Istanbul

Whew! I made it to Istanbul!

My flights were ok. The Austrian Airlines flight to Vienna was packed. Did you know that Austrian Airline flight attendants have to wear the ugliest red shoes and get this - red pantyhose!! The guy sitting beside me didn't really like flying, I think...he kept sniffling and trying to curl up into the window. Oh and he used wet wipes to wipe his face and arms constantly throughout the flight. The plane finally arrived in Vienna, where it was like 100 degrees in the airport. They were actually handing out free drinks and if you showed your boarding pass at restaurants you could get drinks. I got to sit there for 4 hours. It was sweltering.

The flight from Vienna to Istanbul was my least favourite. This grandfather started arguing with me in Turkish that I should sit in his seat and give him mine so he could sit with his wife, daughter and granddaughter. Now, I'm all for being nice but I did not want his window seat where I'd have to climb over 2 other people to get to the washroom. I politely said no, and they gave me the evil eye for the rest of the trip. Oh and the flight was delayed so we sat on the plane for an extra 45 minutes.

My arrival in Turkey was pretty smooth. I found the guy holding the sign with my name on it and after getting through visa and passport control, I was in my own private van to the hotel.

This morning I got up and headed for the old city area. I walked to the Blue Mosque and got in the huge line to enter. I quietly joined a French tour and budded in front of about 100 people. I've never been inside a mosque before but was kind of surprised to see that besides the ornate ceiling, there was little else inside. On a different note: It amazes me how people don't think about where they are going. Women must have their legs and arms covered to enter a mosque (you should really even cover your head). Women showed up wearing next to nothing and were surprised to be handed big shawls to wrap themselves in. Ahhh...memories of the Vatican and paper pants....

I walked by Hagia Sofia, another mosque across the street from the Blue Mosque, but didn't feel the need to go inside. Next I walked over to the Basilica Cistern. This amazing underground cistern was built in the 6th century but wasn't rediscovered until the 80's. I walked along bridges, and between columns that came out of the water up to the ceiling. It was wonderful. Bumped into a group of about 100 Turkish boyscouts and a Japanese tour (sugoi!).

I was feeling a little tired at that point so I returned to the hotel for a little siesta. I met some people from my tour (there appears to already be a bit of drama between some who were on the previous tour!), found a very basic grocery store and bought some internet time. The group meets at 6:30 tonight.

P.S. Met the group. Leader and trainee seem cool. There are four Canadians and I know I am not the annoying one (but she is a teacher...what can I say). Two others are 18 year old girls from Edmonton. One doesn't have a Syrian visa...oops...that border crossing will be interesting. I went out for dinner with the leader, leader in training and an Aussie girl. All seem really cool. Tomorrow we leave at 6:30am to catch a bus so I'm headed to bed! G'night all.