One Man's Tale of Travel
One Man's Tale of Travel by Robert Hunter
When we landed in Istanbul, we arrived at the airport and sat down around gate A. It seemed like a “small” airport, so we relaxed until the airplane gate screen (terminal?) showed us the arrival time for our plane and what gate to go to. Apparently, the information was not up yet. It gave us a 1 hour waiting period, so it was time to get some drinks and food. Now, the first time using a bathroom in Istanbul was my first of many experiences of “culture shock”. (Why does it always have to be the bathrooms?) The first stall I opened was just a hole in the ground, an accommodation for European men called the “squatter”. (Fair warning, I if I write the blogs, things might get lost in my brain and/or translation). NOW! Sleep deprived me thought it wasn’t the time to try anything new. Luckily, the rest of the stalls had toilets in them. So, I do my business, and trying to figure out how to flush, I stand up. Proud and determined that I, for the first time, was on an airplane and had boots on the ground in Turkey. I look at a knob to the left, turn it, and to my sudden surprise, my heart dropped 100 ft. A stream of water strikes my legs and soaked my jeans as I encounter my first-ever bidet. As I get back, laughing at my sleep-deprived mistakes and humbling beginnings, I join the group waiting for the gate call. After an hour, a number pops up. The gate says E4 and from what the signs were pointing to, E4 is on the other side of this very small airport…. One thing you must know about me is that I have never flown before, and I am not an expert in airports. My ignorance to this gave me what I call “humbling awareness”, and this next story will explain. As we see a sign that the gate D-E is to the right, my jaw dropped. At first, I saw 5 huge shops. Then, my sleepy Lighting Mcqueen racing mind looked up jokingly and said to my inner sanctum of what I call Robert’s brain, “Oh, there can’t be more than this.” Because my sleep-deprived brain is determined this a “small airport” and saw a walking sign that said gate E 15 mins….. I have only encountered this while driving when there is a delay because of traffic. If I tell you it was an underground Vegas strip, that would be an understatement. Why? It was a mini city. No, it was airport? Planet? I am pretty sure it had its own eco system? (Well, I have never been to Vegas) So many things to think about while you are walking in an airport that you thought was small. It happened to be one of the biggest 5-star airports in the world. There was an upstairs and there were shops and vaulted ceilings at heights of 50ft or more. As we get to our gate, sweaty from sitting 11 hours and then walking a mile in the airport’s shoes, it was time for the next plane to Bosnia, only 2 hours!, This plane was smaller, not as fancy, but 100 percent more bumpy, (which was more fun). I did get a window seat because a lady switched my seats. She had a son flying, which was good so that I could sit by my wife. AND the window! FACT: Smaller planes are more fun. NOT A FACT: The landing on this one comparatively to the last, was a crash landing. As we got closer to the ground, it suddenly ran to embrace the concrete like a family member returning from a long trip. No worries, the plane, and landing strip hugged it out and my feet touched the ground. I took my first breath of Bosnian air on the airport strip, day 1 completed!
