendships :)
published: 2020-01-09T23:21:38+03:00
summary: Amy added 44 photos to https://i.amy.gy/202001-coast/
target: 202001-coast

photos-sofia
type: Add
content: I spent a weekend in Sofia to break up my bus journey from Turkey to the UK. Just chilling, cafeworking, and eating, with a visit to the Museum of Earth and Man which is full of shiny rocks. Food at Edgy Veggy, Sun & Moon, Dreamhouse and Satsanga. Then the long haul to Cologne, via Arad, over a couple of days.
published: 2020-01-27T22:33:45+00:00
summary: Amy added 44 photos to https://i.amy.gy/20200102-uk/
target: 20200102-uk

photos-uludag
type: Add
content: I finally went up Uludag on Bursa's epic cable car. It takes about an hour, with a change half way. At 105tl (about €16) it's expensive but well worth it. The views are incredible (I managed to get a clear day), and it's a relaxing ride. If you pick your times well you can get a cabin to yourself. I spent a few hours at the top, wandering around through the snow, watching people ski and sled, and drinking tea in a cosy cafe. It's a ski resort at the top with a lot of hotels. If you're less lazy than me, there are some wonderful hikes as well that can quickly take you away from the bustle of the touristy area. And chairlifts to take you to the very peak.

sick
type: Note
content: I am very cold and a bit sick. Planning tons of stuff next week anyway from bed and assuming I'll be better tomorrow cos I really don't have time for this shit.
published: 2020-01-02T18:58:11+03:00
tag: life
tag: travel

sleep
type: Note
content: My sleep cycle has been all over the place last couple of weeks due to travel and events and timezones, but my super reliable body clock still woke me up without an alarm at 0914 this morning - one minute before standup.
published: 2020-01-29T09:50:02+00:00
tag: life
tag: sleep

sofia
type: Note
content: Sofia is one of my favourite cities to do nothing in. I've only ever spent short stays here, and did a walking tour the first time for an overview. There's probably tons to do really but there's nothing obvious so it's easy to just chill out and rest in nice cafes. Which is what I need this weekend. (To start to recover from Turkey, Country of Lovely but Socially Demanding Extroverts.)
published: 2020-01-17T12:28:00+02:00
tag: sofia
tag: turkey
tag: travel
tag: life

star-wars
type: Note
content: (Star Wars RoS spoiler) . . . . . . . I'm reading all the theories about the hacky ending change of RoS and I know on close inspection the editing is totally fucked, but my (apparently) controversial but strongly held opinion.. I was so happy that Ben Solo just died instead of the happy ever after that everyone seems to want. Seriously. I'm extremely bored of characters always being paired off in all media ever. For every new SW movie I've been dreading it happening to Rey. I was enjoying a lot the weight given to her non-romantic strong and loving relationships with those around her. More of that. If anything, I was hoping for the development of a caring sibling-type relationship between Ben and Rey. But also Ben Solo was a jerk. Rey deserves better. And we're swamped with the idea that people (especially women let's be honest) need a [single, male] romantic partner to complete them. Ugh. So yeah. Good.
published: 2020-01-01T19:55:00+03:00
tag: feminism
tag: media
tag: star+wars
tag: romance

started
type: Note
content: I started this year by having chips (fries) for breakfast, and I just feel like that's worth noting.
published: 2020-01-05T15:28:00+03:00
tag: food
tag: life

week-in-review
type: Article
content: Visited Gorukle, the studenty suburb of Bursa. Failed to do any yoga. Celebrated New Year with new CouchSurfing friends. Got sick for a few days from new germs and not sleeping at the right times, probably. Stayed in bed. Went on a village and lake adventure with CouchSurfing friends too.
name: Week in review: 30 Dec - 5 Jan
published: 2020-01-05T23:59:59+03:00
tag: travel
tag: week+in+review
tag: couchsurfing

week-in-review-2
type: Article
content: Went to Ayvalik, on the west coast of Turkey, and couchsurfed and walked. Took the ferry to Lesbos to visit Eleni and family, and enjoy the view from the room in Petra where I spent last December. Then back to Ayvalik for a couple of days of cafe working, then bussed back to Bursa. Went to the 1326 Panorama Museum in Bursa. Mostly worked on OCDS DRT stuff. Finished season 2 of Lost in Space, and proceeded with The 3%. Tactfully ignoring the classic JSON vs JSON-LD debate happening in the DID WG for my own wellbeing.
name: Week in review: 6 - 12 Jan
published: 2020-01-12T23:59:59+03:00
tag: greece
tag: ferry
tag: week+in+review
tag: travel
tag: turkey

week-in-review-3
type: Article
content: Went on the cable car and spend an afternoon in the snow on Uludag. Hit up a bunch of museums, and cafe worked in Bursa. Switched to OC4IDS related things. Said goodbye to Bursa with a nice sendoff from new friends. Bussed to Sofia for a chill weekend of eating at my favourite places, visiting new places to eat, and catching up on work. And then bussed away..
name: Week in review: 13 - 19 Jan
published: 2020-01-19T23:59:59+02:00
tag: turkey
tag: travel
tag: week+in+review
tag: oc4ids
tag: bulgaria

week-in-review-4
type: Article
content: Bussed from Sofia to Arad, Arad to Cologne, Cologne to London. Half a Open Data Services Co-op CoGM in Manchester, then onward to Edinburgh. A long weekend celebrating KitB in Edinburgh and Dunkeld & Birnam.
name: Week in review: 20 - 26 Jan
published: 2020-01-26T23:59:59+00:00
tag: uk
tag: travel
tag: ods
tag: work
tag: kitb
tag: week+in+review

https://rhiaro.co.uk/2020/01
type: CollectionPage
type: Container
contains: star-wars
contains: sick
contains: photos-bursa
contains: started
contains: week-in-review
contains: photos-ayvalik
contains: photos-lesbos
contains: photos-ayvalik-2
contains: photos-bursa-2
contains: week-in-review-2
contains: photos-uludag
contains: bus-tr
contains: photos-bursa-3
contains: sofia
contains: cat
contains: burns
contains: bus-days
contains: week-in-review-3
contains: flight
contains: cgn
contains: photos-manc-edi
contains: week-in-review-4
contains: photos-sofia
contains: photos-kitb
contains: sleep
contains: 2019-in-review
items: star-wars
items: sick
items: photos-bursa
items: started
items: week-in-review
items: photos-ayvalik
items: photos-lesbos
items: photos-ayvalik-2
items: photos-bursa-2
items: week-in-review-2
items: photos-uludag
items: bus-tr
items: photos-bursa-3
items: sofia
items: cat
items: burns
items: bus-days
items: week-in-review-3
items: flight
items: cgn
items: photos-manc-edi
items: week-in-review-4
items: photos-sofia
items: photos-kitb
items: sleep
items: 2019-in-review
name: Posts between 2020/01 and 2020/02
next: https://rhiaro.co.uk/2020/02/
part of: https://rhiaro.co.uk/2020/01
prev: https://rhiaro.co.uk/2019/12/

photos-manc-edi
type: Add
content: Nightbus from Cologne to London, breakfast in London, then a train from London to Manchester for a day and a half of Co-op stuff, and eating of course. Then onward to Edinburgh.
published: 2020-01-24T10:39:12+00:00
summary: Amy added 16 photos to https://i.amy.gy/20200102-uk/
target: 20200102-uk