Story of a Trailing Spouse: Istanbul Revisited...

Salaam and Merhaba,

On our return journey home from Tashkent on a 3.00 am Turkish Airlines flight on Thursday, we have to endure yet another long and gruelling wait for the next flight to Tehran...an approximately 15-hour stopover in Istanbul. Fortunately for us, and all Turkish Airlines passengers, on a minimum of 10 hours transit could benefit from a choice of a complimentary hotel accommodation or a guided city tour...courtesy of the airlines' TourIST program. This time around, we opted for the former and had the opportunity to relax and unwind at the beautiful Marriott Courtyard hotel, a mere 10-15 minutes drive from the airport.

After breakfast, shower and freshening-up, we embarked on our second leg of our Istanbul tour, with our ever friendly, chummy and charming Turkish companion, Aybike, always on hand to tell and share with us stories behind the fascinating history of her great city . Beginning with the Topkapi Palace complex, the marvellous Haghia Sophia and the famed Sultanahmet or Blue Mosque. After a sumptuous seafood lunch at Kalamar at Kumkapi, we headed for the highlight of our program of the day...a visit to the Grand bazaar of the city, a 'must' for any discerning visitors and lovers of local tradition and culture...

Driving all the way along the coastal road, we could enjoy the scenic and panaromic view of the Marmara Sea and the Bosphorus waterway, separating the two continents, Europe and Asia. A rather tight program to cover for a day, but a most fulfilling one though. There are numerous other interesting touristic sites on both sides of the divide, perhaps reserved for our next trip, InsyaAllah. Anyhow it was indeed an excursion to remember and we really enjoyed the most out of Istanbul. And above all, the friendship and acquaintance that had developed, especially with our dearest Aybike, we look forward to seeing you again in the future, InsyaAllah...Tesekkurler...

Wassalam.