Back in the 'Bul

It could be worse. My issue with premature evacuation from Yemen has left me in some sort of lost-in-space holding pattern. My harebrained, cockamamie ideas which could be misconstrued as "plans" were sort of all throw out the window when the phone call came to get on the plane and leave. While i always knew it was a possibility, i never really expected it to happen. So with a free ticket to pretty much anywhere paid for by Mrs. Hillary Clinton, i opted to be exiled in Istanbul.

I have always liked Istanbul. After all, i lived here nearly 7 years

ago. My previous stay being permanently etched into the annals of Turkish television with my production of the show "English 4 You". Sadly, i was not asked for an autograph at immigration. It seems nobody has heard of the show. But not even my lack of fame was going to dampen my visit. People always ask me "What's your favourite country?". Frankly, it's an impossible question to answer. But if they're looking for holiday ideas, i always suggest Turkey, and it's crown jewel Istanbul. Full of towering historical monuments like the Aya Sofia and the Blue Mosque, shops a plenty at the Grand Bazar and local life galore on the semi-pedestrian Istiklal Street, the city really does have something for everyone. A blend of the exotic (or at least different from home) and the familiar, Istanbul is an easy place to visit for even the most novice traveller.

But what this ease of travel translates into is one of the most popular

tourist destinations in the region. Clearly the city could never be kept a secret. And i'm not sure it ever was. After all, it has been the crossroads of trade and travel from Europe to Asia long before my failed attempt at pop-culture status. But i arrive in the shoulder season, when it pretty much rains everyday. Even then, i had to change hotels 3 times due to previous bookings. While a city of 10,000,000+ certainly has it's non-touristic areas, Sultanahmet is not one of them. Having spent the last few years living and working in remote areas, it was a shock to see soooooo many foreigners in one place.

On more of a personal note, coming back to Istanbul feels a bit like i'm going backwards. Easy travel where everyone speaks English and where i could be mistaken for a local if you were a near-sited drunk who had forgot your glasses. But above that, i've become used to working in developing countries, feeling like you're making some sort of difference. I'm now working for upper middle class people who consider education a hobby to fill the time as opposed to a gifted opportunity to be relished. It's just not as fulfilling this time around.

There is little question i will continue to recommend Istanbul as one of the best destinations in the world. But it would seem i have outgrown it.