This trip came about by accident in the sense that the original plan was to visit Nepal. Naturally no sooner than I booked it, the area was struck by a devastating earthquake.
So here I am, safely arrived without incident to Istanbul via Terminal 5 Heathrow, which now has a new lounge open to holders of Priority Pass cards.
My plan was to stay overnight close to the airport in Istanbul and join my group Saturday.
My first inkling that this plan was not quite as I envisaged was when the taxi took not the expected five minutes to get to the hotel, but about 25 minutes at speed. Either he was going in circles to increase the price, or he was kidnapping me...
But no, this was the Ramada Encore, Bayrampasa district - as my voucher said. And I have a room on the 9th floor, overlooking the busy motorway and the sea in the distance.
This is an excellent example of why we should check carefully the vouchers for pre-booked accommodation etc. I didn't do it thoroughly enough evidently. Bad, bad Trailfinders. They booked a Ramada Encore about as far from the Airport as possible and still be in Istanbul.
So I am in a rather industrial district by a busy multi lane road. Lucky I'm deaf in one ear!
So rather than wandering around in the dusk/dark in this area which I think may not be the best idea, I'm using the time to set up this blog, have what I hope is a good night's sleep (didn't sleep much last night, and up very early to leave for airport), and use the wifi.
No harm done, but a lesson learned.
Even though I've only driven from airport to this hotel, the atmosphere is most definitely Istanbul, a country with quite different customs. The airport has been upgraded and since there is no purchase of visas, as they are now bought online in advance, it's much easier and less stressful to get through customs and passport control. The weather is fine and warm, there was an air of slight chaos at the airport taxi/minibus area with a lot of men shouting, smoking and standing about. A few women are wearing headscarves, but not so many. I don't think I need to worry about respectful dress except around religious sites, although the countryside may be more conservative.
The smells here are different too - the wafting tantalising scent of grilling meats and breads, the odour of many people packed together in a big city, and just now at twilight, the sound of the meuzzin calling the faithful to prayer. Many minarets in all directions....
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