We crept out of Torin’s house at 3.30 in the morning and headed for Luton airport. On the plane and we were waiting for some late passengers. Six girls were already on the plane and obviously friends of theirs had a problem. A scuffle followed with the senior air hostess being pushed out of the plane by one of the girls and the language was not good either. So, the Police were called, they were escorted off the plane and all their luggage had to be taken off! This of course meant that we were an hour and a half late taking off. But good for Easyjet having zero tolerance.
When we arrived at Istanbul airport we had booked the 10 euro shuttle to Sultanahmet. The driver was standing waiting for us with a board with our names on. A few other people got on the shuttle bus with us. Well, to say he was a bit of a mad driver was an understatement. He was going up one way streets the wrong way and making all the traffic back up, he nearly knocked an old man over, came face to face with a tram and had to reverse etc etc. Luckily we arrived at the hotel in one piece.
We had a lovely room with independant air con (unusual in a lot of hotels). As soon as we arrived the customer relations girl gave us a map and asked us what we wanted to see whilst we were there and gave us local tips.
Up to the room and unpacked and then went out. It was the first day of Ramadan and we discovered that theatre groups, music and stalls were all prepared for the evening.
We ate in the hotel that evening. One of the reasons we booked this hotel was because we had eaten in their restaurant the last visit and it was good Ottoman food. The hotel lived up to their restaurant. Excellent food as always which we had on the terrace. It was the Erboy Hotel.
[slideshow]