Moving day. Ozy’s taxi prompt as always at six AM. Not much traffic on the road this early and a spectacular sunrise over the Mediterranean, which we usually contrive to miss, in part because we don’t have any view to the east.
Turkish Airways desk not yet open. However the scales at the check in desks are operational and there are a few people weighing their suitcases. Including one family engaged in much repacking as brightly coloured clothing repeatedly transferred from one overflowing case to another.
Istanbul is one of the world’s largest airports. Memo to self to download map of same. Enormous distances and also has no apparent means of keeping those with connecting flights airside, thus duplicating passport control, security checks, etc. One employee puts it down to being the main transfer point for the Middle East and getting passengers from troubled countries. J more than dubious that this accounts for all inefficiencies. Can at least say that this means that flight days are not days of no exercise.
Heathrow, by comparison, spectacularly quick - at least for those with chipped passports. Tube predictably crowded in late afternoon but then ten minute walk to Airbnb. Spot street sign despite obvious deficiencies. Location super. Flat ok. And then - no working wifi. Text manager. As yet unresolved….