Day One

Day one, we arrived in Istanbul without any problems. The flight was good (we got two hot meals and a snack served on reusable plastic and even glass dishes) we watched some tv episodes and movies, and played some games to pass the time. We both were able to sleep enough to not feel exhausted when we got off the plane. We found our way from the the airport into Istanbul's historic district with relative ease. We had a vague recollection of the process from last time; out of the airport into the heat of the day, down into the desolate passage to the metro, then the twenty five min ride on an increasingly crowded train, up out into the hot sunlight onto crowded and crumbling streets to maneuver the transfer to the light rail which would take us the rest of the way. As we get off the train we are immediately reminded that we have entered the main tourist area and are prime targets for the summons of ALL shop, hotel, vendor and tour sales people. We drag our luggage through the maze of cobblestone streets and find a place to stay for the first four nights. We barter with the owner for a price that is lower than he want's and higher than we want, foregoing the breakfast in order to get a somewhat reasonable price. After trudging the streets it feels good to be able to drop our bags and lie in a bed.

After a rest we went out to look for food as we were walking back to our room, we stopped to talk with an earring salesman - we must have been guided to him by fate. Over the next few days we would find that he feels like an old friend in a new city.