15 October

Despite not having to get up early, I still woke up at the usual time for me (0600). I decided to put the time to good use and packed everything before I prepared for breakfast. And so it was that by 0715 I had repacked my suitcase (and made it lighter, I thought) and the backpack and computer bag. By 0730 I was ready to wander down for breakfast.
Today I decided I should be good, so after toast (with Vegemite, of course) I had vegetables followed by bacon with fritters (or pikelets, if that’s what you call them – small thick pancakes) and that did me in. Despite having a lot of time spare, my stomach had no space left. I am dreading stepping onto the scales when I get home, as I think I will have gained weight, not lost it (which is what I want to happen).
I then took the opportunity to look around the hotel, as it is very large and I wanted to see how to get down to the lobby area where I was to meet my driver. I did that, then went back to my room and made sure I had everything and at 0915 I checked out.
I waited for a little time in the reception lobby, observing humanity pass me bay until I saw (yes, truly) schools heading into the hall (the same concert hall of the truncated Russian Folk Dancing show, of many weeks ago now) for some kind of work on space. At that point I gave up and went down, ready to meet my driver and be on time.
But at 1020, after he was to be there at 1000, I started to become concerned. I rang the number given and got – no such number! So I rang the old number given, asked if they spoke English (and was then put trough to another) and explained that I was waiting for my driver who was now twenty-five minutes late. The answer – I cannot help you! That floored me and I went up to reception and asked them to ring for me. The girl who rang for me was getting the same run-around (by the exasperated look which appeared on her face in a few moments of getting an answer) when suddenly the driver appeared. He apologised for being late (traffic, but that is normal) and we set off for the airport.
Within a few minutes we were in another traffic jam, but I wasn’t too worried as at least I was on my way. Police cars and ambulances rushed by us down the emergency lane, by we didn’t come across any place where there actually was a collision. We turned off the St Petersburg road and onto the airport road straight into another traffic jam which miraculously cleared.
Now I remind you that I did 185 km/hr in my little Renault Clio on a German Autobahn. That was sedate and safe compared to 140 km/hr in a little Hyundai Excel which had a terrible wobble in the rear axle and stil had a system check warning light on the dash which had been there from before I left to go to China.
We made it to the airport by 1145 (for which I think I may well join, or at least patronise, the Orthodox Church, as divine intervention can have been the only thing which saved me) and I unloaded my luggage to enter the airport. Here, the check-in gates were after a security check. At the check-in gate I only had to show my passport, which was as well as I got the copy of the e-ticket after I left home and so couldn’t print it, and put my luggage in. It came up as 23.6 kg, which was a surprise to me as I had used 750 gram of food and posted home souvenirs from Beijing, so it should have been lighter. I will have to post other things home from Turkey to minimise my weight for flying home, as I don’t want to leave Cairo with an excess luggage charge all the way to Australia.
Then it was through to passport control. For some reason (do I look distinguished?) I was sent through the Diplomatic Channel. Still, I was through quickly and then into the boarding gate area. Each gate had its own screening, but because everything had worked efficiently to this point, the boarding gate 11 was still being used for a previous flight.
I had to wait until 1230 before I could go through. Here they have trays for shoes (and plastic bootees to wear while your shoes are off) and other trays for clothes, but didn’t require the laptop to be separate (which everywhere else does). When I went through the detector I didn’t set anything off, but still got patted down.
Then it was waiting in the lounge, but at least I got a seat there. At 1315 (on time according to the sign, but 15 minutes late according to the boarding pass) we boarded and I got my window seat (20F) on a AirBus 310-200.
Now it so happened that the other two seats ended up being occupied by two young Russian ladies – one of whom didn’t bother to use a seat belt nor put her seat upright for takeoff or landing, despite being told twice to do so.
After an uneventful but bumpy flight we landed at Istanbul on time. The first order of business was to buy a visa to enter the country. I can at least commend the Turks for their honesty – the visa is just a way of making money from tourists and they don’t pretend otherwise. So, €15 lighter, I had my visa and went onto passport control where I was through in a very short time (after a bit of waiting, but nothing like at Sydney Airport). Still, my luggage beat me through! I saw it as I headed to the carousel with it zooming away from me. I got it and headed off to go through Customs. Good job I had nothing to declare as the “Goods to Declare” channel was closed!
Out in the passenger exit area, I saw plenty of names – but nothing that referred to me. I was prepared togo with my name, the name of the hotel or the name of the tour company, but after three trips up and down – no luck. I went to Information, where they paged me on the grounds that anyone looking for me would go to the same place. The logic was good, but incorrect – I went back yet again and this time found a young man (Evrim) with a Cosmos-Archer sign, who when I walked to him greeted me by name.
Thenit was outside and a quick phone call and a wait for the car and driver to appear. Once the luggage, me and Evrim all were in the vehicle, we set off – straight into an Istanbul traffic jam! Nevertheless we made it to the hotel in less than an hour. I got told that the tram is the best way for me to return to the airport, as a taxi will cost about 40 Lira compared to 1,40 Lira for the tram. I am thinking that the tram will not suffer the same delays as the traffic will.
I checked into the hotel to find … wireless internet in the lobby only, but FREE! Up to my room, unpack a little and then down to the lobby and check email, send out an email for today and then start uploading pictures.
I heard Australian voices and quickly found out a few things.
There was a Cosmos Leisurely Tour of Turkey which had just come in.
If you wanted Internet access otherwise, there were problems because they were coin-operated but had Turkish keyboards.
I uploaded two sets of photos, sent an email for some Americans (one of whom works in the Boeing factory at Seattle) and posted some blogs. Then I ran out of power, took the laptop up to recharge and went out for a walk. I saw plenty of places to eat – it’s just whether I’m brave enough to try a few - and ended up just getting a can of coke Zero. I’m not sure what prices should be, but I will go out to a museum tomorrow and find my way – and perhaps post some more material home (my musical bear, guidebooks from Russia and China, and some Chinese souvenirs).
I’ve just finished posting all the photos I have processed to date (and already got someone to ask if I would put another in a collection) and found my fickle fans who deserted me have come back in droves (over 200 today). Now it is time, at 2200, to go to bed and see what the morning brings (other than breakfast at 0700 and some astonished looks from other Australians when I produce my Vegemite jar).