LIVING BOLDLY AT 80

Episode 15 THE RETURN This episode completes the first series of Living Boldly at 80. A conversation between mother and daughter after their solo trips : the joys, the fears, the challenges : In short , life learning big time….and still up for more!

Episode 14 Istanbul is finally here. The dream gets real. The exotic turbulent past fast flows on the ever present Bosphorus: Istanbul, a meeting, mixing, mingling, melting pot of East and West like none other in the world

Maybe out of all the Living Boldly at 80 journeys of discovery, this one tops the charts. Full of wondrous sights, compelling history, friendship and pure fun. Yes…life can be that big!

Food for the heart : sharing time with a Turkish family, grannies and generosity. Food for the soul : Rumí the great master and the whirling ecstasy of the dervishes

The dream was to discover Turkey…and I made it. First steps in the quince orchard, learning to trust. Next steps on marble walkways, an angel’s wing and some determined dogs!

History is not just what happens to a place but feeling into how the people of that place lived and survived (or not) the great events of their time

My last port of call is Bari, the Gateway to the East. Many trains and tickets, many towns and trips to reach here. Hardly a holiday but I signed up for adventure not a guided tour. Could be time now tho for some Slow Travel!

I imagined Sicily as a place of passion, fire, colour and love: it was….but not the way I expected!

Exciting….yes, Chaotic and crazy..…yes, Dirty..…yes very, Did I love Naples ?….yes, hugely!

An innocent visit turns into a test of resilience!

Falling in love happens when magic is in the air, when you feel happy and energised…and somehow you are out of control..in the best of ways! Usually a person but sometimes a place gives you that ‘falling’ feeling.

A travel experience “in a class of its own”. That sounded pretty magical and enticing. I was so not disappointed!

The Journey of discovery has started. No going back now! The first days unfold with what I call a  “joy rating”, while a fair amount of the unexpected brings some less joyful challenges too!

Arriving at a choice point in life, where a change of direction is clearly needed, is the exciting part; the doubts and fears and guilty whisperings which come after, play games with your certainty until Living Boldly wins the day

One woman, single, solo and 80, sets out on a journey of discovery to protest and disprove the social norm that at 80, the only journey out there, is one of decline LIVING BOLDLY at 80 recounts the wonders, laughs and learning along the way of this 3 month very human adventure