Istanbul, Turkey

And now for the main event, as they say.Istanbul, Turkey. I am excited to visit The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, The Golden Mile, The Bazaar, The Western District and everything else this city has to offer. I will meet Mehmet, Erkan's relative at the airport when I land at 7pm tonight. I am staying with his family which will be a nice departure from Hostel living, as good as it has been.

Here are photos from my brief jaunt around the city and photos from Erkan's office as well as the place that I'm staying, above a rug shop down the street.

Previously :
Bus 72, on the way to Nikolae Tesla Airport, I meet an interesting figure. His name is Kerwin McKenzie, an expert travel blogger and concierge. He may be from Chicago but is accent and mannerism seem foriegn, he is very nice and knowledgeable about the city we are leaving. He explains that he is trying to promote travel to Belgrade and describes his surly interactions with the tourism office. I explain a similar experience in which I was certain that someone didn't speak English until I pressed the matter speaking slowly and utilizing gestures. We laugh at the overly-serious disposition of Slavic people. I remind him of the war in 1999. He reminds me that was 13 years ago.