Opening Day Mayhem

Trip Start May 17, 2006

Trip End Jun 01, 2006

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Where I stayed

Best Western Hotel Amber Istanbul

(Istanbul hotels)

Flag of Turkey Istanbul, Turkey
Friday, May 19, 2006

I stayed in bed as late as I possibly could this morning, only dragging myself out when I realized that it was almost time for breakfast service to end. First stop was the front desk, where I was informed that the hotel had overbooked, and my group would have to move to another hotel. I wanted to throw a hissy fit right then and there, but one of my clients was standing there waiting for a guide to appear to take him around the city, and he was late. How many problems can I deal with at once on an empty stomach?

I settled issues with my client, and then told the front desk I had only 10 minutes to eat breakfast since it closed at 10am, and I would be back after I had eaten to deal with the overbooking issue. When they said 10am finished, they meant 10am finished. The moment 10am arrived, the waiters flew through the room clearing away every scrap of food and picking up the plates from the tables. Even the coffee urn disappear, much to my dismay! Good thing I gave myself a few minutes to spare, or I wouldn't have been able to savor those powdered eggs so long!

(Oops...no whining on Toto Tours!)

I proceeded to the front desk, loaded for Dick Cheney . er . bear. I won't bore you with all the tedious details. Needless to say, it was a highly stressful morning and into the afternoon. Once my guide arrived with the first three passengers from the airport, I ran to my room to notify my tour suppliers in London about the problem. They got right to work on it, but the best we could negotiate was that all the guys in double rooms (8) have to spend tonight at the Best Western just one block away (which happens to be a lovely property) and the three of us who are in single rooms (all of us arrived yesterday) can stay put tonight.

01 Dan's Tiny Roomlet

All the guys who were exiled for one night took the change in stride, and I was able to relax for a few hours. The guide and I walked around the neighborhood, and down to the train station where the Orient Express Train stops by the waterfront. We ate a "local" lunch (bypassed the McDonalds), and then cruised through a market where I loaded up on pistachio nuts and other goodies for the welcome party.

At 5:30 we met in the lobby of the hotel all of us will eventually call home, did introductions all around, and enjoyed chatting with each other. As usual, this is a very interesting group. There is a law professor, interior designer, a bathroom tile manufacturer, a manager of a YMCA, a home health care worker, a marketing professor, a retired radiologist, an IRS auditor (yikes) . you get the picture . a bunch of very interesting guys.

At 7pm we took our bus to the welcome dinner restaurant, which is right at the entrance to the Blue Mosque. The food was absolutely wonderful, starting with bread and thick yogurt to spread on it, followed by vine leaves filled with minced meat (yummy hint of mint), a gorgeous salad and a lamb with tomato and aubergine sauce. For desert we had a variety of very sweet Turkish baklavas with tea or coffee. Leaving the restaurant we were treated to a fantastic view of the Blue Mosque and St. Sophia as they are lit at night. After a bumpy start, it was a highly successful evening!