Istanbul Day 1: The drive from the airport.

Once we were on our way to our hotel, what should have been a short jaunt on a Saturday evening turned into a social studies class on Turkish weekend customs. Driving along the congested road hugging the Marmara Sea, is a long (miles, I'd say) park area. The park is lined with flowerbeds full of tulips. It's April and the tulips are in bloom, almost at the end of their glory.

In this park are families -- lots and lots of families, with children running and playing. The women, many dressed in traditional garb, were mostly sitting while the men had other duties. They all seemed to be doing the same thing -- grilling food. Delicious smelling lamb, vegetables and tomatoes, from what I could see, all on portable grills.

These small grills, burning wood or coal (it seems) were surrounded by families large and small and groups of friends. Every few feet -- another group/another grill. Some of the grills were store bought, others homemade. Smoked rising in tufts above the grills clouded our view as we slowly inched along in our black Mercedes van.  The scene reminded me of a modern Turkish version of Manet's painting "Luncheon on the Grass.

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After traveling for 18 hours, I was tired and hungry and wanted only to get to our hotel. Yet, I still would have loved to join the local custom. The food - simple and humble - looked and smelled amazing.