Thursday, December 27, 2012

Day 2 Africa Mission Trip 2012 (Istanbul, Turkey)

We're here in Istanbul, Turkey!  Another stamp on my U.S. Passport! The very first one was in Manila, Philippines back in December 2010.

Turkish Airlines service is great!  We each have a nice gift while on board.  We even have our very Chef during the flight.  This handsome chef was standing along with the flight attendants bidding us goodbye as we departed the Turkish Airlines.

Chef (didn't get the chance to ask his name)


There goes our baggage

in-line for VISA check




Elisa and the rest of our team waiting inside Istanbul Airport Terminal waiting for our ride to our hotel.

  
A panoramic view of Istanbul airport terminal.


Inside BestWestern Citadel in Istanbul


Waiting for instructions from Pastor Perry


Remnants of Christmas?  I'm guarding the hotel staff who was making copies of our passports.



Panoramic view of the hotel (no elevators!)







1 comment:

  1. After 13-hr flight one has to make a big decision between sleep or eat. I chose half FB video chat w/ my family back in Hawaii then sleep (sort of). I did eat the fruits from the fruit basket in our Istanbul hotel. I ate the banana & the tangerine for dinner. And now pre-breakfast I ate the kiwi, half of the apple & the yummy crunchy pear. Thank God for a safe & fairly smooth flight from LA to Istanbul. One thing I notice immediately is the cultural difference in eye contact. It's just my personal experience and perception so far from the time we boarded thenTurkish Airlines. Some of the male flight attendants avoided eye contact. The same thing happened at Istanbul Airport. As I approached the male clerk at the VISA clearance counter. He took his time to take my passport & avoided or didn't want to make eye contact. Is it because the male is supposed to be superior over female? Whatever it is makes me very uncomfortable.

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