Arrival in Turkey - Iraq Project II
This is a reposting of my Iraq Project II. I will post a dispatch-entry Monday thru Friday until the original project is recreated. The real-time journey was posted by The Janesville Gazette in February and March, 2008.
Arrival in Ankara, Turkey
posted February 21, 2008
The over sleeping mistake I made in Munchen, Germany did not interfere with my abilility to move on. We landed in Ankara, Turkey to one foot of existing snow, wind, and 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Some how, my one checked bag of equipment found its way with me after my flight change. The travel switch actually saved me some cash because I just slept in the Ankara airport waiting for my flight on to Diyarbakir, Turkey. Of course with my sleeping track record in airports, perhaps a nap is risky, but this time I slept in the front seat of the gate area. Do a Google on Diyarbakir to understand what it represents in the current Turkish politics. I do not want to flag the possible Internet monitoring by using certain words.
Although my nap was on a metal bench in Ankara airport do not get the wrong impression. This is a new airport. It is a huge marble, metal, glass monstrosity. I notice the mammoth superstructure of giant beams and braces are all on massive hinges to withstand earth quakes. The foyer is massive and could hold two football fields. It is truly a salute to neo-Ottoman/German-esque architecture. As I look out the massive glass window to the morning darkness, the hugh red Turkish flag stands straight outward in the driving snow.
There is an abundance of young women working at this flagship Turkish entity - the airport of their capital city. Many are in the military type uniform used by airport. There are other women dressed in what we would call modern and western as in Europe. I know the presence of women in the work place will fade the furthur east I travel.
Bob Keith
Ankara, Turkey
Arrival in Ankara, Turkey
posted February 21, 2008
The over sleeping mistake I made in Munchen, Germany did not interfere with my abilility to move on. We landed in Ankara, Turkey to one foot of existing snow, wind, and 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Some how, my one checked bag of equipment found its way with me after my flight change. The travel switch actually saved me some cash because I just slept in the Ankara airport waiting for my flight on to Diyarbakir, Turkey. Of course with my sleeping track record in airports, perhaps a nap is risky, but this time I slept in the front seat of the gate area. Do a Google on Diyarbakir to understand what it represents in the current Turkish politics. I do not want to flag the possible Internet monitoring by using certain words.
Although my nap was on a metal bench in Ankara airport do not get the wrong impression. This is a new airport. It is a huge marble, metal, glass monstrosity. I notice the mammoth superstructure of giant beams and braces are all on massive hinges to withstand earth quakes. The foyer is massive and could hold two football fields. It is truly a salute to neo-Ottoman/German-esque architecture. As I look out the massive glass window to the morning darkness, the hugh red Turkish flag stands straight outward in the driving snow.
There is an abundance of young women working at this flagship Turkish entity - the airport of their capital city. Many are in the military type uniform used by airport. There are other women dressed in what we would call modern and western as in Europe. I know the presence of women in the work place will fade the furthur east I travel.
Bob Keith
Ankara, Turkey
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