First few days in Besiktas

My first full day starts in Beşiktaş Istanbul this morning with a terrible headache. I am hoping it will go away as the day progresses. I incorporate couple of yoga moves while no one is looking. I cross my legs, reach high with my arms, lock my legs one at a time finally I go to the bathroom and do fetus positions on the floor.

This year,  so gracious of my friend to lend me the first floor of her apartment building. It is a flat waiting to be occupied by their daughter Idil. It is a 1990s cool building.  It has actual keys to lock and unlock the front door which I am learning to use. Mid-size building, across a historically important mosque. It has 7 floors each is occupied by a tenant except this one.

My first day in Besiktaş is progressing slowly.  In the afternoon Aygün offers to walk down to harbor where Besiktaş ferry station is located.  I am not sure I can do it but agree anyway. As soon as I step onto narrow sidewalk of Besiktaş,  I start navigating the streets with renewed energy. My headache is long forgotten. We walk into a coffee shop and I hear my name is being called by a friend. 

I am in Istanbul at last.

"Memleketim, memleketim" I say and walk towards Nilgün  who is Aygün’s sister, excited to see me. She is there with a group of friends. We exchange greetings and immediately go into more intimate questions like who are you and problems we face, etc. We forget the answers and move on to less noisy area of the coffee shop where smoking is not permitted. A cup of tea for each is ordered as we start catching up with each other as if we do not know enough about each other. 

She knows everything about me, I know all about her.

I have not watched TV last 2 days and it is a miracle.

I am convinced that I need a new prescription for my lenses.  Aygün, being in charge of family  problems for many years, has a list of doctors.

The doctor's office is located in an area I have not been to in many years. I have fond memories of the area and looking forward to the experience.

It is a disappointment, not the doctor, but the neighborhood where her office is, I mean.

Üsküdar is noisy and crowded. Roads and sidewalks interfere each other. It is really hard to cross the streets. People are walking arm in arm aimlessly.  It is not easy to maneuver these people.

Aygün points out a sight, right across from a huge shopping mall. It is a contemporary mosque under construction.  How do they get a permit in these areas. It looks ugly.

My shoulders relax as soon as I meet the Prof. Dr. Fatma Ege.  I am in gentle and capable hands.

Istanbul 2015

I am in Dulles airport ready to check in for Turkish Airline flight to Istanbul, I check my ticket and passport over and over all looks good, only problem is line has not moved for the last 10 minutes.
I start feeling tired and fed up standing up and try to concentrate, watching my country men loading their heavy luggage on the airline counters. Some of them require two people to lift about 10". I mean really?

The genteel man behind me becomes restless waiting  and he guesses correctly that I am Turkish. He wants to know if the airline is safe and takes off on time. I am wondering the very same questions but answer right back.

"Of course they are safe and they will take off on time" plus "THY has great service and good food."
I sound so sure and proud of myself instead of carrying the conversation he calls his mother. I could not think of a better time to call a mother. When one absolutely has no other way to pass the time.

We are finally in the aircraft and things start flowing in a timely manner, passengers are tying in their seats belts and crew members are helpful and I am right. We are going take off on time.

Seats are very small. First time in my life I am thankful for being short.

Person before me leans his seat back immediately after we take off. I can not move.

Stewardess on the TV screen gives us the run down how to save our lives in case
of emergency and we land 10 hours later.