Turkey is NOT for the birds!

Yesterday, I hugged my girls tight and kissed my Nicolas a few last times before I left them for my short business trip in Turkey. It's been nothing but exciting since I left Germany.

We flew via contracted Delta (a Boeing 767) and it's great when you're on a plane full of military... the flight crew lets their hair down a little. The pilots left the door to the cockpit open and let us come and go, so we could see what it's like out the front window! Some of our maintenance troops were the ones who gave the pre-flight safety brief (you know... where the exit doors are located, and how to fasten your seatbelt...) No doubt, we were laughing the whole way through!

Was only supposed to be a 3 hour flight to Konya, but about an hour out, the pilot came across and said that Turkey didn't have our flight plan on file, so they weren't letting us into the country. A few calls later, and we were on our way down. Lt Col Vincent found me in the back and said "Hey Jen, wanna watch 'em land from the front?" With a bit of hesitation, I thought - why not? Some things are once in a lifetime! (still wondering if I should've kept my seat!)

I made my way to the cockpit and took a seat behind the pilot. I saw absolutely nothing out the window except fog, lit by the "headlight" (is that what they call it?) of the plane. The closer we got to Konya, we could see ice crystals flying beneath us. We broke through the clouds and were over the city and the pilot and his co were both like "where's the runway?" All I could think was - this can't be good! Pilot tells the co "if we miss it, we'll bank right and go around..." Pilot turns to me and says "brace yourself, there's some strong cross winds!" (insert shit in pants here.)

Mind you, there are videos on youtube of planes coming in for a landing while flying sideways. I always said that I didn't want to be on THAT flight. Well, last night, I experienced it - and from the worst possible seat! haha... I'm pretty sure we landed on only one of the back wheels before the other two touched down. It was insane. On the ground, I just wanted to hug the pilot for saving my life!

It was a short first night... a long Sunday at work... but I got a call from reception this evening to come pick up a gift - it was a bouquet of purple flowers from my friend Salih. When I was in Turkey in June of 2008, I met some WONDERFUL friends... I've tried for 4 long years to get back here to see them again, and now I'm here! Unfortunately, Salih is in Ankara for a few more days with his mother, she's having some health issues... surgery tomorrow. But if all goes well, I'll see him before the end of the week.

End of Day 1 here in Turkey... I'm pleased with everything except the amount of sleep I've gotten! 2 more weeks.... bring on the fun!