Trying to Unpretzel
Jun. 14th, 2007 08:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
deirdreWe made the trip from Istanbul to London today, and then checked into our hotel. The walk didn't seem nearly as long as it did the first time, probably because I was less travel worn at the time. Still, I'm pretty tired and I think I'm going to take a bath and call it a night.
Our transfer to Istanbul came with an English-speaking guide (a requirement of the company if the driver doesn't speak fluent English). In Istanbul's Ataturk airport (IATA code IST), you clear security when you walk in the door -- with all your luggage. Then you go to the counter, then you go through passport control, then onto the waiting area. Guests can accompany you right up to the point of passport control, and our guide made sure we got to the right counter. He was super nice and had a great memory for detail.
We waited at the gate, then they started letting people through into the cleared area for the gate. Only then was your hand-luggage re-checked. So, basically, everything you had with you went through security and metal detectors twice. It's an interesting system. They didn't seem to care about fluids in carry-on luggage, though.
There was a labor shortage at Heathrow, so our luggage took forever. This meant that my dream of seeing the London Eye will have to wait for another trip: the last flight was at 6:30, and we didn't get out of the terminal until 5:47. I'm staying in the room tonight, but Rick's gone off to explore.
Our transfer to Istanbul came with an English-speaking guide (a requirement of the company if the driver doesn't speak fluent English). In Istanbul's Ataturk airport (IATA code IST), you clear security when you walk in the door -- with all your luggage. Then you go to the counter, then you go through passport control, then onto the waiting area. Guests can accompany you right up to the point of passport control, and our guide made sure we got to the right counter. He was super nice and had a great memory for detail.
We waited at the gate, then they started letting people through into the cleared area for the gate. Only then was your hand-luggage re-checked. So, basically, everything you had with you went through security and metal detectors twice. It's an interesting system. They didn't seem to care about fluids in carry-on luggage, though.
There was a labor shortage at Heathrow, so our luggage took forever. This meant that my dream of seeing the London Eye will have to wait for another trip: the last flight was at 6:30, and we didn't get out of the terminal until 5:47. I'm staying in the room tonight, but Rick's gone off to explore.