The most dangerous world view is the view of those who have never looked at the world.

Alexander von Humboldt

Departed Doha at 2 pm Saturday the 16 September. A huge airport and nice have the hotel to sleep. Sort of attempted to go through customs immigration but many said for the short time we would be gone was a bit dicey, so we never left the transit area. Something the United States does not have: areas where you can stay without going through immigration and security when you are just transferring planes. Very nice.

In anchorage the ticket agent said could only check baggage to Doha and not complete trip as it was a 20 hour layover and too long to hold baggage. When we got to Seattle checking into flight to Doha agent said she could change it to go all the way to Istanbul. If it had only gotten to Doha, we might have not been able to get back into security area and hotel until just before flight.

Arrived Istanbul and got a ride to hotel. A car race driver wannabe, but we got here in good shape, although my bag did not arrive on plane. Qatar airlines said they would deliver when it was found.

Sunday morning met our guide for the next two days,Fulya. She was great, what a wealth of information. History is her passion and there is lots of history here. At the meeting point of Europe and Asia here on the Bosphorus straights, cultures have come together for millennia. My brain is full, and trying to remember and digest it all.

Eastern edge of the Roman Empire, and old aqueducts and the hippodrome where the chariot races were held.

And we went through numerous mosques of various sultans and important people. Like a lot of place the religious sites are built big and grandiose and people like to see.

The past two days began at about 9 am and lasted until 9 pm walking, seeing, trying to absorb the vast knowledge Fulya was trying to impart upon us.

The area is dry and the powers at that time created these gigantic cistern to hold water. We toured one estimating it over a hundred meters long and 50 meter wide and maybe 20 meters deep. Holds a huge amount of water.

The would stop for lunch at a restaurant which Fulya knew of and each day it was incredible.

Monday lunch did not have the view but awesome food.

Sunday evening we took a tour on ferry along the Bosphorus straight, which was delightful. So many boats, one better know the rules of road. Big bulk containers, (no Ukrainian grain though), ferry’s, a cruise ship, private yachts, and a few private boats.

It is an amazing city, as I understand it between 16 and 20 million people. A good transportation system. Took the subway over to Asia today, a very pleasant ride. As with many things once you learn how it is easy. Fun to figure out each city system.

But tonite was awesome. Here is the story. In about 2009 both jeanne and I worked as nurses. One evening a 21 year old fellow, came in having crashed his rental bicycle on day 2 of his trip to make money for the summer. He was on a work student visa (J1) and was planning to make money for a camera, so he could begin work as a professional photographer. Well, his dreams were shattered and he met us by going to surgery with nowhere to go after. We took him home. He stayed with us only a day then returned to the hostel where he could network.

I happened to still have his email and instagram account, and thus contacted him, just before this trip, not knowing if he was around or what. A delightful evening catching up after 14 years. Thinking similar sharing stories and meeting his fiancé, just asked her last week.( although together for many years) he is a professional photographer now and filmmaker.

One never knows where life will take you, one day you are riding your bicycle, the next moment your hand is broken, and life changes. 14 years later you have dinner with some wondrous people.

My bag showed up just now, 6 hours before our departure. Should I pack or unpack.