First Full Day in Istanbul

Yesterday, the 17th, we arrived on time, got through customs fairly easily, met the driver, and arrived at our apartment around noon. Oz, Margaret Matthew's friend, from NYC met us, which was wonderful. She lives in NYC, had been a banker for Citi bank for most of her time in the city. She acclimated us to the apartment, was a great help, and then basically left us alone. The apartment overlooks the main road and Bosporus, though it's very quiet. It has two bedrooms, a large living room, a porch that's enclosed, a small court yard and a palm tree right in the middle, which obstructs part of our view. After walking into Arnavutkoy, much changed but it still has character, returned and took a couple hour nap. At 5:30, we met the Eptings, friends from California, who just happened to be on a cruise and were visiting Istanbul, walked the RC campus, amazingly green and modern and well taken care of, then had a beer at the Deanery, where the Headmaster, John Chandler lives, a very fine gentlemen. We then went off with the Eptings to the village for dinner; at Taranci, a fish restaurant. We had a good time listening to Rick tell stories, but I was so tired, it was hard to enjoy much of the dinner. We stayed for a little over an hour, I think, and they were tired as well, as they were heading off for a cruise tomorrow. We went back to the apartment, slept for 12 hours, waking up at 10:00 in the morning, After a breakfast of kaymakly yogurt, with bananas and strawberries, and toast with kasar, we walked to Bebek, via the Bosporus road. And our return to Istanbul begins in earnest.