A Short Stop in Istanbul

Well, I’m sitting in Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, more than a full day into travelling, waiting to board a plane for the last leg of my trip to FINALLY arrive in Azerbaijan (by the time I post this, I will have arrived, inşallah).  I was able to get out into Istanbul for a little while during my almost 6 hour layover and let me tell you, it was weird in the most fantastic sort of way.  Having been to Istanbul three times during my Peace Corps service, I didn’t need to try and run around to see all the main tourist sites, but instead settled for just sort of strolling by to appreciate how gorgeous everything is and then getting some delicious Turkish food.  It was exhilarating to be surrounded by Turkish (which is remarkably similar to Azerbaijani) because, since leaving Azerbaijan, I haven’t been in a situation where everyone around me is speaking a different language and I can actually understand (and it gets even more exciting when people are speaking as though I won’t understand and I can surprise them by responding).  I guess it was basically a good little test run for what it’s going to be like getting back to Azerbaijan – and now I’m seriously ready for the real thing!  Bring on Azerbaijan!

Crappy picture of me in front of the Blue Mosque! Just enough to prove I was there!

Sidenote: While I have been writing this, there have been so many members of the airport staff flying around on Segways and various other electric walking-replacing things, it’s weird.  They don’t even have to push people in wheelchairs; the wheelchairs are electric with a place to stand at the back for the staff person!  I can’t decide if it’s really great in its efficiency or just really weird and a bit overkill.