Istanbul

Me and my sister S was planning to go travel. I owed her some money, or actually, I owed her some birthday and Christmasgifts that I have not known what to buy her, I have just told her to tell me what she wants, and then I buy it for her. This year I told her my dept is becoming too high. I should buy something. She wanted to travel. I said okay. We started looking at locations. Greece, Italy, Denmark, Germany....the bad thing when someone realises they want to travel just like that is that the prices are high and everything is fully booked. Finally she came up with the idea that we should try Istanbul or she had another alternative as well. Since we have never been in Istanbul I went to the travel agency for help. She checked availability and prices. I got everything, and went home to discuss with S. We decided to take the prices we got. I was supposed to go back the next day, when I realised that my passport is old. So I asked the travel agency to hold the tickets for one more day. I hadn't even booked them so int was no problem, other than the prices had changed a little. Not too much.

I checked with the police, I will get the passport within 2 weeks, No problem! That leaves me a full week before we travel! The night before I will go pay the travel my husband tells me there has been a bombing at the airport. I google it very quick and find out that they have cancelled the flights to Istanbul. I answered that I will check with the travel agency, what they recommend, then I will talk to my sister, and of course, I had to ask the opinion from my husband, but I would do nothing in the middle of the night.

Next day I did everything that. Me and my sister was on the same page. It is dangerous wherever we travel. Nothing will happen to us (I thank God). The travel agency said there are no special recommendations. So we end up actually paying for the trip.

It started feeling like we were actually going somewhere! I started packing, counting the days until my vacation started. Then, like 4 days before our trip it happens. There is an attack against the airport. Shooting and bombing. Again, my husband informs me of what is going on. I follow everything very carefully. Same procedure. Checking with the travel agency, talking with my sister and with my husband. The travel agency says there are no regulations about staying away from Turkey. Me and my sister are thinking that since there was a bombing now, the risk that there should be a new attack within the week we are there are minimal. My husband is also cool. Plus, since there are no regulations from the embassy, we will not get any money back.

Finally the day is there! We get up, my father drives us to the airport, drops us there and we are on our own. Some breakfast at the airport and then just waiting for the boarding to start. First time me and S are travelling alone together. It is going to be fun!

The travel goes smoothly. We have a ride waiting for us when we get to Istanbul. We decided like that since we know nothing about the country. It was very easy. We went out, a guy stands there with a sign with my name. He calls the driver and after some time we are on our way to the hotel. It is exciting!

Our hotel is nice! We unpack some of our stuff and then take some time to see the city. We want to eat something and then go to sleep.

My sister has made sure we have the right kind of money, We still like the small bills better, so we will see if we find someone that will change them to smaller.

Our hotel, on the left. Celal Sultan.

We found a really nice park. But we decided to not stroll too much in that right now, we had food on our minds!

We found a place close. We didn't know yet that they are among the more expensive ones. But they were also very nice, good service and good food! I was recommended an eggplant kebab. It was really nice!

And desert tea on the food :) Really good! After that it was time for us to sleep. We were tired after a whole day of travelling.