Welcome Back to İzmir, Turkey

A smooth flight … with a 10-minute delay in landing at Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) due to headwinds in the 100-knot range most of the way from IST.

No matter … it gave us that many more minutes to scarf down the sandwich snack that was served on this 55-minute flight. The food was delivered in a box that was not unlike a McDonald’s children’s meal … except that it had whirling dervishes, mosques, and other iconic Turkish images on the cardboard. Turns out that they do this during Ramadan so that those who are fasting can take the food with them to eat later.

Once we deplaned, we walked from the jetway at the domestic terminal to baggage claim at the international terminal. (Unlike in most countries, if the airport at one’s final destination has customs services, passengers don’t have to collect their bags at their first point of entry into Turkey.) For once, our bags weren’t the last to show up on the carousel. Shortly after 8:30p, we were in a cab, being whisked to Alsancak.

We’re now settled into the condo Mui’s sister has in Alsancak … walking distance to my mom’s place. It will be our home away from home for the next few weeks while we visit my family.En savoir plus