Back to the apartment for the cleaning
and tidying before leaving tomorrow morning. Doing this reminded me why I have
a cleaning lady - vacuuming, mopping kitchen and bathroom, clean shower screen,
wash linen Yada Yada Yada. Well my ulterior motive apart from my natural OCD I
want to ensure that I am welcome back to chez Erichsen.
Around 16:30 I tube it to Oxford Street have a potter around and turn up at Kieran and Lynn's flat (a lovely modern one bedroom apartment) at Marble Arch where we have a chat and move on to a Kurdish (think Lebanese) restaurant. This area, the beginning of Edgeware Road, formerly very Jewish and now VERY 'Arabic' with more than 50% of woman wearing Burkas and most or the restaurants, banks and businesses being Middle Eastern. Kieran and Lynn like this one because the food is VERY reasonable and excellent (which it certainly was) and also they serve alcohol - apparently not many restaurants in the area do.
As I said the food was excellent, dips and mixed grill all superbly cooked. While we were there a group of Burka clad women arrived asking for a provide room with no men and no alcohol and were told not possible but I got the impression that the owner just wasn't interested in accommodating them.
Back to the apartment, more linen washing and off to sleep. Awake at 06:00 final get ready and minicab to airport. Interesting driver from Ethiopia who was happy to chat telling me about life in Ethiopia and his move to London.
So reflections about London. Previously London has not been a favourite destination for me. However for some reason after this trip I am wanting to go back some time soon. Not sure exactly why but I think living in an apartment being forced to learn how the underground works (not that I have ever been challenged by it) and just not doing anything in particular made it very appealing.
Very easy check-in until stupid here forgot to take out the liquids which were in a clear ziplock bag resulting in a full and complete emptying of all my possessions and a loss of fifteen minutes of my life that I'll never get back again - getting old and forgetful ain't much fun!
A few minutes in the lounge and boarded the Turkish Airlines 777 which turns out to be a beautiful plane with great seating and surrounds and food and service to match. Not surprised they have won European airlines of the year for the last two years.
Arrive in Istanbul with no sign of the pickup until 45 minutes out of customs. The reason turns out that they had me down as arriving tomorrow which was partially my fault as I thought of spending the night in an Istanbul hotel but decided against it, hence the confusion. I hang around the airport for a total of two hours until the next flight they are meeting arrives and we travel the one hour to the University in beautifully appointed minivan.
Get the key to my room and spend 15 minutes trying to find it only to find that it was in the building immediately next to the office where I got my key - GRRR!
My room is University style accommodation or think hospital room and not St Vincent's Private. Single (maybe even smaller) bed, small fridge, desk, cupboard and bathroom - oh and a fan to help with the hot humid weather. Not great but certainly functional and bearable especially a TV which has CNN and maybe 10 other English channels and lots of sport.
I sleep pretty well, about 7 hours and go to the communal breakfast room. I take an omelette, some melon and a piece of cheese hand in my voucher to the check-out and they say Extra Extra Extra pointing at each of my items. I sort of refuse to pay and they let me pass and am glad to report that the next day it was all fixed up.
The university is very isolated sitting in a forest atop a hill - quite scenic and picturesque. It opened in 2009 and is apparently highly regarded with fees at around $A25k per annum plus accommodation plus food ++. The buildings are very modern, all served by lifts and well maintained gardens. Unfortunately (for some not me) the gym and pool are for students only and bridge players aren't allowed to use them.
I head to the nearby road hoping for a bus or taxi and manage to snag a cab to take me to the metro which should cost around $A15. I negotiate $27.50 to take me to the downtown Istanbul and he says ok. About 15 minutes later he is still a long way away and sees the meter at $a5 so hands me $12.50 and drops me at the metro. I enjoy a 20 minute ride in a modern, well air-conditioned underground to Taksim Square where I take the funicular (should have taken a bus apparently) to the more central Istanbul but still 4km away from the Grand Bazaar area which I complete in a taxi.
I spent the day wandering around the shops, alleyways, Grand Bazaar and more taking in a Turkish style kebab lunch along the way. Around 16:00 I try and et a taxi who tells me "Problem Traffik" (yes kids they say that) no meter quoting some ridiculous fare so I wait 20 minutes for a nice cool bus to Taksim Square, metro and taxi back towards the University.
"Kafeteria" dinner and back to my room for some quiet time.
Wednesday morning and don't get to breakfast till around 09:30. By this time almost all the players and officials have arrived and I catch up with some old (and I mean old) friends.
I head towards the playing area to collect my welcome bag, program, identity badge and other bits and pieces. A sit down at a beautifully cool coffee shop called Nero (I think part of a chain) think Starbucks and head off to lunch an hour later.
I again head to the playing area and play 14 boards with Barry Goren and actually played reasonably well against two Australian girls".
Back to change for the captain's meeting and opening ceremony deciding against a tie in this heat and humidity but the jacket is still hot walking the 1km to the venue. Dinner in between the two and then back to bed.
