September 16.
I had quite a bit of time today before my flight left but I got up late and ate my breakfast late. I also had to waste some time with Turkish Air and Abullah called to say goodbye and check one last time if I really don't want that other carpet I liked. Nope still good. I did my NYT games and packed and puttered. I should have gone out and explored Taksim area a bit but I was tired so I didn't.
I left for the airport very early. Navigated the metro (M2 to M11-airport) like a pro. And checked in for my flight. Sorry to keep harping on about Businss Class, but I'm telling you, it is like a different world on this side. Business class has their own check in area, with so many agents, doing nothing. Seating areas with bottles of water if your walk among the commoners to get here tired and dehydrated you.
And then up to the Business class lounge. It was a bit overwhelming with so many stations with so many chefs making so many foods. I had a cookie and a banana and then never bothered to go and get anything else. I read my book and had a very short little nap. When I checked in, my flight hadn't been assigned a gate yet. I couldn't see the flight board from where I was sitting. I looked at it when I got up for the banana and when I went to the washroom but I had lots of time.
Still lots of time but I got up to look. Bishkek flight - Gate Closed flashing in red letters. My heart sank into my stomach. But fortunately, that lasted less than a minute before I realized the 20:20 flight was departing, my flight was at 22:20. It scared me enough to change my watch to the 24 hour clock!
Soon after, the gate was posted and then that the flight was delayed. But my 'missed flight' scare made me go to the gate anyway. Turns out it wasn't delayed and it was far from the lounge so good thing I have trust issues.
The flight was shorter than I thought. I think less than four hours. No reclining seats for Kyrgyz people. Still good food though. A full, multi course dinner at 1am (or 01:00). That took a while and the seat was not comfy, so I did not get any sleep.
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| appy course (with dessert?) Hey!!! I found the question mark key by not looking for it!! |
We landed without incident. I couldn't tell who was a likely tour candidate with enough confidence to start talking to anyone. Through passport control and out into the throngs of taxi drivers. I am glad I booked that transfer. My driver with his big G Adventures sign. There were five of us being picked up. One single American woman working in Spain, Isela. A middle aged American couple and a young guy we didn't get any info on, he has an accent. But he got out of the van before we got to the official starting hotel. Is he on the tour. (Just so you know, after congratulating myself on my vacation tech skills, I cannot use the question mark or the backslash on this keyboard for some reason. So, no questions. You will have to guess by syntax and context). I'll find out soon enough. We have our 'Welcome Moment' soon.
Anyway, we got to the hotel before 8 am, to discover that check in is at 2 pm and they are full. We are welcome to leave our bags in a closet and use the couches to wait. The four of us crashed. I had another short nap.
More tour people were arriving and being told to check in at 2. I work up and was killing some time. Made it to Queen Bee on NYT Spelling Bee! Isela on the next couch woke up. I googled 'what's close by' and decided I can't spend three more hours on that couch. It had been raining when we drove to the hotel but it has stopped by then. So, Isela decided to come along and we venturd out to find the Monument Park. Which is right beside the University.
We say lots of monuments and university students. And a lovely rose garden. Time to add some pictures I think.
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| The only cat I've seen in Bishkek |
It was still a while until we could check in and it still wasn't raining so we kept going. We found a very awesome gift shop. There were Kyrgyz crafts which were mind blowing, and antiques at the back of the store that would have killed Valerie C. to walk away from. Isela bought a jacket of the softest wool I have ever felt, including vicuna in Peru! I bought a purse with an antique, hand embroidered applique.
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| Val! Old bits of fabric, old books. |
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| My new bag |
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| Me and Isela trying on the softest wool jackets. Isela bought one (neither of the ones shown here) |
We stopped at a coffee shop that was also so cool. And we shared travel stories for two hours. Now I am in my room, post-shower. Using the blog to distract me so I can stick to my rule about not going to bed before 8 pm when I get to a new time zone. Even though I am so tired. My three 20 minute naps over the last 28 hours were just short of enough.
I also can't upload any photos. I might have to do that from the lobby later. For now, I will switch over to my new purse. And switch over to my waterproof shoes cause it is pouring rain again. It is definitley cooler here than Istanbul.
Several hours later.
I went to our meeting to meet all of the tour people and the CEO (guide), The CEO is a woman so that's a nice change. There are 16 people on the tour, only two of them are men. Three Americans, three Canadians, one Brit, one Kiwi, and the rest of them Aussies. Age range is early middle aged to older middle aged. I didn't take any pictures but I'm sure they will show up everntually. Everyone seems very nice.
And then most of us flung outselves out into the rainy night to walk to a traditional Kyrgyz restaurant that seems to specialize in meat and noodles. I suspect we will be eating a lot of meat and noodles. I had beef and noodle soup, I shared beef and noodle dumplings with Isela, and she had horse meat and noodles. When we were going around introducing ourselves, Nazira, the CEO, asked who has allergies, or food requirements. One vegan and one gluten free. Nazira basically said, you two are going to have a hard time. But the home stays etc where meals are provided, make it work.
I am completely spent. I am going to bed. Sorry to the lack of cats.
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