A Bit of Sunday Nostalgia

A John Hiatt song popped into my mind as I read this way-cool article in the NYT’s Travel section this morning. First, the Hiatt lyric (“Ride Along” from 1988’s “Slow Turnin”):

You get the Sunday paper
On Saturday night
You read the travel section
Until you’re all uptight

’cause it’s almost Monday
Jack you know that song
You ain’t going nowhere
You just ride along, ride along, ride along

I suppose Hiatt popped into my mind because I know “I ain’t goin’ nowhere” near Istanbul in the foreseeable future, but Dang…I sure wish I could spend 36 Hours in Istanbul (or much more). The article is way too short and is more of a (typical) list of not-to-be-missed places in Istanbul, from a Travel editor’s perspective. Not that there’s anything wrong with these sorts of lists…it’s just the assumptions that (a) you’re either familiar with the city or (b) you’ve already made up your mind to go and (c) here’s some cool places you should add to your to-do list, once you get there. OK, noted…and filed away for future non-use or until such time as I get off my ass and renew my passport… which I really, really should do.

Istanbul is one of my three favorite cities in the world—the other two being London and Bangkok—for its supremely beautiful physical location, its mystically magic skyline, the friendliness of its people, its history and incredible architectural treasures, and the food. The city was also Number One With A Bullet on the list of places I wanted to take The Second Mrs. Pennington…but we separated before we took that trip. I can still see myself going there, even with the political situation being what it is these days, and even if the journey will most likely occur only in my imagination. But: Ya never know.

It’s been over 35 years—1971—since I was last in Istanbul, and that occasion was my departure from Turkey after spending a year in Beautiful-Sinop-By-The-Sea. I took the White Boat from Sinop to Istanbul, an overnight passage of some eight to ten hours that simply beat the Hell out of any alternative transport options available then or now. I spent about 36 hours in Istanbul after disembarking from the White Boat and prior to catching a Pan Am flight “back to the world.” That time was spent eating, drinking, and doing last-minute shopping for friends and family. I should have spent much more time in Istanbul…say at least a week…before I left, what with hindsight being 20-20 and all that. But I thought I had covered all the bases in previous visits and the desire to get back home was incredibly strong. Ah…the impetuousness impatience of youth, eh?

(About that White Boat link: there are more photos of GI life in Sinop taken by James Bedner here, if you’re interested. Great stuff…including (and especially) the “Belly Dancer” pics, which are NOT work-safe, what with bare breasts visible in the last pic. And the Istanbul skyline photo is from the NYT slide-show that accompanies the article.)

France has its presidential election today and the contest is interesting on any number of levels, not the least of which is the nearly black-and-white choice between Socialist Ségolène Royal and Gaullist Nicolas Sarkozy. While the NYT has an article on the election (here), the best reporting (IMHO) is from London…specifically the pieces from The Times and The Telegraph. Say what you will about Les Français…but their voter turn-out—75%, by some estimates—is to be envied. Would that we had that same level of voter participation here.

Short post today. I wanna go for a ride before the wind gets too high and it’s already 1100 hrs and I haven’t even finished the coffee or hit the shower. Yet. I’d best get a move on…