Marmar which drains into the Mediteranian and the official dividing line between Europe and Aisa. We arrived after a ten hour flight from LA to London and then another four hour flight to Istanbul on the ever colorful Turkish Airlines. After realizing the hard-way that few people speak English, we had a passerby at the airport confirm our reservations at the Turkish National Police Guest House (yes, deluxe accomidations await! - and yes, that was sarcasm). We then hired a taxi to drive us the hour across town (with no traffic as it was almost midnight) to the Sayirer neighborhood. After getting lost and turning around, our driver dropped us at the right spot and we managed to check in, again speaking no Turkish and our hosts speaking no English. The rooms are quite alright - tidy and comfortable but with definte signs of wear and tear. It has a certain, well, government feel to it, but at $18 a night, we're not complaining. The location, while a ways from the old city, is right on the Bosphorus with a view of barges passing by and the Fatih Sultan bridge spanning the waterway. Can't wait to explore the area!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
To the Edge of a Continent...
Well, I'll have to admit not knowing much about Turkey... so the first thing I did was look at a map. I was suprised to learn that in addition to Greece and Bulgaria, Turkey boarders Syria, Iraq and Iran - quite the Homeland Security no-go list! It also shares boarders with Armenia and Georgia. Istanbul lies on the Bosphorus - the strait connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of 
Marmar which drains into the Mediteranian and the official dividing line between Europe and Aisa. We arrived after a ten hour flight from LA to London and then another four hour flight to Istanbul on the ever colorful Turkish Airlines. After realizing the hard-way that few people speak English, we had a passerby at the airport confirm our reservations at the Turkish National Police Guest House (yes, deluxe accomidations await! - and yes, that was sarcasm). We then hired a taxi to drive us the hour across town (with no traffic as it was almost midnight) to the Sayirer neighborhood. After getting lost and turning around, our driver dropped us at the right spot and we managed to check in, again speaking no Turkish and our hosts speaking no English. The rooms are quite alright - tidy and comfortable but with definte signs of wear and tear. It has a certain, well, government feel to it, but at $18 a night, we're not complaining. The location, while a ways from the old city, is right on the Bosphorus with a view of barges passing by and the Fatih Sultan bridge spanning the waterway. Can't wait to explore the area!
Marmar which drains into the Mediteranian and the official dividing line between Europe and Aisa. We arrived after a ten hour flight from LA to London and then another four hour flight to Istanbul on the ever colorful Turkish Airlines. After realizing the hard-way that few people speak English, we had a passerby at the airport confirm our reservations at the Turkish National Police Guest House (yes, deluxe accomidations await! - and yes, that was sarcasm). We then hired a taxi to drive us the hour across town (with no traffic as it was almost midnight) to the Sayirer neighborhood. After getting lost and turning around, our driver dropped us at the right spot and we managed to check in, again speaking no Turkish and our hosts speaking no English. The rooms are quite alright - tidy and comfortable but with definte signs of wear and tear. It has a certain, well, government feel to it, but at $18 a night, we're not complaining. The location, while a ways from the old city, is right on the Bosphorus with a view of barges passing by and the Fatih Sultan bridge spanning the waterway. Can't wait to explore the area!
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