Arriving in Istanbul

 July 28,2014

 We're here! We have the jet lagged feeling of having pulled an all nighter, coupled with, as usual, not much sleep on the plane.

Once in Istanbul, though, this has been one of the easiest countries to enter. Quick, multi-tasking immigration officer, and no one really cared at customs. Our driver found us-- poor guy had been waiting two hours because our flight was so delayed.

Today is Eid, the end of Ramadan. It is a family visiting day and the streets around our hotel are very, very quiet.  After we unpacked (twice because our first room has a heavy smoker next door), we stepped out in our disorientation to find some dinner.

My first hours in another country always make me feel like I am watching a movie instead of living my life. This afternoon was no exception. When everything is unfamiliar, two things happen at once.  The brain finds ridiculous reference points (I keep reading the word Fatih (a municipality in Istanbul)  as "fath," for example.) And, almost nothing gets screened out. We were lucky that today is a holiday and so quiet. There was less to take in since so few people are on the streets.

 We are staying near The Prince's Mosque. We heard the call to prayer when we were at our early dinner. Service continued although they turned off the music and it seemed quieter all around.

Our neighborhood is filled with textile stores-- drapery, clothing and lots of shoe stores. The shoe stores were open even into this evening, for some reason,  but little else.

We probably will not ever get used to the ancient side by side with the new.

Blogger is giving me directions in Turkish-- not very helpful-- and I am hoping this will post in English.