July 23 rd Istanbul









 We are in Istanbul. We arrived at 4 AM our Airbnb wouldn't be ready until.2.  Wilson can sleep on a pile of rocks me not so much. We wondered 2.6 mi in the airport looking for the priority lounge. Wilson said let's just get a hotel by the airport sleep until 2 then head to the Airbnb. Great idea. Went there slept hard until 1230. Found our Airbnb so cute and so in the mix. We walked an additional 6.1 miles per Fitbit around the hood then down to the waterfront. The bridge in the photo connects Asia and Europe. We are on the Europe side. All the Mosques in the photos are on the Asia side. The black sea is what is shared by Russia Ukraine Crimea Slovania and many other countries. The strait that separates the Asia and Europe portions is called the Bosphorus strait. It is a very significant waterway in this area because Crimea is the only warm water port allowing for Ukraine to transport it's wheat barley corn and coal along with many other essential items into the world. Turkey plays a very significant part in the transport of so much of the worlds grains.  When Russia renigged on the agreement allowing Ukraine to transport the grains is causing a major shortage for the countries of Africa a major recipient of these grains. I wish this war would end. Putin isn't a very nice man:(

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