A big sprawling city

As our Turkish Airlines flight begins it’s descent from 40,000 feet I start peering through the window. Nose pressed against the glass I’m searching through the clouds hoping for a glimpse of the area before we land. OK… there are the lights of the city… 20 minutes later we are still flying over lights. As far as the eye can see… lights. Typically when approaching an airport I’ll see pockets of lights from the various small communities surrounding cities. Not here. Here it’s an unending sprawl of light; one massive community.

The clearance of customs and acquisition of our visitors visa ($50USD) went smoothly. Our cousins live here and kindly met us at the airport in the middle of the night (3am). I’m thankful they did as the journey to their home was something. With crooks laying in wait hidden around intersections the red lights we ignored.