Heading Home

Today is the very last day of our holiday

We fly back to Istanbul tonight

Then on to Dublin after an eight hour stopover 

Then arriving home tomorrow afternoon

And you know what?

I am ready to go home

And have been for a few days

I was chatting with my mother last night

And she said that she didn't think I enjoyed the holiday

I didn't know what to say 

As I have and I haven't 

I have to admit

This would not have been my first choice of holiday

In fact

I don't even know what sort of holiday I would like

As I've always just gone along with others holidays 

I've never organised a holiday myself

I know I like the sun 

Not too hot

But warmer than my own countries climate

Enough to get a tan

I know I like to read when I'm away

I like to eat nice food 

I like to go on tours

I like to go shopping

I like to talk to people

Where?

I'd love to travel more around the U.S.

I'd love to go to Rhodes

Japan 

Asia 

So we have agreed that the next holiday that we go on

I will organise 

I just can't wait to get home 

To see Honey and Lea

To have a decent cup of tea

Have some home cooked food

Sleep in my own bed 

I think one of the best things about going away 

Is coming home

Back to our creature comforts

I'm definitely more of a home bird I think

I like routine 

Having said all that 

I did love Istanbul

The people are amazing 

Most of whom are so friendly and hospitable 

Of course 

Like any group of people 

There are a small minority that try to scam you you and hoodwink you

But you get that anywhere in the world

I loved hearing to the call to prayer every day

Seeing other cultures

Talking to the local people 

Having the 'craic' as we say at home

The people really made the holiday for me

The man who gave me a live fish to throw back in to the river

The man in the Grand bizarre who randomly said to me

'Experience comes after the first mistake' 

The young guy in our hotel who loved to practise his English on us

The many waiters we met who always had a joke and a laugh with us

Watching the Muslim women dressed from head to toe in black

So all you could see was there eyes

Which were always so beautiful 

Carrying their designer handbags

I read that these women can take off their garb when the are with other women 

Or with their husband

And the women are pretty competitive when it comes to what they wear under their layers of black

And of course

You can't miss the obvious poverty here

The families 

And children on the street

In rags 

Literally nothing to their name

It can be very upsetting 

Am just heading out now

For one last look around the town

I really hope you got just a little taste of Turkey from these posts

See you when I'm back on home turf....