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Published: September 2nd 2008
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Ok, some of you have been asking me about Turkey and why I haven't written about it. Let me apologize profusely... I've been so busy... I don't know how I find the time... Since I'm so very busy doing things like GOING TO THE US OPEN!!! WOOHOO!!! FOR FREE!!!
I do love my passengers. Particularly the ones that give me free stuff. Like a ticket to the US Open.
And I do love me some James Blake although I do NOT love whoever his opponent was that punked out suddenly claiming "injury", thereby shortening the amount of time I was able to lovingly gaze upon Mr. Blake while saying to myself, "WOOHOO!!! I'm at the dam US OPEN!!"
Again, I do offer my sincere apology for not taking the time to post about Turkey. Without further ado, although much to do, I shall begin. Do you know that Turkey is in the Middle East? 'Cause I sure didn't until I had to map out my location for this blog and I kept clicking on Europe and didn't see Turkey. Yeah buddy, I have officially been to the Middle East. (And been to the US Open.)
Istanbul is another
one of those super senior trips that new hires can never get. But God is trying to make sure that I get to go everywhere I can right about now before play time is over and I go back to my former life. Some crazy storm in NY caused the regular Istanbul flight to get cancelled so the next morning they had to scramble to put a crew together. The entire crew was even newer than I, except for the flight leader, and NO ONE spoke Turkish.
When we got to the hotel, all these women were walking around in burqas and I soooo wanted to take a picture with a woman in a burqa. Oh and just to let you know that I was not exaggerating about Milan, I was NOT the shit in Istanbul. The blond chick on our crew was the one getting eyeball molested by the men with the wives in burqas. She is hot though. But I was actually kinda happy to not be the shit. I think that eyeball molestation in the Middle East is not a good feeling. But back to the women. The pilots were trying to tell me that they
don't like taking pictures and Allah forbid if I were to try to take a picture, but I was like, "WHY? It's not like anyone is gonna know who they are!"
When I came downstairs from my room in shorts and I saw all the women in burqas, I got scared. I found a hotel employee that spoke English and asked him if I was OK wearing shorts. He looked at me like I was retarded for asking and told me I was fine. I asked him, "Are you sure? This is not offensive, right?" He kept telling me I was fine so...
Of course while we were out on the town, I took it upon myself to ask a poorer looking man if I could take a picture with his wife. I was afraid to ask the rich looking men in our hotel. They were scary. But true to form, the man told me, "No no. No. No. No no." Well, I had to ask. So because he wouldn't let me take a picture, I've had to take things in my own hands. (See photo.)
Our hotel in Istanbul was so nice! Although when I saw
my usual
Istanbul PD the Four Seasons, I did get a little jealous but we stayed at the Conrad Hilton and it truly was very nice. The gym had a cardio room, a separate weight room, an indoor pool, outdoor pool, whirlpool, sauna, and steamroom. I've decided that I am enjoying traveling but a main reason is because I get to stay in nice hotels when I go overseas. I really don't think I'd enjoy myself as much if I had to stay in crappy hotels (or hostels). Sorry kids, I really am a prissy poo. I think you all knew this already but I have finally come to terms and accepted my inner princess. Validated by the fact that I went in the steamroom TWICE, AND the sauna, AND laid out at the pool (and I worked out too).
We arrived at Istanbul on a Sunday and sadly, most things are closed on Sunday. We were able to visit the bazaar although not the GRAND bazaar because that one was closed. But I was still able to waste a few hours wandering about the various booths of scarves, bracelets, necklaces, pashminas, etc. How about we walked past some cafe or bar and
part of our crew
cause i know someone is gonna ask me about what the blond looks like they were playing MC Hammer Can't Tough This hella loud!
Sorry Ma, I did not visit any mosques. Next time, I promise. After the bazaar, went back to meet the pilots for dinner. We went to I don't know where but the food was GREAT! It was family style and we ordered some mixed grill which was a huge plate of different kinds of grilled meats and vegetables, served with a variety of naan type breads and different relishes and sauces. I could definitely eat Turkish food again, no problem. Afterward we were served baklava and I really don't care for baklava but dam, I guess it's true when people say, "You just haven't had GOOD baklava." The baklava in Turkey is not super sickeningly sweet like it is every time I've ever tasted it. It's just sweet enough and the ?pistachios?? or whatever those were made it sooo good! And now it's so crystal clear to me 'cause I looked up TURKISH baklava versus GREEK baklava and Greeks use honey and any old kind of nuts, mainly walnuts, but Turkish baklava has no honey and uses pistachios and it is YUMMY!
Anyway, that was my trip to
Istanbul and I give it a thumbs up but only if I get to stay in a nice hotel. So far Athens is still my favorite.
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Kia
non-member comment
Did you really?1?
Did you really cut and paste the picture of you and the woman in the burqa....LMAO!!! That is some funny ish!!