1. The beginning 1970

This begins the tale of an inexpensive trip I took in 1970 to Europe. It had to be inexpensive because I didn't have any money.  I had just gotten out of the Air Force after spending 3 years in Turkey.  I wanted to be discharged in Turkey and travel throughout Europe from there but because of my security clearance I had to be discharged in the States. That meant I had to find an inexpensive charter flight to London and back.  I had to join a youth hostel organization, get a passport and somehow become a member of the University of Albany, NY Student Union to qualify for the charter flight.  It took some doing but after a few trips to some local student unions, I finally found a charter flight that I could afford. After paying for my tickets I was left with one hundred dollars with which to hitch hike from London to Turkey and back.  I mailed half of my money to friends of mine living in Yalova, Turkey to hold for me for my trip back.  The book "Europe on five dollars a day" had been around for about twelve years then so I was fairly certain I could do it for less than half of that.  I never was good at math.  Anyway I plan on boring you with blogs of my trip as I hopefully remember it.  Enjoy the trip!