Day 5 - Istanbul to Ulan Batar!!!

Silly breakfast on bed with a phenomenal mix of spices, delicious tomatoes and mini-cucumbers, a Turkish version of fresh feta cheese (about 30% of what the shop was selling, all at tiny prices - 50c for a big piece!) and local nutella. Delish!

Checking is seamless, with the nicest check-in perso. I have EVER encountered! He even offered sweets to the kids and advice on excellent hikes in Turkey! Just amazingly sweet guy! 🫠 (in total opposition with the ones at the gate in Geneva!). The more I travel, the more I feel Europe (and Australia) are past their sell-by date! Overly priced travel, rundown airports and far too often grumpy staff. In Asia, Africa and Latam, we have mostly encountered well functioning systems, beautiful airports (with as clean toilets as in Switzerland dixit one if the kids), rarely cancelled flights or strikes, wonderful service (with free meals, drinks and entertainment on flight of course), etc, etc, etc. Hum. Quite the opposite again to our experience leaving switzerland yesterday!!! Food for thought about our 'developed' world! 😤

Then over 7 hours of absolutely smooth flight we at last reach Ulan Batar! Woohooo! Everyone is very excited. Even Nora Skye who was a little nostalgic about leaving friends and comfort admits 'now it is absolutely ok'. Seems she has put her travel hat back on! Woohoo!

Past border control, baggage claim, taxi driver find, 30 min into the city in pouring rain and thunder, and some good laughs, we are at last off to bed at... 5am. We have an apartment this time. Lovely to be back here! Sweet dreams!Read more