Known as the gateway to Europe and the birthplace of the vast Ottoman Empire – Turkey has held a very important historical position since centuries. So it was pretty high on my bucket list for travel. The journey to Turkey however was so random and unexpected that I literally landed in Istanbul with tanks on the road. So here goes:
Chapter 2: Bombay – Istanbul
So I arrived all excited at the T2 international terminal of CSA, Bombay at 4 AM in the morning. The flight TK721 was scheduled to depart at 6:20 AM. The check in counter opened and I was 3rd in line. Suddenly after the first check-in all the counters were closed and all of us were asked to wait. All of us were confused and did as told until someone broke the news that there has been a military coup in Turkey! Panic spread out like fire and everybody cornered the poor airline staff.
Then after 30 mins of shouting and crying, check-in was resumed and we were allowed to proceed for security check. Again within 20 mins announcement was made for Istanbul bound passengers to return back to check in. At this point some people started crying some due to fear of missing flights, some due to pure anger and some due to fear of what the passengers are going to do to them. After another hour or so it was announced that the flight service is resumed and we boarded the flight without any notion of what is going to happen next.
Chapter 1: Home – Hacker Paradise
I had for the first time in my life booked an international solo & a digital nomad experience trip with Hacker Paradise(group of one of the amazing people I have ever met). The trip was for 2 weeks in Porto, Portugul in July 2016. Summers are a peak time of the year for Europe but I booked my flights early and got a good deal. It was Turkish Airlines connection from Bombay to Istanbul to Madrid to Porto(BOM – IST – MAD – OPO).
Chapter 3: Istanbul – Madr….oh wait
The flight was great, the food was awesome, the in flight entertainment system was great, from the top Istanbul looked amazing…but as soon as we landed the status of the airport was clear to all. The airplanes were lined up on secondary runway instead of by the terminal. We go picked up in a bus and as soon as I entered the terminal I cursed my decision to board the flight. It was utter chaos, like in real sense. Planes were coming in but not going out. People everywhere waiting for connections, tensed, crying, angry!! There was a curfew due to which airport staff could not come so there was no one to tell anyone what to do.
After hours of standing and trying to think of what to do next, the minimal airport staff got everyone to form a line and I joined it. They were letting people with Schengan visa into the country by issuing a visa on arrival and also arranged for accommodation. I got the visa and got onto the bus to a hotel. On the way there were tanks on the road, people shouting slogans with flags in their hands and I was excited and worried at the same time. Excited to get to a country in my bucket list but worried to get home safe instead of a name in the missing persons list 😀
Chapter 4: Istanbul ground zero
After settling down in the Novotel and having some food and talking to people I realized things got back to normal in Istanbul. I made friends with a German gentleman(who was a black belt :P) and convinced him to go on a city tour with me. He was more than willing and we went to a store to buy things for daily use, since our luggage was still stuck at the airport. The city is great, just walking a couple of blocks you could feel the mix of Eastern Europe and Asia in the cars people drive, in the buildings and the overall vibe.
Mainly Lira is used as currency as opposed the Euro but Euro is easily accepted at bigger stores. We got back to the hotel and the airline staff told us that we would be taken to the airport next morning. Slept off in the comfortable bed hoping it all to be over the next day.
Chapter 5: Istanbul finally
Next morning we boarded the bus and went to the airport to get another shock. The lines were longer, the confusion was at a different level and I thought I am never getting out! Again me and my German friend Mario got into one of the lines. I spotted a quiet airline guy in a corner and to my surprise he had the power to issue me a ticket, before anyone else could spot him me and my friend got there and explained our situation and got new tickets issued for the next day along with an additional night of accommodation.
With tickets sorted we went to the new hotel – Gorrion, a great property I must say. Since we had already spent a day in Turkey and we only had a day, we decided to make the most of it. Me and Marco went to probably the most famous landmark of Turkey – The Hagia Sophia. Must visit!
Next we had the Turkish ice cream famous for the mocking tricks of the vendor and then headed to the riverside cafe beneath the bridge. We had the most amazing apple tea at the cafe and some beers before heading back.
Chapter 6: Istanbul – Porto
Next morning I went back again to the airport and boarded the next flight to Porto. The luggage was automatically going to be transferred the flight so I was good and happy to get moving ahead. Overall it was not a trip I had planned at all but definitely gave me enough time to cross Turkey out from my list for once. Its a great place to visit all year round though. Food is amazing with variety of awesome drinks and mouth watering dessert options. If you are travelling via Istanbul for a transit then Turkish Airlines offers a great layover city tour.
Immerse yourself in an Apple Tea, go visit Turkey…
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