Byzantine Tour 2011 Day Twenty: Istanbul to Rome

We spent three incredible days in Istanbul, but now it is time to leave one capital of the Roman Empire for another.  How often do you get to say that?  To be fair, I am sure that countless people fly from Istanbul to Rome or Rome to Istanbul every year.  But me?  This might be the only time that I ever do it.

But first things first.

Breakfast.  The day after tomorrow we head home.  I look forward to being home, but oh my am I going to miss having a breakfast buffet every morning.

The view out the window from the Ritz Carlton Istanbul restaurant.  To the left is actually the Besiktas Football Stadium.

We took our bags and headed to the airport.

Was I not going to be excited when the highway crossed under a Roman aqueduct?

Look at how the lanes of traffic weave through the ancient aqueduct.  Coolness.

Again, if you want to see ancient Greece and Rome, come to Turkiye.

In the previous picture was an aqueduct that was built around 1,700 years ago.   In this picture you can see high-rises going up.

Entering Istanbul's airport.

If you think about it, it is amazing how every airport is different.  Noticeably different.  You would think there would be more uniformity, really.  Perhaps the land upon which airports are built creates challenges that have to be overcome.  Or maybe cities seek unique landmarks to distinguish themselves.  Either way, you would think that someone would figure out the best way to build an airport and then everyone else would follow.  But no.  Not even close.

Destination: Roma.

Airport lunch self portrait.

A lunch for kings.

Our ride to Roma.

Istanbul Airport Candid,  November 2011.

Leaving Istanbul.

Entering Italy.

Ciao Roma.  You see the sky?  It looks pretty there, but it is about to turn into a downpour.

Driving through Roma in the rain.

We pulled up to our hotel, The Hotel De Russie, next to the Piazza del Popolo.  Yes, our hotel is a few hundred feet from my favorit obelisk in Rome.  This happens to be yet another Rocco Forte hotel.  Very much looking forward to the extra firm mattress that Rocco provides.  

We got into the room and decompressed.

Room service.  Salad and pizza.
We are in Rome.  Feels good to be home.