We have a 0600 train to catch to Bucharest. This train though. The train was a full-on anxiety attack. We got our tickets and for some reason the ticket clerk put me in a wagon two away from where Michelle and Katelyn were. But here is the catch- Michelle bought her ticket, then I bought mine, and last was Katelyn. So please tell me how Katelyn and Michelle got seated nest to each other and I got seated two wagons away? This was a cruel joke. It being 6:05 and me being totally exhausted, I wasn't too keen on the idea of trying to sleep next to perfect strangers for 5 hours. So I sat with Katelyn and Michelle because honestly the trains are hardly ever full. WRONG. It was fine until we got to Brasov and then people really started pouring on and they all had reservations as well. There was a couple who got on with us at Sibiu who were seated where I was sitting and after they were asked to clear their original seats to those with the reservation, they were kind enough to let me sit where I was and mve around us. They literally moved like 4 times. They were so kind and understanding.
We arrived at the train station and needed to get to the airport. We took a taxi for simplicty. It was a 30 minute ride. We queued (I am European) in passport control and made it to our gate. Boarded the flight. BUT wait! I forgot to tell you that we didn't have to pay for our luggage to be checked. AMAZING. I probably almost cried and the guy at the desk laughed at me and said I must have been traveling on some cheap airlines. Truth. We also had to get our bags saran wrapped. I guess that is what you would call it. Easy flight. Now it gets rough. We landed at 1900 ish and got into a 2 hour line for passport control. It was hot. Hot hot. All I can say is thank god we did not have our backpacks. There are crying babies everywhere. Like everyone with a child pinched them and brought them to this line to cry it out. Katelyn would like me to rant about this captial R-ude woman in line initially behind us. She pushed me- not kidding- like inching closer and closer to me. Her boobs touching my back; her breath on my neck. It is taking all I have not to "brake check" her. I eventually get so sick of her riding my back that I move to the side and she pushes in front of me and about 6 more people. She is REALLY going to get through this line sooooo much more quickly than anyone else. Smart gal. I got her email address so she could share trade secrets with me.
We get out of the line and find a hotel shuttle. The woman at the counter told us to wait by the cafe around the corner for about 20 minutes and then we could go. 20 minuts go by. its 9:30 now. The woman has left and there is a man at the counter now. He tells us that he is waiting on 4-6 more people before we can leave because the shuttle has a minimum of 8 people. That's interesting because the other employee said NOTHING about that. Screw them. So Katelyn wants to know how long we wait. 20 more minutes and hope 4 people come along, if not another 20 then another 20 until WHEN? The whole fricken night? She isn't happy. 18 hours of travel doesn't look good on some people and Katelyn is feeling the pressure right now. Three more people have signed up. We are leaving at 10:15. Its an hour away. The driver is driving like a bat out of hell. H-E-double hockey sticks. We are going 90kmh minimum, weaving in and out of traffic like we are on a motorcycle and not a huge top heavy mercedes shuttle, when out of the blue Candy Shop (by all time rap god 50cent) comes on. All is forgiven and the stress of the day melts away.
I want to apologize to all of my fans for inordinant amounts of #selfies on instagram, snapchat, and other various forms of social media. I just want you to know that I am willing to look ridiculous to share with you the wonders of this trip. I am thinking of getting a selfie stick (or whatever you would call it) for the next trip. I have seen so many Asians with them and I am amazed everytime. They seem fairly light and compact- perfect for travel and that just-right angle that every picture needs.
Istanbul is gorgeous at 11pm. Like amazing. It reminds me a lot of Bangkok but cleaner. They put in so much effort to the beautifcation of their city and its landscapes. (They are a nominee for the 2020 Olympic Games). Our driver doesn't know where our hotel is persay so we stop for directions and finally make it there. The traffic laws are nonexistent in the Sultanhemet so that is really comforting with his safe driving habits exhibited thus far. We made it we made it we made it. AHHHHHH- that is the majestic sound of angels voices as we enter the marble and gold lobby filled with posh furniture and sleek lighting fixtures galore. This place is a diamond in the ruff of the hostels we have been staying in. We check in and are escorted to our room on the second floor. I want you to have all the details. The elevator is made for one singular midget, yet we cram three fullsize women and our fullsize backpacks in there. The hall is lavish. The room is even more luxurious than I had dreamed. The shower is quadrouple the size of the elevator and has multiple shower heads for all sorts of cleaning. Like woah. There are robes and slippers and I can tell you that those will be taken advantage of. There is like backlighting on the wall behind the beds. The tv wall is black mirror. There is a coffee bar in the room and a chair with ottoman! LYKE WUT? We shower and lay in our robes on the beds made for gods.
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