Weeknote 123

Birthday in Istanbul

Last weekend I was in Istanbul for my birthday. We didn’t have an overly packed itinerary, which allowed for a pleasantly relaxing city break.
Google Maps wasn’t always reliable when it came to cafés in Istanbul and whether they were still open, so finding good breakfast spots proved to be a bit of a challenge at first.
Food was generally very good in Istanbul, and we had an extra special dinner for my birthday at the rooftop restuarant, Mükellef Karakoy, including delicious salad, fresh fish and a surprise birthday cake.
A trip to Istanbul wouldn’t be complete without a river tour, so we opted for a small-group experience aboard a private yacht. The 2-hour tour took in many sights including the Bosphorus Strait, including the Dolmabahçe Palace, the Maiden’s Tower, and a beautiful sunset over Karaköy.
We encountered no fewer than three security screenings on our return journey through Istanbul International Airport, including a particularly time-consuming and intrusive manual check just before boarding.
Back home, I ventured west to Uxbridge to attend the twentieth Made in Brunel exhibition at Brunel University. I found this year's presentation somewhat disappointing, compounded by the lack of students available to discuss their work.
On Saturday, I indulged in another round of birthday treats when we returned to Lima Cantina, where a complimentary drink and surprise birthday cake were served.