Tuesday 24th December 1968 : Looking for a lift out of Turkey

Rose early and was distraught to see that the snow was falling thick and fast outside but not to be put off we set about preparing a true English breakfast. Mike came up just as Mick and I were getting up and while the pair of them boiled water I set off in the blinding snow to get bread. Even in this it was interesting to note a certain amount of pride influencing. I wanted to turn back because the snow was too much yet the feeling of satisfaction that I could sense by bringing back this bread spurred me on and eventually I found a bakery and purchased two loaves
    Dorothy, John and Chris joined us and we had a good breakfast of boiled eggs and bread followed by bread and jam with coffee.
    Following this we again joined up with those we had met previously while John, Dorothy and Chris went to the TTA. Here I leaned that Steve (American) was a writer having sold both poetry and short stories in America. This was of immense interest to me and I was determined to seek his advise associated to my own interest.
    When the others returned and we learnt that the TTA was shut we decided to book on the coach to Tehran at the cost of 129TL then kicked around for the rest the day. We leaned later that the bus was blocked at Sevos in the mountains and could not be expected until Thursday. After much consultation including truck drivers we decided to wait.
    The day passed to the afternoon and then to the evening when we decided to have a Christmas Eve party buying a bottle of vodka (250TL) and a bottle of wine (8TL). Here Steve read some of the poetry that I had written on the trip and what he suggested was most  encouraging. He said that I a talent that needed maturity but said that by the time I was 25 I could be writing really well. He even suggested that I attempt a graduateship in poetry in America but whatever I decided I must read and write continually to develop the potential that was there.
    Steve retired early but Mike (an interesting character with one eye whom Steve is travelling with making a study of the things that he does. His theory is that because of the one eye Mick has become very singular person in his actions and ideas) began to make us thinks why we had come on this trip at all. As I listened to other opinions I felt that it is all an attempt to  find something. Something that may very well be on our own doorstep but until we have travelled and looked around are unable to see. To my mind I am doing all this with a very open mind. I am perfectly content with the idea of settling down again in England satisfied that I have seen the rest of then world. Seen how the other side are and am happy with my own station in life.
    Meanwhile Ezerum is very cold but at bout 11.00 the snow has stopped and it is looking brighter. Tomorrow we can hope for greater possibilities although we have not seen Christmas here. It is many years sense I have felt this but here in the Muslim regions it is difficult to have any sense of the feeling of Christmas whatsoever.