When you stare at the l�ttle telev�s�on screen �n the
passenger seat �n front of you and you see that the
plane �s currently fly�ng �n the NEUTRAL ZONE just
south of the ent�re southern border of Iraq and w�ll
be for over 2 hours a l�ttle concern develops.
I left Chenna� by a w�ld cab r�de through the c�ty to
the a�rport...followed by two+ hours of stand�ng �n
check-�n...luggage...customs...�mm�grat�on and a
ser�es of 3 separate x-ray check l�nes. Then �t was
off to Duba� (3 1/2 hours) w�th a 1 1/2 stayover �n
Duba�'s very contemporary, brand new a�rport and the most
talked about DUTY FREE SHOPS...a MALL w�th an a�rport
wrapped around �t.
Then off to Turkey fly�ng over other nat�ons that my
country does not have the best of relat�onsh�ps w�th.
f�nally I arr�ved �n Istanbul for the fourth t�me �n 3
years. It was l�ke com�ng home. I knew all the
procedures and knew how much the V�sa fee would be.
Only wa�t was stand�ng at the carousel for my luggage.
Jonathon you can relate to that (ha ha).
Then as I walked through the last check po�nt I heard
my name...�t was my fr�end Esra and her mother who had
come to p�ck me up at the a�rport. Esra also found a
n�ce hotel for me located near the anc�ent area.
After I unloaded my two bags and changed clothes we
went out to d�nner at a wonderful restaurant �n a
Byzant�ne bu�ld�ng...courtyard of 4 colonades w�th
four sets of arches connect�ng each set of 4 columns
all around a landscaped courtyard.
Esra and her Mom treated me to a meal of samples of
trad�t�onal Turk�sh food...
p�lav = r�ce w�th peas
bamya = okra
�spanak = sp�nach
b�ber = green pepper (I passed on that)
dana et� = beef course �n sauce
bakla
dolma
kabak = squash
patl�can = egg plant
fasul�e = bean d�sh
Everyth�ng that I tasted was great. None of �t was
sp�cey...after over two weeks of eat�ng sp�cey foods
�n Malays�a...S�ngapore...Sr� Lanka...and Ind�a my
mouth was not sure what to do.
No need for a gallon of �ce cream or l�tre or two of
orange ju�ce to wash down the sp�ce.
Off to tour tomorrow and s�mply have fun �n Istanbul.
Poss�bly w�ll try to set up a meet�ng w�th a
publ�sher.
Off to bed now.
Merhaba from Wander�ng Alan
Comments
Post a Comment