Sorry, hit the wrong thingy. I just finished one of the best travel book I have read; The Road to Oxiana by Robert Byron, excellent. written in the 1930's abiut his travels from Tehran to Oxiana. It certainly reminds me how much the world has changed in a very short time. Also finished a mystery Called The Janissary tree by Jason Goodwin. It introduces inspector Yashim in 1830's Istamboul. He is excellent at re creating the atmosphere of time and place. There is now a sequel, which I have not read as yet, it is called The Snake Stone.