Turkey Travelogue: May 21st

We set off for Turkey with our friends Jeff, Sheila and Livi Burns on Saturday morning.

Things started off with a delayed flight from Raleigh-Durham to New York's JFK.  

After a quick lunch in the international terminal, we went to the security line only to be turned back to the counter for Turkish Airlines, because what we had in our hands weren't actual boarding passes. So we ended up cutting our time a little closer than we planned after having to go through that long line and then security. Typical stuff when you travel overseas. 

The kids enjoyed all the freebies that Turkish Air gave to them - everyone get's these packets with eye covers, socks, lip moisturizer, a travel toothbrush and a little thing of toothpaste. The children on board receive an additional packet with airplane shaped binoculars and a blowup airplane. The best thing about Turkish Air though is the food. The food is cooked on board by a chef who greets you as you enter the airplane and it is yummy! The chicken and rice dish was delicious and came with a teeny shrimp salad, traditional salad, a desert and a hot - yes, HOT! - bread roll. The alternative dish was a Cannoli and it was equally good. Turks are known for their great food and hospitality and their flag carrier airline reflects this tradition.  

The kids took awhile to fall asleep but did end up sleeping the last 4 or so hours of the 9 1/2 hour flight.  Kelly and I on the other hand could not sleep.  Our bodies were telling us it was 2:30 in the morning when we arrived in Istanbul, but local time was 9:30 a.m.

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