I left from Bordeaux train station at 9:30am, almost missing the train to Toulouse. I was there with plenty of time, but the only train to Toulouse didn't leave until 9:47am. My train ticket, which I'd purchased online, left at 9:31am. I sat in the station thinking my train had just been moved back a it, until I used my brain and at 9:27am, realised that other trains go to Toulouse, that's just not their final destination. Low and behold, there was a train to Marseille leaving at 9:31am, which stopped at Toulouse. I made it easily, but the train was delayed by 10 minutes anyway.
Leaving
Snapping pics on the way
The train trip was beautiful. Travelling through the countryside, the Tour de France does the country justice! I arrived in Toulouse at 12, and caught the bus to the airport for a 2:30pm flight. Airports used to make me super anxious. I always get there extra early because I know I'm just going to get lost. But today, I was flawless haha. I'm getting really good at it! No more airport anxiety.
Turkish airlines was amazing! Super professional and super cool. I had my own screen on the back of my chair again which was cool.
I arrived at Ataturk airport at 7pm, and navigated my way to buy a visa from customs. Australians, and many other nationalities, going to Turkey need to have a visa to travel in the country. You can just buy them at the airport before you go through customs. My visa enables me to travel in Turkey for 90 days with multiple entries, and it cost 45 euros. Once I'd passed through the first check point, I exited the airport and was hit by so many people with airport transfer signs. I eventually found mine and caught it to the hotel in the middle of Istanbul.
The city is incredibly cool. By the time I got to my hotel, around 8:30pm, it was dark. But while we were waiting in traffic, I saw the police walking down the street one way and a street seller just picked up everything he was selling and started to run the other way. He must have left some stuff because he turned back to pick it all up and a younger kid had stolen some of it. They had a bit of a confrontation, but the older street seller was more set on avoiding the police, so he just let it go.
When I actually got to the hotel, I was led up to the top level and then up again onto the roof. I was so confused and a little worried. But then the guy opened a door on the side of the roof building and it was my room. On the roof! Haha so when I wake up, I'll have a great view. The room is nice though, a double bed, couch and tv. Woohoo.
I've just bunkered down and am reading/watching tv. a massive loud voice through a speaker has started playing what sounds like a prayer in arabic. I don't know why it's so loud lol but it's hammered home the thought that this is the first time I've visited a non-European country since coming here in January. Day one down.
Flying over the Swiss Alps
Arriving in Turkey
Rooming on the roof for the night
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