And then the last comment posted twice. Delete--and it doesn't just delete it nicely without announcing it to the world. LOL Blogger is a tattle tale. Pbbbtht on it, I say! ;o)
Oh once again you manage to make me jealous! Hope you are having a great time though. When I flew into Cairo once everyone clapped too. I thought it was a once off but apparently it happens in Turkey too. Who would have thought. Have fun!!!
That clapping on landing thing happens in Sicily too - although the pilot had just narrowly missed ditching us in the ocean...No wonder poor hubbie has developed a mild fear of flying!
Yes, there is so much homogenous "culture" these days; I can see why it would be deeply stirring to experience a totally different world. Those glass beads make a colorful prism.
great pic!!! istanbul is def on my short list. thanks for sharing!
October 14, 2009 at 6:43 PM
[Image]
i just landed at my hotel in istanbul. it is late and it was dark and rainy as i came in (hence this picture from 2007), but istanbul is so full of impressions, i had to share a quick list, if only to capture them for myself...
~ turkish airlines is now a member of star(ve) alliance (think SAS, united, lufthansa, singapore airlines, thai), but yet there is a round of applause on landing and people get up immediately to take their stuff out of the overhead bins while the plane is still taxiing the runway and no one says anything.
~ the food was brilliant, even in premium economy on turkish airlines. and i feel a little weird saying that, but it really was good.
~ istanbul is changing and modernizing. i could see that already in the airport, but you can also see it in the shops and cars and the billboards. it gave the sense of an unstoppable force.
~ the visa on entry thing is a money-making scam. but you get a pretty stamp in your passport.
~ it's amazing to be speeding along a big multi-lane highway and it suddenly goes under the arches of a third century roman aqueduct.
~ even in the dark, through pouring rain, all lit up, the ayasofya will take your breath away.
~ the driver apparently thought i looked like i would adore turkish techno, as he had it blaring the whole way from the airport and kept offering to take me to discos.
~ being here, even in the dark and without really seeing anything but my hotel, makes me feel that the world isn't all exactly the same and that seems like a really good thing.
15 Comments
Close this window Jump to comment formSo glad you landed safely. LMAO at your cab driver! He knows a honey, when he sees one.
xoxo ; )
October 13, 2009 at 11:38 PM
friends who've been to istanbul recently were really taken with the city. have a good time!
October 14, 2009 at 12:08 AM
Looking foward to tell us more about this amazing city of Istanbul (originally Constantinoupolis...)!
October 14, 2009 at 12:36 AM
oh for that sense of history - and i love byzantine
have a safe trip
October 14, 2009 at 1:18 AM
i absolutely love istanbul, just tonight i was going through pictures from this january there. enjoy, cant wait to see new photos!
October 14, 2009 at 2:02 AM
Oooh! Oooh! I can hardly wait for pictures! This little teaser is has got me wanting more more more! What a great opportunity--Istanbul. Double Wow.
October 14, 2009 at 2:36 AM
have a great time...much to see and do there..and yes the food is great everywhere down there :)
October 14, 2009 at 2:37 AM
HA! Just noticed my typos. Awhoops. :oP Nighters--it's obviously time to pack it in for the day. Enjoy Nisbalut...er..you know what I mean. ;o)
October 14, 2009 at 2:40 AM
This comment has been removed by the author.
October 14, 2009 at 2:40 AM
And then the last comment posted twice. Delete--and it doesn't just delete it nicely without announcing it to the world. LOL Blogger is a tattle tale. Pbbbtht on it, I say! ;o)
October 14, 2009 at 2:44 AM
Oh once again you manage to make me jealous! Hope you are having a great time though. When I flew into Cairo once everyone clapped too. I thought it was a once off but apparently it happens in Turkey too. Who would have thought. Have fun!!!
October 14, 2009 at 3:28 AM
That clapping on landing thing happens in Sicily too - although the pilot had just narrowly missed ditching us in the ocean...No wonder poor hubbie has developed a mild fear of flying!
October 14, 2009 at 9:57 AM
Yes, there is so much homogenous "culture" these days; I can see why it would be deeply stirring to experience a totally different world. Those glass beads make a colorful prism.
October 14, 2009 at 10:15 AM
Sounds like a very exciting place to visit. ;)
October 14, 2009 at 11:32 AM
great pic!!! istanbul is def on my short list. thanks for sharing!
October 14, 2009 at 6:43 PM