After a great night sleep, we had coffee with JM in our room before we departed. Our driver from earlier in the week, who was outstanding at getting us around the countryside, came and picked us up for our trip to the airport. It was a quick ride to the airport, and once inside, the lines were even faster. Before we knew it, it was time to say our good byes and keep moving. JM returned to the Hyatt for sleep and one more shower and we were off to Istanbul, Turkey.
As someone once said, “Funny thing happened to me on my way to .....” (you can fill in the blank) We arrived in Istanbul early to change planes. For whatever reason, we spent 45 minutes on the tarmac waiting. We missed our connecting flight to JFK and ended up spending an unscheduled day in Turkey. We learned a lot. First, you can buy your Turkish Visa in the airport for $20 US. Next, when the airlines are preparing to board their flights, there is no counter service to help you out, and this was 60 minutes before departure. So, give yourself time!!!!
A quick call to Hilton Honors and we had a room at the Conrad Istanbul, a VERY nice hotel. Did I say very nice?? The views of the Black Sea were stunning, and the lounges were superb. If you get stuck in Istanbul, I highly recommend this establishment.
At this point Russ had a bit of his father’s luck. He went to the concierge and said, “I have four hours to see Istanbul. What do you recommend?” The concierge arranged a car and driver at a reasonable rate to show us the sites. After mapping out our tour, we left the hotel only to realize our driver spoke no English. So, off we went not knowing what would happen. Now for the amazing part. This driver had a special pass that allowed us to drive all the way up to each site we planned on seeing. From the Archeological museum to the Blue Mosque, we bypassed many tourists on foot, taxis, security, etc and entered each site. Miraculously, when we walked out of each site, he was there, sometimes waiting in the middle of traffic. We saw many sites that afternoon, including the grand bazaar and the spice market. Both are definite “must sees” while in Istanbul.
We have mentioned that you always meet someone from Ohio or one who has been to Columbus. It was no different in Istanbul. While entering the Blue Mosque, a gentleman approached Russ and told him the afternoon prayer was starting in five minutes and the mosque would close to visitors. He guided us to the back where we gained entrance and saw the beautiful interior the blue mosque is known for. When we exited, he was there waiting to take us to his rug shop. We did not have time, but as we talked more, we learned this man had not only been to Ohio, but had been to Columbus, shopped at Easton Town center and eaten at Café Istanbul. He travels to the U.S. about once a year and always stops in Ohio to visit. We exchanged contact information and hope to meet up with him again.
We returned to the hotel exhausted and amazingly thrilled we had the opportunity to see Istanbul. We ended the evening having a quiet dinner overlooking the Black Sea and watching the sunset in Turkey. A beautiful sight and one that brought this wonderful trip to a close as we knew tomorrow we were headed home.
We were so fortunate to make this trip to see JM and the wonderful country in which she is working. Now, when we speak with her and she mentions her friends or places she is located, we know who these friends are or where she may be. Thank you JM for giving us the opportunity to experience this country! We will now end our blogging and turn this back over to JM. We hope you find time to share your experiences with all who follow your blog, if even a few sentences. Take care, Love Dad and Jackie
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