Istanbul - Monday, Day 1

** Warning** The next 7 days of blog will all be about ISTANBUL! I know this might be too much information for many people who read this blog, but I also use it as a journal and chronicle of trips and adventures. (I hope to turn the whole blog into a book when we move back to the states.) Because this trip to Turkey has been 35 years in the waiting for me, I am going to document like crazy! If it feels like too much for you.... skip ahead or read faster! :)

Flying out and arriving:
The trip started off great! Lenny was such a doll and woke up early to drive me to the airport. For me, there is something special about being dropped off or picked up at the airport. It is a real sign of love.

I am thrilled to say: I am 'city broken in'. I'm not calling myself a city girl yet, but I can now get around a city without worry. Living in London and using public transportation for a few years has served me well! I got off the plane, got some Turkish Liras from the atm(see photo of four banks in a row!). Then I popped into the airport supermarket for a Fanta (and to make change) and jumped on the M1 metro line. With a quick transfer to the T1 tram line, and a little 200 meters walk... I was at the hotel! It was all very smooth and easy.

After dropping my things at the hotel, I went out to grab a bite to eat. When I was young, my poor mom had to pack a suitcase of food for me when we went traveling (I am not exaggerating). I am glad to say that I am a little more adventurous these days. For dinner I had something called a spinach pastry. It was rather straight forward, a filo type bread around a spinach filling. I don't know exactly what spices they used, but it was distinctly new to me. It tasted very Middle Eastern.... but yummy.


Funny things of the day:

1. Did you catch my mention of a supermarket in the Istanbul Airport?!

2. I noticed that my way of communicating is to point at things. As a rule, I will only choose something to eat or drink that I can point at. I pointed at my dinner in the restaurant window and I pointed on the metro map to make sure I was about to catch the correct tram. Here is the funny part... as I point, I usually say something in English like, "This one, please". Both times... the person has responded in perfect English!