Travel Tips

Today, we devoted to several hours of trains and planes.  Early, Ilkat drove us to the Selcuk train station and we caught the 7:22.  Despite his warnings that we might have to stand, we snagged two seats and relaxed, watching the Turkish landscape whiz by until we reached the Izmir airport. We had tons of time, so we checked in, printed boarding passes and then found a cup of coffee and cheese toast.  And used the WC (This can mean a Turkish toilet - even at an international airport!)
Back in Istanbul, our transport fell into perfect place - the bus was waiting at the airport, there was a taxi at Taksim Square. My life passed before my eyes, as our driver tailgated, at breakneck speed  the 20 k to the hotel  Our Ibis Hotel lacks any of the European charm of our previous  lodging - no death defying spiral staircase, no cold showers and there is even a plug for the sink. But no facecloth.  It is familiar, though, and very comfortable. We can get the BBC on TV and we can see the Bosphorus from our window.
Tomorrow, we are off to Israel!