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I was so looking forward to this trip - after working 31 straight days and having to catch up when I finally returned to work, I need a break!
My flight left Doha at 5:45 am and was a four hour flight to Istanbul. I flew Turkish Airlines, which was great! The flight was not full and they gave me my choice of aisle or window - window! I slept for a couple of hours, after having a delicious breakfast of eggs, peppers and spinach. I woke 40 minutes before we landed and got to see the breathtaking Turkish landscape. And when we flew over Istanbul, it took my breath away. What a beautiful city!
Unfortunately, the airport left much to be desired. What is it with the middle east and buses to unload the planes? Then customs was a pain. There were no clear signs to anywhere - if you are a citizen of certain countries you need a visa. The list of these countries was up against the far wall. So, I waited half an hour in the visa line only to be told cash only - euros, dollars or pounds (apparently this is not true either,
but my guy was a jerk). So I got some euros and fortunately there was no line when I returned. Then I waited an hour in the customs lines. It seems to be a stupid system. I found my bag and went to catch a taxi. The guy spoke no english but we seemed to understand each just fine. We hit traffic at multiple spots and he was unsure how to get to my hotel, so he let me off nearby. I thought I just had to walk a block, but I had to get directions three times and it was almost a kilometer with my backpack. Not too bad, but it was a beautiful, yet hot day!
However, the walk was very nice! It took my right past the Blue Mosque and through our cute, old town neighborhood. Our hotel, The Ferman Hotel, is perfect! The staff are amazing and the room is very nice. The staff set us up so that we got a free escort to the eye doctor/store so Jamie could get contacts, then she took us to a tour center where we got on a tour of the spice market and a cruise of
the Bosphorus. The weather could not have been more perfect either!
When we got off the boat, we went to the Hamdi Restaurant, which had been recommended to both of us. It had amazing views of the city, but the food was only ok. I had lamb kebab and it was actually the best lamb I've ever had! But the appetizers were only ok. Afterward we came back to the hotel, chilled for a few, then went to the rooftop terrace for drinks. My friends, Meredith and Jesse, arrived and met us at our hotel where we got to catch up for the first time in like 7 years. We walked through our neighborhood and eventually found a cute restaurant for them to get a light dinner. Jamie and I wound up splitting a Turkish pide - which is like a pizza shaped like a football (American) and delicious! It was a very cute lounge restaurant and I was up for some sheesha, but the service was really bad. There were some dancers who were going crazy to some Turkish music in the streets right near us, so the whole evening felt authentic.
We turned in early so
we could be well rested for our tour day!!!
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