Istanbul

Just before midnight, I've now been on the bus from the airport for an hour with a driver whose clutch control is of the 'stop, go, stop, go' style of manoeuvre that has us passengers contracting our stomach muscles every few yards.......  The second (of three) bridges that span the Bosphorus is, apparently, now closed for two months (road works) which of course impacts the traffic on the other two, this one being Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridge, temptingly in sight but still oh so far away time wise as we lurched towards Europe. 

This was a typical 'welcome home' gesture from Istanbul, famous for its mosques, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, covered bazaar, spice market and  .... nightmare traffic. Silly Saturday? well, silly me for trying to get home on this Saturday night after a fourth and last idyllic poolside day. 

Weather watch: Akbuk sunny, breezy and 36ºC, Istanbul at night - 19ºC .