Visit to the Greek Orthodox Church
Sunday, November 24, 1991
What a way to end a wonderful trip. Coskun and Sema, along with Cavit, took us to a Greek Orthodox Church on the Asian side. The Patriarch or head leader of the Greek Orthodox religion resides in Istanbul, Turkey an dis on the same level of rule as the Pope is in the Catholic religion. Today was a special celebration of the appointing of a new Patriarch. - and we were there! Can’t say we understood any of the Greek chanting, but we did finally grasp the word “Amen”.
A beautiful old Church with as well a beautiful, formal celebration. Very ceremonial. A drive on the Asian side of the Bosphorous Sea for tea and pastry at Hidiv Kastl, and old castle restored as a hotel overlooking the Bosphorous. Departure for Paris on Air France was a show in itself. The plane was packed. People with huge carry on luggage were trying to stuff them in overhead compartments. As compartments were opened looking for space, things would fall out.
One gentleman, who looked Greek, was carrying on his shoulder about a 5 foot artificial plant, and one young man was so loud and obnoxious that the ground supervisors came on board to settle him down. Actually he was kind of frightening. But he settled down and was allowed to stay on the plane. David sensed my nervousness but, of course, he was used to it.
We were body searched twice and our carry-ons opened and the contents checked. Air France did not make everyone sit down before the plane left the gate and if an empty seat was next to you, people were putting their carry ons loosely in those seats. We arrived Paris, loaded our suitcases in the car, began to back out of the parking lot and realized we had a flat tire. Luckily, David had familiarized himself with the tire tool and location of the tire. That’ snot to say it was easy to get to. So, it’s unload the cases and change the tire while I added on another layer of clothing for warmth.
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