19 October

Today I slept in – deliberately, sort of, in that I had no urgent pressing engagements and nothing in particular I wanted to visit. I wasn’t down for breakfast until nearly 0730.
Breakfast was fairly quiet until after 0800 when Joan saw my Vegemite and introduced herself. She and her husband, Lou are also on the Cosmos tour and arrived yesterday sometime. I spent a little time answering two emails (I’m glad someone is reading these, as I haven’t received any emails or comments directly from anyone who read my “extraordinary” entry), then met Lynn and Sue, who are also on the same tour. I suppose I won’t find out until 1800 tonight (our orientation meeting) how many are actually on it). We chatted about past touring and what could be good (and not so good, of the optional tours) and then I headed back up.
I got ready for the day, which was shirt weather (so the “vest” went on, to store and carry all the valuables). My room had already been done, so I finished the washing and hung it all up, hoping at least some of it would dry during the day. Then I set out for the day and ran into Sue and Lynn again, catching up with another who had just finished the tour and discussing alternatives (and what to do today).
I walked down to the ferry terminal and followed the example of two German girls who just got a token and set off on the next ferry. At the Eminonu terminal I caught the ferry to Kadikoy and got off there. I walked around to the railway station at Haydarpasa where they just had a Railway conference (NOT Railroad!) This was the terminal for the Asian side and Serkici was the terminal for the European side (the Orient Express used to run to here, but now only does so once a year and on special occasions). From here, in a decorated but small terminal, I caught the ferry to Karskoy, which is just north across the Galata Bridge from the station and the hotel. As there was an ATM right there, in the open, I used that to top up my supply of Turkish currency (and hope I don’t need any more). After that I walked along the waterfront, along the Golden Horn (north side), past the little markets (where I suspect some of the fisherman stop by on the way home) and the people fishing (including some very young ones) and finally along roads up to Taksim. The monument here was blocked off, with a policeman patrolling with a machine pistol (I’ve never seen so many automatic rifles and pistols). I rang Fran and (aunt) Jean here and then had lunch. On my way out I saw riot police out and asked some people there why. According too them (and there may be a problem in translation, today is a national day of some sort or a festival/public celebration and the police are ready for trouble. There are also a few armoured cars with water cannon ready, but not out. I walked back to hotel through alleys and across Galata Bridge, guided by my GPS. Along the way I saw some interesting sights, including ancient wall bits right on the main road (and where the footpath disappears and you have to walk on the road and then back on the footpath when it reappears). I was back to the hotel by 1500 and found … the washing was not dry! Also, for some reason, there was a bottle of water outside my door. I wonder if it is a Cosmos bonus?
I downloaded the photos, processed them and then wrote up most of my blog for the day. After I went down to the lobby and uploaded the photos and blog and checked for mail.
Here I ran into Carol and Christine, from Sydney, who just finished the Greek Cosmos tour and are joining the Turkey tour. Looks like there will be quite a few Australians on it.
I attended the meeting and it looks like it will be … interesting.
It started with a number missing (which presumably he should know about because he has flight details) and a number late. I hope that isn’t a sign for the future, especially after the first tour I was on having everyone being early.
There are complaints about the rooms already. Toilets blocked, air conditioners faulty, rooms too hot, rooms too small, no plugs for basins, smoke in rooms.
It looks like it will be easier for me to ask about Internet at Reception when we book in rather than relying on Aran (our tour director).
There are queries about prices and charges, because different booklets have different methods of paying in them.
I asked about a new luggage tag because the staff broke mine on the last day on the first tour (and I only got given one for three tours). No, there aren’t any – we don’t have them because we are an independent company (how hard is to freight over a number to keep in offices and distribute a few to each tour director).
Some of the other queries got short shrift and already newbies are picked out because of the questions asked. I wonder how I will go with my food allergies?
Morning call is at 0630, breakfast is at 0700 (with bags out then – most annoying as it means I have to carry toothbrush and Vegemite with me all day) and bus entry at 0800. We have to work a seat rotation, so I wonder who I will be with and how we will work out window/aisle seating. It is all a learning experience.
After, I went back to my room and finished this blog entry (so I’ll repost in the morning), checked the washing (still isn’t dry, so I won’t wash clothes tonight), left the laptop to charge and charged a battery for Lynn (she forgot that it won’t charge unless you have the room key tag in, a most annoying feature of some hotels/motels).
Now to get an early night, a good sleep and to approach tomorrow with a positive attitude.

Aside:
It’s interesting to see what priorities people have. One comment made was that people here litter. In that case, there are many more countries further up the misdemeanour list. Although litter may be unsightly and cause an inconvenience, I would put universal safe drinking water, drainage and toilet facilities higher on the priority list. That is the greatest improvement for public health. The second would be to stop spitting and the consequent spread of disease. Then I would have regular and frequent garbage collections and rubbish bins out on the streets – one reason I would say people litter is that there is nowhere to put the litter.
It seems some people have not learned the public health improvements made nearly 150 years ago and which worked are effective. Unfortunately Australia is going backwards in many of them, with partially treated recycled water and the removal of rubbish bins (or amount of rubbish which can be dumped). In other countries with the same philosophy of minimising rubbish collections, people find more creative ways of getting rid of excess rubbish, usually not safely or healthily.
Also, having seen some of the living conditions of people in Istanbul (and knowing they are better than in many other places in Turkey, public housing and health would be better areas to focus on.

Today I also saw many homeless. At the airport, one was pointed out to me. Here, in the city, there are many visible. Knowing that there are also many illegal immigrants here to have a better life, for a lot of people just existing must be difficult day to day. One thing travel has made me realise is that despite all the failings in Australia and the hardships created by governments of all persuasions, people don’t HAVE to starve or be homeless in Australia (though many choose to do so for personal reasons at particular times) as there are both government and other bodies which can and do assist.