Time for home

Doesn’t it pee you off when you wake up miles before your alarm. Wide awake and ready to go, but its Sunday morning and I am leaving today. Before that I have a massage booked. I even contemplated going to breakfast for something to do. 

But that didn’t happen and I faffed around till it was massage time. This massage place is one recommended to be by Esin and is in the building annexed to the mosque not 50m from the hotel. Couldn’t be better. 

Going through the archway at the front of the building then through the massive big doors I had no idea what I would find. The last hammam I had in Turkey was in a local place with no frills and where I shared a steam room with a sleazy looking guy. The place I am now has women only sessions in the morning and then men after 4:00pm so using up a morning on the day I have to vacate my room seemed like a great idea but the thought of hot steam when I am struggling with the heat was too much for me. Thus my booking is for a massage only. 

Going through the big doors I took a gasp. A massive big stone void with a domed ceiling and a central fountain. The photos say it best. 

I checked in and within minutes someone bought me a hibiscus tea, a disposable g string and a pair of slides packed into an impossible to open plastic bag together with the keys to my locker.  The lockers were up on the mezzanine floor, each numbered and in groups of  5 with a bit of room for getting changed. 

Soon I was downstairs wrapped in my turkish towel and was met by my masseuse. She led me through the big main room into some side corridors passing the steam room as we went. The steam room is the first stop for a hammam, next there would generally be a scrub and then a good soaping. A massage can follow. Even walking past the steam room was too much for me. 

My masseuse ushered me into a lovely wee space where a divine perfume filled my lungs. I’m drifting off already. For the next hour my body was slathered in oils, kneaded and stroked and I could almost hear myself purring. It was sublime. I was so relaxed and my skin was feeling like silk. Oh heaven can’t be this good. 

Sadly my hour was over and I was wrapped up in a huge fluffy robe to make my way back to the locker crossing the foyer where groups of women were enjoying hot drinks.

I had to return to the hotel to check out, which I did without any trouble and ordered an Uber for the airport. All good and my car was on its way for a quoted price of about NZD30. Its a long drive so that was good. Then the driver started messaging me saying he wanted 60 Euro (NZD100). He got a blunt no to which he responded that he would not get a ride back from the airport sob sob sob. Sorry mate you picked the wrong person. I cancelled the ride and immediately found another driver happy to take me for the quoted NZD30 so off we set. 

In the meantime I got a notification that I was being charged about $7 because I cancelled the first car. I did have an option to complain, which I did and cited the fact that he was trying to get more money. Ha ha now he gets nothing. I got my $7 back and he got nothing. 

As we were leaving I noticed big contingents of police, some in riot gear, gathering around the area of the mosque and the new museum. Maybe I am leaving at the right time. 

Arriving at the airport I battled the queues, checked in, proceeded through all the checkpoints and somehow then I was at Carluccio’s restaurant ordering another seafood risotto. Boy I was not disappointed. This was as good as the first and well worth the stupid price I paid. 

I had some lira left and decided to spend them quickly at duty free. Yay! Almost exactly what I had with 5 lira to spare so someone got a tip. 

Now on board and ready to take off. Im glad I got checked in early. Many people are sitting separate from their fellow travellers and one poor guy had the same seat number as someone else. It is chocka block but eventually they found him a seat elsewhere but all that has meant a late departure. Again. At least I have a long layover in Narita/Tokyo. 

Well that was a crappy flight. Crammed in like sardines, aint nothing dreamline about that 787, we barely had space to move. Shut eye eluded me until right at the end when I dropped off for a while. 

To compensate I am now in a lounge at Narita Airport. I have a 8 hour layover and was going to go landside, but having experienced the chaos even trying to get through the transit gates I thought better of it. 

I’ve never see such a weird airport. There doesn’t seem to be a central hub just lots of gates and a few stores dotted around. The place is deserted and I am the only person in the lounge. Very weird. But I have a couch and am making the most of it. 

Service is haphazard, some service people are rude and others are so sweet it makes me want to throw up. I didn’t like this place last time I came through and the feeling remains. I am so over airports, queues, hearing but not understanding the incomprehensible announcements that are being made with great regularity and I cant wait to be home to get these medical strength support stockings off. They are killing me. 

My one-up upgrade to premier economy is a god send. Its half empty so must everyone has two seats to themselves, one for their junk and one for their bum. 

Wine has been served and I am waiting for my Moroccan spiced beef cheeks before I nod off. My appetizer was a meze of seated tuna, beef, tomatoes and pickled cucumber. Better than a restaurant meal by far. 

The wifi was not connecting, but it wasn’t available to the cheap seats (me) on neither Singapore or Turkish Airlines. Oh no I can’t play my games.   Life is so tough. 

And just like that my adventure comes to an end. I had a few hours kip on the plane and I am now at Auckland airport waiting for my connection home. 

I’ve had an amazing time, totally switched off from reality, have over eaten and enjoyed every mouthful. I’ve met some lovely people, seen some amazing sights and learned heaps. Through it all I can honestly say that, apart from getting a cold, there was no downside. The horrendous 60+ hours it took me to get to Baku long forgotten but lessons learned. 

Am I ready to go home?  Yes but I am not ready for my adventure to end. It’s been a blast.