After a month of living in the same hotel, eating the same food, food cravings start to emerge. I’m still wishing for fluffy scrambled eggs for breakfast. The meat-eaters are dreaming of steak, hard to come by in Turkey. Someone else is missing carrot cake. So one night, Marc (aka May) spearheads a takeover of the hotel kitchen and dining room (with permission, of course) to whip up a spread more suitable for our Western palettes. And what a magnificent spread it was. For the carnivores, tenderloin steak cooked exactly to order. Mac and cheese for comfort food. Risotto. Broccoli that is not overcooked. Carrot cake and chocolate chip cookies. It was a 5-star dining experience.
While the chefs cooked, dancers danced, and gamers played. It felt like a holiday gathering with family.
It was my last night in Istanbul and I was feeling heavy-hearted knowing that with some of my traveling companions, this would be our last night together.
As we frequently consoled ourselves: we may not have a cruise, but we’ll always have Istanbul.
16 responses to “We’ll Always Have Istanbul”
What a wonderful (yes, some bittersweet) last night in Istanbul. (Wonderful/impressed that the hotel allowed your group to use their kitchen.)
I was impressed that they allowed us to take over the kitchen too!
An incredible experience. It looks like a great group of people.
They were. Are!
Where are you headed? I have enjoyed your blog. Andrea is the one who suggested we follow your blog. Again…curious where You are headed? Good luck, safe travels.
I’m back in the USA for a couple weeks, then heading to Argentina, and a cruise to Antarctica. Glad to hear you are enjoying the blog!
You captured it perfectly.
Thanks Beverly. Watching you dance is always a treat!
The 10 days we had with the Istanbul refugees was brilliant. May it be just a foretaste of what we will have next year when we board the ship. The McKays are definitely signing up for the 2024 cruise. I hope that there will be some familiar faces on board.
Agreed!
Michelle’s face eating that cookie! The only thing missing is not enough Basia.
The choc chip face is precious, isn’t it. Yeah that’s the plight of the photographer, always on the other side of the camera. 🙂
Amazing moments in time!
They are indeed.
What a great event! Your photos make me wish I was there!
I think you would have enjoyed it, Ron.