Hoşbulduk!

Here's a little post for the English speakers...

Dear Readers,

After leaving home around 4:00 on Wednesday, we had a really uneventful flight, during which we alternately slept and tried to sleep. Maria enjoyed the novelty of playing with the seatback TV/entertainment unit, and was thrilled when we finally got close enough to the ground so she could see Istanbul for the first time. After the customary two hours in visa, passport and customs lines, we found our shuttle fairly easily, and then proceeded to sit in Istanbul traffic for nearly three hours. Even though we spent quite a bit of time literally parked in the street (drivers were out smoking and chatting with each other while waiting), I spent the time enoying the nice views and fresh breeze from the Bosphorous. I was really glad we hadn't tried to take a taxi, since I'm sure their prices would have inflated dramatically while they stood around smoking and chatting in the traffic jam. Our driver was great, and actually managed to find our unmarked apartment on an unmarked, winding and parked-car congested narrow street after dark, in a part of town he had apparently never been to before.

Our apartment is in a nice neighborhood with surprisingly little noise, considering it is only a couple blocks of one of the busiest areas in Istanbul.

When we arrived, our host's father-in-law met us, and spent the remainder of the evening entertaining Maria by playing various musical instruments with her, making us dinner and chatting.

Given that I lost a day traveling, and that usually nothing really remarkable happens between airports, flights and hotels, I'd say we had a pretty good day. Tomorrow I am set to take care of the remaining paperwork, and hopefully Saturday we'll get out to do a bit of sight seeing.

I'm planning on Topkapı Sarayı and surrounds, even though I have seen it before, because it will be easy to find (a huge plus on the first day in a foreign country) and we can just walk around all day without doing too much thinking or wading through crowds.

After all that waiting, I still can't believe I'm finally back in Istanbul again! I really missed it, and felt at home again immediately as soon as we drove out into traffic. I am anxious to explore the neighborhood, walk along the Bosphorous, meet people, improve my Turkish, and learn as much about this area as I can while we're here. I haven't decided yet whether it would be better to take the bus or try to walk to school. Walking is an option, but I might end up back at my 18-yr-old weight if I do, since it is uphill both ways, in the snow. Wait...

And now, I must shove the ZuZu Cat off my bed so I can sleep.

I'll probably post some pictures tomorrow. I'm just too exhausted to do it now.
Thank you all for reading!

This is me, signing off...