Starting our long journey today from Pensacola to Istanbul. Not feeling like I have left things undone on this trip. It was a challenge to pack light yet have the right clothes, shoes and gear for three different trips – variety of weather ranging from 47 to 90 degrees, tours and hikes during day and nice dinners out in big cities and then a week on a sailboat. We each have a small suitcase and a backpack.
We met up with Barb and Les in Atlanta. The flights to Istanbul were uneventful. Got to watch “Monuments Men” on long flight. George and Eleni, the church in Ghent is a big part of film. Passport Control in Istanbul was slow…very disorganized. But we found our driver. Very cool to see your name when you walk out.
Our hotel, the Sirkeci Mansion hotel, is located in the old part of the town – in Sirkeci area close to the big sites. It is a great splurge for us. The photo below is the view from the rooftop of the hotel.
Our first dining experience at the hotel restaurant sets the bar very high. Stuffed dried eggplant and tomato dolmas, hummus with dried turkish pastrami, grilled sea bass… Les took pictures of every dish. We were so full we just ordered desserts to go. Figs stuffed with almonds covered in sauce. A far cry from the dried tasteless figs at home.
We are hoping to get right into our new time zone. We have a busy schedule. Starting with a private guide for two days to see the city of Istanbul.
