Istanbul...

I am starting to think about this trip now.  Borneo was excellent but that is done.  Time to think about the next one!  Istanbul and the Five Stans. 

I haven't done much around the Stans.  I did meet with a very nice woman named Leslie who is a friend of a friend.  She did four of the five stans, on her own!  She is retirement poster woman.  She travels on her own for half of the year.  And she seems to have been everywhere.  I will make her my friend even if she doesn't want it!  Anyway, we had a nice coffee and a bit of a chat about the Stans.  Weather, hilliness, packing considerations.  Hopefully I can meet up with her again when she is back in town in the summer.

I actually have to do some planning for Istanbul since G Adventures is not involved in this part of my trip. I bought a 10 year old Rick Steves book.  and I sprung for a new (full price!!) top 10 book of Istanbul.  I haven't cracked either one yet.  But I am regretting that now. I need to know about the city because it is time to book my free hotel room!!  

You all remember the most exciting news ever!  When one books a Turkish Air flight and schedules a free layover in Istanbul, Turkish Air provides a FREE HOTEL ROOM!!!  

So, I had a minute today and I thought I would check and see if it is still too early to book the hotel.  It is not.  But they gave me a list of hotel options.  A big list and they are all over the city. Not knowing anything about anything, I have no idea which one to choose.  

Sofitel Istanbul Taksim

Mövenpick Hotel İstanbul Bosphorus

Radisson Blu Hotel, İstanbul Pera

Renaissance Polat Istanbul Hotel

Sheraton Istanbul Levent Hotel

Conrad Istanbul Bosphorus

Radisson Blu Hotel İstanbul Şişli

Istanbul Marriott Hotel Sisli

Le Meridien Istanbul Etiler 

Lokalist, Istanbul, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel & Conference Center

I tried to map the hotels out on Google maps but there is too much info on there to try to make sense of.  I will check my paper map when I get home and see what is where in relation to things I want to see. 

...So, I started this post on April 10.  It is now April 22.  

I looked at the locations of those hotels.  My friend Rob who was the one who told me about this magical scam stayed at one and said it was a good location.  I had a look and saw that Sofitel was very close and $100 more a night! So, money = value/luxury (not but let's go with it) so I am booked for three nights at Sofitel Istanbul Taksim

Now I am occasionally looking at my 10 year old Rick Steve's Istanbul book that I bought for a dollar.  And today I had a quick scan of 'free walking tours' to see what I might want to do.  It is way too early to book anything.  I am just window shopping for now. 

Oh ya!  I almost forgot.  I bought a Cotapaxi backpack when I was planning to go to Colombia.  I bought a 35 litre bag becuase I needed one that would fit on the regional airline routes (with no checked bags).  I love the backpack!  But when I used it for Borneo and had to cram in a winter coat (for Seoul), it was just a wee bit too small.  So, I have been getting my friend Val who hangs out on FB marketplace, to keep an eye out for me.   She found one but it was 'sold' in minutes. 

I guess I said the word Cotapaxi near my phone often enough that it started to give me ads.  Anyway, long story short (hahahaha, never true), I lucked into an 8 hour 80% off sale!  I got my 42 litre backpack for $44 and the day pack for $23.  Or someone has stolen my credit card details which is equally likely.  

Free shipping because I spent so much!!  😁

Ok, that's it for now.