Day 11: Levnos Greece to Istanbul Turkey

  Day 11: Istsnbul

Weather: Clear and cold

Activities: If it is not one thing, it is another

Last moments aboard the Star Legend

arriving in Istanbul at day break

the ship ties up across from the excellent contemporary art museum, designed by Renzo Piano of San Ramon fame

DA, SA, DB and THB are pretty much the first group off the Star Legend. Something is amiss and what normally take 30 seconds getting our passports stamped  goes on for 15 minutes. Bad software!

no luggage has come the 20 meters from ship to shore. They are using a system from thee 1950s: Manual

6+ guys are moving bags from conveyor belt to racks. Some passengers have been standing around for 20 minutes (i.e., THB et al). Now passengers are showing up and have to search all the racks

The Levni Hotel

Our transfer van to hotel does not show up. Turns out  that a guy that is supposed to meet us at baggage claim did not come to work that day. DB contacts the local guy and 25 frustrating minutes later the van driver walks (not drives) us and escorts us to the van. It is a short ride to the hotel.

we leave our bags at front as the rooms aren't ready (it is still early), meet our guide for the day and then have a nice art touring day. Mehmet is terrific. 

ed. note: THB decides to go non-chronological here...

When they show who they are, believe them 

the bell guy can't get in the room and back downstairs he goes; 20 minutes or so, he's back; the safe doesn't work; there's no dresser in the room; 3 of the five plugs don't work (one sparking); only the handheld shower device works; the a/c doesn't work (hotel hasn't turned it on yet); ahhhhhhhh, the windows open, phew; a car alarm goes off for 15 minutes...twice; THB is now on a first name basis with bell guy, the electrician, and the front desk guy who says THB has the wrong adapter, TRHB sez he guarantees he has the right one (it works in other outlets). Do not drink the water from the sink. 

Around Istanbul with Mehmet

old building swallow top and side by new one

Orhan Pamuk wrote a novel called the Museum Of Innocence. Then one with that name opened after the book was pub'd

graffiti 

pickled shop

common communal water faucets from when the water in your house/apartment wasn't safe to drink ... wait, maybe Hotel Levni hasn't hear about it

pic taken from the 5th floor of Istanbul Modern...that's DB and THB's room (we are going to wistfully remembering the Owner's Cabin soon)

Modern's rooftop infinity pool, seagulls love Renzo

a tram spot: one entry fee gets you anywhere you want to go (maybe 70 cents!)

Art: around town and the Modern

video plays, you can sit int the chairs, the test is open book

THB liked this one

in a museum

Illan Koman: Akdeniz; memorial for children killed by police. The fencing is an attempt by government to keep mothers from protesting at site of shooting

retrospective (in chronological order) of work from the private  collection of major supporters of the museum

a religious fashionista posing 

3D work

another 3d work, side view

Incl Eviner

it's a video with sound...do you know the song? THB did, right away

DB's fave, thread tunnel 

Jennifer Steinkamp (also in Crocker in Sacramento)

are the twins ready for surf camp?

Oddities

Men's surfing room?

equal opportunity fortune reader?

ahhhhh, the only NY bagel place in Istanbul

Lunch

Mehmet reads THB's mind: Pastry and hot drinks all around

THB and Mehmet have a mind-meld and both order Mocha drink

Dinner

THB puts it on AMEX and gets two trillion lira from the group ($25/pp...they don't serve alcohol)

Animals (sorry, no twin pics)