Travel Days - Part 1

We arrived at IAH on Saturday, June 4 three hours before our flight. We really weren't sure how long the TSA lines would take, but as it turns out, the check in counter took longer than the TSA line. We had plenty of time to grab dinner, so we went in search of our best option. For those who don't know, there is a Pappadeaux in Terminal C, and our last American meal was excellent!

Turkish Airlines - We have flown Turkish Airlines the last three times we’ve been to Europe. It is significantly cheaper than the other carriers when flying to Europe and has an updated fleet and great service.
The main difference with Turkish Airlines is that there is not a direct flight to your destination - every flight goes to Istanbul first and then connects you to your city of choice. Some people see this as a negative, but we think it is an absolute advantage. First, you can spend the night in Istanbul to rest and reset your internal clock. Second, Istanbul is my favorite city I've ever visited. Turkish Airlines makes it very easy to extend a layover in Istanbul by a day or two before continuing with your travel plans. Also, the airline offers FREE city tours to those who have layovers longer than two hours.

Istanbul, Turkey - There are so many things to see and do in Istanbul. On our last trip in 2014, we visited the Hagia Sofia, the Blue Mosque, and the Topkapii Palace. We stayed in the Sultanahmet area, and all of these sites were in walking distance. We also experienced an authentic Turkish bath at Cemberlitas which has been in operation for hundreds of years.
This time, we will spend the night in Istanbul at the front and back ends of our trip. For the front end, our main goal was to get our clocks turned around. Therefore we opted for a hotel near the airport. We stayed at the Ramada Encore and had a two story, two bedroom, two bath suite. The Ramada offered free shuttle service to and from the airport. We had dinner at their restaurant Cuisine of The Black Sea. This was quite an adventure as none of the waiters spoke English. They walked us to a counter where a chef lifted lids in huge copper pots to show us what was available that evening. We pointed to some dishes and hoped for the best. It turned out to be an excellent meal comprised of a squash (we think) soup, stuffed grape leaves served with yogurt, beef tips, and a rice dish with tomato paste. It was absolutely delicious and set us back a grand total of 72 Turkish Lira (about $25) for the three of us.


The next morning (June 6), we enjoyed a lovely Turkish breakfast spread which was included in the cost of the room. They offered various cheeses with cucumber slices, grape tomatoes, and olives. There was a yogurt bar with various dates, granola, and fresh honey straight from a giant honeycomb. They offered a wide range of breads with various spreads and also eggs, potatoes, and “sausage” which turned out to be cut up hotdogs. (This was the only negative of the meal.) Turkish coffee and tea are STRONG, so consumer beware. I cut mine with a lot of milk and sugar.