Mimi & Jacques’ Bon Voyage

West meets East 🇹🇷 April 19

Our trip from Paris to Istanbul aboard Turkish Airlines went smoothly even given I sat next to a Turkish woman with two kids and her crammed into the two seats next to me. We arrived late afternoon from our 3+ hour flight bused from the plane to the airport.

We chose to land in Sabiha the smaller of its two big airports and on the Asian side since it was closer to our destination, although it was on the Asian side and we had to venture to the European side.

We were picked up in a Mercedes van by Sevket, pronounced Shevket, who my brother in law Steve set up to be our driver for our stay here. He and wife Ozlem had experience with him, which would help us throughout our stay to ease maneuvering this vast metropolis across two continents.

First impressions:

• Part of the city is in Europe and part in Asia. The difference is noticeable. Not as stark as US to Mexico when you cross, but clearly a difference as you traverse the Bosphorus that divides this massive city of 15 million- twice the size of New York.

• English was fairly universal even here.

• It’s spring time and felt just a smidge warmer than Paris with highs around 60.

• The European side felt very, well, European in its architecture and like parts of Paris. Until we ventured away from our Hilton and went to neighborhoods like Balat.

• We cashed in points to stay at the Hilton Bosphorus and the view from Europe of Asia did not disappoint!

  

  That’s a shot of a massive mosque built by President Erdogan the powerful Turkish strongman who is angling for re-election. More on that tomorrow.

• I didn’t plan it purposely this way but we arrived in the waning days of the one month of Muslim Ramadan with a holiday tagged into the end of that, so that will help thin the crowds a bit. Unfortunately, it also means we miss the Grand Bazaar.

Upon arrival we reconnected with Mimi’s brother Steve Ritter and his Turkish American wife Ozlem. It had been since pre-Covid since we had seen them since they moved to Turkey mid-Covid along with their dogs.

After arriving the planning began for our first jaunt out the next day.

The Hilton terrace overlooking Asian Istanbul was a great spot to hang. It was there I realized I was feeling the cumulative effects of lack of sleep and jet lag still. It took a full week, but I was hit with what felt like a cold, stopped up ears in the flight and a massive bout of fatigue. I called it a night and got my first normal night of sleep 8 days into our journey. Our Franco-American friend Celia who navigates east west France to US more then me warned that it takes her a week! Tu a raison, Celia, moi aussi.

Tomorrow, our first full day navigating Turkey 🇹🇷.