Turkey > Final stroll through the city

The last day has already arrived. I pack my backpack again. After breakfast, we take one last walk through Istanbul. We walk past the neighborhood behind the Blue Mosque heading toward the shore of the Bosporus. On the boulevard, a cycling event is taking place. A few hundred people pass by on their bikes. The police have closed off the intersection. An officer signals that we may cross. We follow the boulevard along the Bosporus. Large boulders protect the shore. From the rocks, fishermen try to catch something. A few dare to go into the water. Today is chillier than the past days. There’s also a strong wind.

Turkey - The boulevard along the Bosporus

I’m glad I brought my jacket. At the point where the Golden Horn flows into the Bosporus, we enter Gülhane Park. This is where we started Thursday evening. Via the Hagia Sophia Mosque, we return to the hotel. We gather our luggage and check out. Just before half past ten, when we walk outside, the taxi pulls up. Using his phone, the driver translates that unfortunately he does not speak English and that the ride to the lunch harbor will take about forty minutes. He also asks where we are coming from today. Traffic is much calmer this morning than on the way here. The driver’s prediction turns out correct. At quarter past eleven, we get out at the airport. We give the driver the remaining lira as a tip. We have no use for it anymore. We arrive well in time for customs and security. Shortly after one o’clock, they begin checking boarding passes and passports. Since we have our boarding passes on our phones, they cannot stamp them. That check must be done when boarding. Soon after, we are allowed on board. Interestingly, the Dutch couple we met on the first evening in the restaurant sits right in front of us on the plane. At half past four, we land back on Dutch soil. Unfortunately, there is a long queue at customs. It takes more than thirty minutes before our passports are checked. Because of this, we just miss the train. The next one leaves at six o’clock.