10. Istanbul and the trip home to Australia

I love a hotel that has opening windows like this one.  The view over Istanbul is quite  impressive.  Even out the bathroom window from the bed!!  It also had spectacular view out over Istanbul even through the toilet window which I could see from the bed.   The morning started with yoga as my room was quite spacious.  I went down to have breakfast and the selection was extensive, including two types of halva...gotta love that, rah!  My request for scrambled rather than fried eggs seemed to be a little challenging and took a while to come but they were delicious.  It seemed to be a predominantly business (and male) hotel with me being the only female eating by myself for quite some time, there were one or two others in the end.  I returned to my room and got myself together.  There was no point fighting the inevitable.  It was time to go home 

My flight home left at 2pm on Wednesday 27 September.  So here I was, at the end of my extraordinary year!  At checkout,,my breakfast was listed as included in the room rate and confirmed when I questioned it, as I didn’t think it was included.  The hotel had a shuttle to the airport during the day. Unfortunately it stopped at 5pm so I had to get a taxi last night, but at least I could utilise it today.  As always the driver was extremely friendly, helpful and polite.  At the airport the security seemed extensive.  There were men in uniform everywhere (not necessarily a bad thing!)  There was also at least one car being searched on its the way into the airport.  Baggage checks were conducted on entry to airport building, so you can imagine how slow that was, and then again at gate.

Finally through security and checked in with appreciated efficiency.  As always with travel I fill in the time before leaving by walking around, anticipating sitting on a plane for quite some time.  I feel really good to be going home to family and friends but sad to be leaving Turkey.  Even Istanbul felt good to me but there is no denying the magnified stimulus of a city is not so welcome.  I much prefer the quiet life of Gocek.  But there is a definite connection with Turkey.  Back again next year?  Maybe....Who knows where this life will take me.

My flight home was less convoluted than on the way to Turkey.  On Etihad Airlines it was simply Istanbul to Abu Dhabi with a short stop of a couple of hours then on a flight to Melbourne.  The trip was uneventful except on the first leg I sat next to a man from Soldiers Point which is very near Rob from North Arm Cove who I met when sailing with Mark and Di.  I didnt know anyone from that area and now I know two people..not counting my dear friends Kerrie and Leigh in Medowie.  The man, Craig, was great company and the trip went quite fast. He didnt know my friend Rob, but he was a yachty.

On the second leg home I sat next to a nice couple but they had some bad luck with the man tipping a full cup of boiling tea on himself and getting quite a bad burn on his stomach.  He was very non fussed about it but I think it was quite sore and I have to say the staff were not much help.  They did eventually bring some cream.  I did also have trouble getting a cup of tea out of ordinary serving hours.  When I asked I was told they were about to start service of one of the meals but that seemed not to include tea as it turned out.  I think all up I waited about 6 hours for a cup of tea!!  I have to add to this that the crew on the first leg (on the same airline) were brilliant and couldnt do enough to help you out. But if I had to choose between Etihad and Qatar, I would pick Qatar!

9. Last days in Turkey

Monday (26 September) was my last full day in Gocek and I didnt want to leave.  The one thing I hadnt done by this stage was take a trip across to the Upper Deck Beach Club at Club Marina on what Steve and I had nicknamed the beetle ferry.  It first appeared as a very speedy red and green light on the water as it went backwards and forwards from the marina the night we were sitting by the pool "chatting" all night.   Then 
in the light of day it looked like a little beetle, hence the name.  Yasin told me it was actually called Cay Kupasi which means tea cup in Turkish, almost as cute as the beetle ferry!!  The walk from the wharf to the beach club was very pretty.  When I arrived at Upper Deck I was the only one there as it was quite late in the day.  This was good as I didnt have to pay the entry fee!!  I say on one of the pink seats (they were all pink) and had a mojito which was enormous.  I was joined by Ramizan, the manager and we had a nice chat about his life between Gocek and Istanbul, which seemed to be the way for several locals I had chatted with.

Another thing I wanted to do was eat at Lotis,  so I headed straight there when I arrived back from the Marina, as I needed something to soak up the mojito!!  Lotis had been recommended by the owners of the apartment I was staying in, Ethem and Liberty. There was a very entertaining spruker trying to get people in to eat or just talking with those of us eating early!  It was a beautiful meal and I had some nice wine as well but that mojito without food had really got me, and I was quite intoxicated!  No Yasin tonight, as he didn’t call until 11pm and to me thats just a booty call....no deal...eek :)!

After a good sleep Im got up and laid by the pool to soak up that view (and the sun), trying to etch it permanently on my memory.  I decide to go to Can Restaurant, another recommendation of the owners, for lunch and as I was passing Dice, Yasin was arriving at work.  I told him where I was going and he said he would try and join me.  He was only able to do so for a short time and so I agreed to call in to Dice Cafe on my way back to the apartment.  I headed off to organise my taxi and buy some last minute things, like new thongs, just the same as the last pair I had bought when we were there in September 2010. 

I have my last glass of wine and a serve of sarma at Dice Cafe.  Yasin came to the apartment to say goodbye which I thought was very sweet.  He also gave me all his contact details which I wasnt expecting.  Way too soon Im in the taxi, after saying goodbye to Yasin and Necati (the caretaker) and his family.  

I had decided to spend the night in Istanbul to have a restful night before the long flight home.  The flight to Istanbul went to plan and without incident.  There was a beautiful little boy in front of me peeking over the seat, he was only  about 2 or 3 years old and made me smile with his antics!

 

I had a window seat which allowed me to view the spectacular beautiful orange blue sky.  The colours reminded me of Uluru.  My hotel, the Titanic Port Hotel in Bakirkoy, which was just near the airport, was quite impressive except key didn't work.  When I went back to reception to tell them and get the feeling that they think Im a bit useless...:)!  After settling into my room I then find I cant actually turn one of the lights off.  Reluctant to further sully my reputation I decided that I could sleep with the light on!  Alas, I couldnt get to sleep so hesitantly I called reception.  I could hear the condescenscion in his voice.  I was relieved when he arrived that he couldn’t turn it off either, rah...:)!  They had to get the maintenance man to come and have a look.  He also confirmed it wasnt working but sensibly suggested he take the bulb out and fix it tomorrow, which suited me as it was now almost midnight!