Today was a funny, dissatisfied sort of day, though a pleasant one. Soon after the GF woke we went back to the Syrian place for a chickpea-based meal, again very delicious and this time there was no wait. Sadly they were out of the fatteh or rather, out of nuts to put on the fatteh […]
Ne plus ultra
A fairly satisfying sort of day today as we did a fair number of errands. First, we met our old estate agent at the new flat to look for electricity and water bills so they could be transferred over to us. We dutifully started by having a cup of Turkish cay each at the tea […]
No phones
Both of our phones have turned over and died due to various tedious reasons. Ah well, we did without mobile phones for half my life, and without data for three-quarters, so I daresay we’ll manage. It was a working day for me, though the GF ran a few errands and then I met him in […]
Three mosque day
It was a working day for me, though not for the GF, but when he said he was planning a tour of the mosques of Fatih, I of course joined him. So we took the metro to near the Istanbul University with its startling metro station, and went first to the Kalendarhane mosque. This is […]
The landed gentry
This morning I woke early, as we were moving flat. Away from the mosquitos, the dripping fridge, the foetid kitchen sink, the oddly placed shower. Off to Galata, to the same building we lived in when we first arrived in Istanbul, but a lower floor. Also, no hot water, for there was none this morning […]
Syria town
After the drama of yesterday, today we decided on a quiet day’s exploration. So we took the tram to the other side of the Golden Horn, past Aksaray, to areas new. This is a very Syrian part of town and I’d heard of a fine Syrian restaurant there; from there it was only about 20 […]
Foiled
This morning, we were told, the appointment would be arranged for the afternoon. We would have to go to the bank to arrange payment, pay the taxes and turn up at the appropriate government office, hand over the payment, attest that we did indeed intend to buy this specific property at this specific price, sign […]
Waiting, waiting
Still waiting for our appointment at the deed office. Now it’s likely to be on Friday as tomorrow, Thursday, is Republic Day. There is what appears to be a grey battleship moored outside, and lots of shouting and martial singing on loudspeakers. Hopefully this is for Republic Day, not an invasion. We killed a few […]
Day of the hunters
This terrible flat has, gram by gram, more mosquito in it than human. I usually don’t get bitten much these days as the GF’s blood is clearly far sweeter, but both of us are tormented by the sound of mosquitos whining around our ears at night. Today we killed about 6 and 4 more emerged. […]
Craving unsatisfied
This morning I woke up craving desi food and did some diligent research to find a place in Fatih, across the Golden Horn: a small Indian place run by an Indian couple. A bit of a dhaba, so less likely to water food down to Turkish tastes. So we took the tram over to a […]