Istanbul - Chapter 1

First we will start with the flight. It's a two hour flight from Prague to Istanbul and they serve a FULL meal, even if it's not a mealtime. There are 20 meal options to choose from (which must be done 24 hrs in advance) and they include every dietary and religious restriction you've ever imagined. Vegetarian, vegan, Jewish, Muslim, diabetes, low-sodium, dairy-free, etc. They even have a "special occasion" option for birthdays and anniversaries. The food was FANTASTIC. They served real cheesecake (not the Jello-brand mix) and real butter. The wine was complimentary. These people are maniacs! You would have to be choking in the aisles to get a soda refill in the US. The last time I flew across the US (6 hrs) I got pretzels! And to put you in a festive frame of mind, there is Turkish music playing as you are boarding the plane. I love these people already!

When we arrive, someone was supposed to pick us up, but that didn't go very well-they were two hours late. Then he drove at least 100 mph to the hotel. These people seem to view traffic laws as a suggestion. We checked in, dropped our bags and went to get dinner. We were in a touristy area, so there were lots of restaurants on the main street with guys out front yelling friendly greetings to coax you in to their restaurant. They are relentless, but very friendly. A welcome change from Prague.

The food is SUPREME. Kind of a mixture of middle eastern and mediterranean. Lots of lamb, hummus, yogurt sauce, olives, etc. Turkish coffee is good, but different-sort of like espresso. It is served in a tiny cup with sugar or black (no milk). Also, everyone drinks hot Turkish tea all the time. No activity of any kind begins before everyone enjoys a cup of tea and some conversation. It's a fine way to start any kind of gathering.