SQWEE SQWEE SSQQ-SSSSSSSSQQQQQQQQWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

Vacation!

I’ve taken time off, off course … a week here, a week there, a random long weekend. Traveling with one friend across the country to visit another (and collect Arnold Palmer’s autograph, and Disney World with my bestest bosom friend and her family definitely count as vacation. Sitting on the tractor going around, and around, and around, and around the field (haying season) does not.

This particular trip–dubbed Trains, Planes, & Automobiles–is only the second grown-up, two-week holiday I’ve managed in the past {cough} twelve years {cough} To say I’ve been looking forward to it would be understating things just {pinching fingers together} a little bit.

Our trip started at dark:thirty, leaving the house early enough to drive to the airport, check baggage, and clear security. We have three legs to part on of this adventure: drive to the airport, PDX to JFK, JFK to IST. (PS–the Portland airport is not very busy at 430 am.)

I’m traveling with a friend who I’ve already come to know in a better way since this adventure began. Alright, so technically this was her trip and I just invited myself along. She and the other two we’re meeting in Istanbul were kind enough to let me.

Our seat choice for the second leg of the flight from JFK to IST was superb. When we booked them, we were a little unsure if we would appreciate them…directly behind the first bulkhead. Luscious leg room. Luscious. 

Tario, a keyboardist with the pop band Akon for the past few years (Justin Beiber before that), was our seat mate this leg. An easy-going, good-natured guy with a warm & ready smile … and a stellar stash of chocolate … Tario and Sandy bonded over anecdotes about a neighborhood they both know just outside Atlanta. It seems home prices in even the more affluent neighborhoods have continued to trend downwards, in some cases as much as 60-70%. Akon is playing in Istanbul 8/30 & 8/31 in the Festival of Velvet Villains with 50 Cent and Inna, among others. Who knows, a concert may end up on the itinerary…

Is there enough time to see.all.the.things?!?
…

We landed in Istanbul a little early; successfully navigated customs (picked up my 4th passport stamp), baggage pickup, the ATM for Turkish Lira, the taxi (our driver spoke very little English), and finding the apartment.

Aubrie and Robin had already been in Istanbul a few weeks and had previously sent directions, things to look for, etc. Aubrie sent a detailed explanation of how to negotiate price with the taxi driver, how to not panic when he stopped to ask directions from people on the street, and my *favorite* part of the directions, 

“Once you arrive at the apartment, 102 is clearly on the door, you want to press the second buzzer button. Or you can just yell from the street.”

Which is precisely what we did. Yell from the street. Sandy and I stood on Uzunhafiz street in the Kadiköy neighborhood in Istanbul, Turkey, and yelled for Aubrie.

…

After a little power nap to acclimate to the time zone (10 hrs ahead difference) and a shower to feel human again, the four of us struck off for the falafel shop just around the corner for a snack. Oh, wow. No clue what was in it. But wow, good. Aubrie walked us down to the bakery they’ve been going to and we picked up a few treats. 

I tagged along with Robin down to the water front for a photo op. There was a bit of cloud cover and Robin wanted to get a few photos while the lighting was good. The clouds and wind were putting on quite a show. Those pictures are still on my camera.

After another little cat nap for Sandy and I, all of us struck off for dinner. Waiting for a table at their favorite restaurant, we had time for a cup of tea. Dinner was buffet style (Libby, does this look familiar?!?) After dinner, as we were sitting talking, soaking up the atmosphere, Robin noticed a familiar sound. There is a young girl, who, with nothing but a drum, wanders the “restaurant alleys” playing and sometimes singing. For tips. The drumming has a good beat, but it is loud. I noticed she was roaming barefoot. I’m not sure if that has any significance, though.

Two doors from the falafel place is the pastry shop Aubrie and Robin have frequenting. Two words: baklava and ice cream. OK, three. Helva. 

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We spent some time deciding the itinerary for the remainder of our time in Istanbul. Bedtime. My body has no clue which end is up. But the sounds of the street activity are lulling me.
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2 am local time
The smells wafting in through the open window all.night.long are comforting and maddening at the same time. Fresh bread of who-knows-how-many-different-varieties, cinnamon, vanilla, an unidentifiable pastry or ten. It reminds me of my grandma’s kitchen. And my belly that breakfast is several hours off.
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We’re in Istanbul. SQWEE!