pinkbirdflies

Flew British Airways to Ataturk International airport in Istanbul, Turkey. Transferred to Hotel Prince which is the joining point for the Peregrine Tour. It was the end of Ramadan so everyone was out celebrating with picnics in the parks near the waterfront cooking shish kebab on tiny barbecues! The city is flanked by the Sea of Marmara which was filled with tanker ships of all description. The city is in a dry, barren landscape but vast and dotted with so many high-rise apartment blocks. The old walled city of course was immediately fascinating with stone streets and interesting shops and restaurants. The Hotel is somewhat above the ‘intrepid tour’ standard so a nice surprise! I met up with friends Joanne and Chris from Port Macquarie and Ros from Kingscliff who knows the girls through TAFE. Out for my first sample of Turkish cuisine…dips, hummus, breads, lamb shish kebab and a mixed meat dish spectacularly heated in front of us in a terracotta urn and ceremoniously opened and served at the table.