So the bridge starts tomorrow so "work(?)" beckons starting at 10:00.
Hope all is well in Sydney and regards from a warm and very humid Istanbul.
XD
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Around 16:30 I tube it to Oxford Street have a potter around and turn up at Kieran and Lynn's flat (a lovely modern one bedroom apartment) at Marble Arch where we have a chat and move on to a Kurdish (think Lebanese) restaurant. This area, the beginning of Edgeware Road, formerly very Jewish and now VERY 'Arabic' with more than 50% of woman wearing Burkas and most or the restaurants, banks and businesses being Middle Eastern. Kieran and Lynn like this one because the food is VERY reasonable and excellent (which it certainly was) and also they serve alcohol - apparently not many restaurants in the area do.
As I said the food was excellent, dips and mixed grill all superbly cooked. While we were there a group of Burka clad women arrived asking for a provide room with no men and no alcohol and were told not possible but I got the impression that the owner just wasn't interested in accommodating them.
Back to the apartment, more linen washing and off to sleep. Awake at 06:00 final get ready and minicab to airport. Interesting driver from Ethiopia who was happy to chat telling me about life in Ethiopia and his move to London.
So reflections about London. Previously London has not been a favourite destination for me. However for some reason after this trip I am wanting to go back some time soon. Not sure exactly why but I think living in an apartment being forced to learn how the underground works (not that I have ever been challenged by it) and just not doing anything in particular made it very appealing.
Very easy check-in until stupid here forgot to take out the liquids which were in a clear ziplock bag resulting in a full and complete emptying of all my possessions and a loss of fifteen minutes of my life that I'll never get back again - getting old and forgetful ain't much fun!
A few minutes in the lounge and boarded the Turkish Airlines 777 which turns out to be a beautiful plane with great seating and surrounds and food and service to match. Not surprised they have won European airlines of the year for the last two years.
Arrive in Istanbul with no sign of the pickup until 45 minutes out of customs. The reason turns out that they had me down as arriving tomorrow which was partially my fault as I thought of spending the night in an Istanbul hotel but decided against it, hence the confusion. I hang around the airport for a total of two hours until the next flight they are meeting arrives and we travel the one hour to the University in beautifully appointed minivan.
Get the key to my room and spend 15 minutes trying to find it only to find that it was in the building immediately next to the office where I got my key - GRRR!
My room is University style accommodation or think hospital room and not St Vincent's Private. Single (maybe even smaller) bed, small fridge, desk, cupboard and bathroom - oh and a fan to help with the hot humid weather. Not great but certainly functional and bearable especially a TV which has CNN and maybe 10 other English channels and lots of sport.
I sleep pretty well, about 7 hours and go to the communal breakfast room. I take an omelette, some melon and a piece of cheese hand in my voucher to the check-out and they say Extra Extra Extra pointing at each of my items. I sort of refuse to pay and they let me pass and am glad to report that the next day it was all fixed up.
The university is very isolated sitting in a forest atop a hill - quite scenic and picturesque. It opened in 2009 and is apparently highly regarded with fees at around $A25k per annum plus accommodation plus food ++. The buildings are very modern, all served by lifts and well maintained gardens. Unfortunately (for some not me) the gym and pool are for students only and bridge players aren't allowed to use them.
I head to the nearby road hoping for a bus or taxi and manage to snag a cab to take me to the metro which should cost around $A15. I negotiate $27.50 to take me to the downtown Istanbul and he says ok. About 15 minutes later he is still a long way away and sees the meter at $a5 so hands me $12.50 and drops me at the metro. I enjoy a 20 minute ride in a modern, well air-conditioned underground to Taksim Square where I take the funicular (should have taken a bus apparently) to the more central Istanbul but still 4km away from the Grand Bazaar area which I complete in a taxi.
I spent the day wandering around the shops, alleyways, Grand Bazaar and more taking in a Turkish style kebab lunch along the way. Around 16:00 I try and et a taxi who tells me "Problem Traffik" (yes kids they say that) no meter quoting some ridiculous fare so I wait 20 minutes for a nice cool bus to Taksim Square, metro and taxi back towards the University.
"Kafeteria" dinner and back to my room for some quiet time.
Wednesday morning and don't get to breakfast till around 09:30. By this time almost all the players and officials have arrived and I catch up with some old (and I mean old) friends.
I head towards the playing area to collect my welcome bag, program, identity badge and other bits and pieces. A sit down at a beautifully cool coffee shop called Nero (I think part of a chain) think Starbucks and head off to lunch an hour later.
I again head to the playing area and play 14 boards with Barry Goren and actually played reasonably well against two Australian girls".
Back to change for the captain's meeting and opening ceremony deciding against a tie in this heat and humidity but the jacket is still hot walking the 1km to the venue. Dinner in between the two and then back to bed.
So the bridge starts tomorrow so "work(?)" beckons starting at 10:00.
Hope all is well in Sydney and regards from a warm and very humid Istanbul.
XD
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