Off and Running on the Turkey Adventure

Our travel agency planned a low key day for our arrival in Turkey. “Most people like to settle in, rest from the trip and acclimate,” they said. These people have no idea. In the van from the airport to the hotel I asked our transfer guide about bridges between Asia and Europe. I watched closely as we drove through the sprawling city of Istanbul, which contains ten (10) million more residents than my hometown of Atlanta. I had my sights set on a run for the day and was on the lookout for future running destinations for the days to come.

We arrived at the hotel and my traveling companions did take the opportunity to get situated. I changed and went out to explore. Indiana Jones has a whip, a rucksack and his trademark hat. I have running shoes, a stop watch and the same desire to find precious things in the world. Find them I did. Istanbul is a gem, no--she is the crown jewel in the middle of the Eurasia. What a fascinating city filled with intriguing people!

I had run for about 45 minutes, fully enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of this city that completely embraced its many historic influences. Then I saw it. I saw the “Blue Bridge” our transfer guide had described. As she had said, it was busy with men and women fishing for tiny fish, and best of all it connected the continents. I crossed the Galata, its proper name, with some effort, weaving in and out of the anglers, tourists and Turkish folks minding their daily business.

In a span of a few hours I had been running on three continents. Oh the joy!

Run adventurously.

Tom