Trouble in Van
Trip Start
Feb 08, 2008
1
35
125
Trip End
Sep 11, 2009

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Last night an apparent power suge in the hotel killed my computer. I don't know how bad it is--ie., if the memory is gone, or what. It just went black, like the soul of a crushed bug. Earlier in the evening the area in which I was having my evening meal lost power for about 15 minutes. Back at the hotel room there didn't seem to be power from the wall sockets, though the overhead lights worked. But, when my battery was down to about 17% I plugged it in. It was not charging, but I was continuing to read an email and listen to some jazz via iTunes and KPLU, when there was a little tick, and the screen went black. I also left my dark glasses on the bus on the way to Van. Changing seats and whatnot to view the spectacular scenery--at least along the south shore.
Anyway, all I did in Van was to walk down to and climb around the Castle. In the tea garden below I managed to see one of the reputed Van Cats. They are remarkable for being white, and having eyes of different colors, one blue and one green. I can attest. However, this one was not the nice white posing kind of the postcards. It was a scruffy one, and I had to induce it to bite and scratch at my left hand while trying to take its picture with the right. For the pain it was somewhat successful.
I had a little trouble finding my way to the proper otogar to continue on from Van. Sometimes the directions in the Lonely Planet guide books are less than adequate. And, being a former technical illustrator and writer, this irks me. However, somewhere along the way a little gent by the name of Adnan fell into pace with me, and guided me to the otogar. (Fortunately, it seemed to be across the street from where he was going anyway).
As my plan is to next travel through some little-frequented country I decided to not spend any more time in the Van area, though there is much to see. I'll have to return another time.
Anyway, all I did in Van was to walk down to and climb around the Castle. In the tea garden below I managed to see one of the reputed Van Cats. They are remarkable for being white, and having eyes of different colors, one blue and one green. I can attest. However, this one was not the nice white posing kind of the postcards. It was a scruffy one, and I had to induce it to bite and scratch at my left hand while trying to take its picture with the right. For the pain it was somewhat successful.
I had a little trouble finding my way to the proper otogar to continue on from Van. Sometimes the directions in the Lonely Planet guide books are less than adequate. And, being a former technical illustrator and writer, this irks me. However, somewhere along the way a little gent by the name of Adnan fell into pace with me, and guided me to the otogar. (Fortunately, it seemed to be across the street from where he was going anyway).
As my plan is to next travel through some little-frequented country I decided to not spend any more time in the Van area, though there is much to see. I'll have to return another time.