I’m Back from Istanbul!

And what a wonderful city it is. I had an amazing time. I landed back home a few hours ago and then passed out for a looong time… I had only slept for four out of the past 48 hours… bleh. It’s going to be a few hours or days before I can give a summary of my exploits and adventures, but I promise once I get settled and have some clean laundry I will spill all of the good stuff. I had hoped to post while still there, but unfortunately WordPress is still blocked in Turkey.

I’ll toss out a few teasers for now:

* The professional part of it was challenging, exhausting, frustrating, but overall worthwhile.

* I learned SO much about myself and my views on life (both personal and professional) on this trip… which is good, because I thought I was too old and jaded for that sort of thing. )

* Turkish people… first of all they are some of the most welcoming, friendly, and civil people I have met in this crazy world. I was actually appalled and slightly embarrassed when I got back to JFK airport … seriously… I have been abroad before and have long felt that Americans are not the most pleasant people on the planet, but seriously… I know it’s one airport in one city in a gigantic country, but you’d think Americans would take that into consideration while there and try to be better ambassadors to visitors from other places.

* Turkish people… secondly, they really lucked out in the gene pool department. Just about everyone in Istanbul, young and old, is ridiculously attractive. I have forthcoming photographic evidence.

* Turkish people… thirdly, OVER HALF OF THE POPULATION (60%, I think) IS UNDER THE AGE OF 25. This creates all sorts of interesting social and economic curiosities. I don’t think I saw a single police officer over the age of 30.

* As always, I am in love with European fashion. I had pretty much only brought work clothes with me and a few things to go out in, but WOW did I feel like a frumpy little bumpkin by the time I got out of there. I found myself wanting to shout “hey!!! I have lots of great clothes and pointy-toed shoes and knee-height boots back at home, too!!! I just didn’t bring them!” Needless to say today I actually did my hair and I am wearing stilettos with jeans and a pretty scarf tied smartly around my neck, thankyouverymuch. Some people suffer from jet-lag; I, on the other hand, get acute fashion inferiority compensation.

That’s it for now… pics are currently loading into my computer, and I am about to be taken out to lunch for my first REAL meal since I caught a nasty stomach bug a few days ago.