Moscow was called the third Rome in the 16th century. Photo: Yuri Lepski
I arrive at Vnukovo airport, huge, empty, reminiscent at this late hour of a giant spaceship flying out of the solar system. I sit down on a chair at the gate and open a book. “…find a cafe on the very shore of the Bosphorus, sit down in a chair, order some tea and, breathing in the smell of rotting seaweed, watch without changing expression the aircraft carriers of the Third Rome cross the gates of the Second, towards the First.” Well, I’m quite satisfied with the travel offered by Brodsky not only in space, but also in time.The first Rome is the cradle of modern civilization. Photo: Yuri Lepsky
Boarding announced. I am looking at those who will fly with me by Turkish Airlines. The minimum number of citizens with a distinctly Turkish appearance and behavior. Basically, my compatriots with two boarding passes in their pockets: like me, they’re flying off to Europe, and Istanbul is an obligatory transit for them.While waiting for the morning Roman flight, I have to spend eight hours here.About four hours of monotonous flight in the belly of a huge Airbus, night landing at Istanbul airport, long bus ride to the airport terminal, security check in front of the transit area, and finally Here we are in a giant, shining of the lights of shops, restaurants, cafes, a city called “Transfer”. While waiting for the morning Roman flight, I have to spend eight hours here. Or sleep ? I ask this question at the information desk. A young Turkish employee looks at me in surprise and hesitantly points a finger somewhere: “Try it there.” I don’t find “there” right away, but when I find it, I understand that I found myself somewhere in our Domodedovo half a century ago: people in outerwear and heavy outdoor shoes. winter sleep on soft sofas and waxed floors. Those who didn’t have enough space stand at a distance, supporting the shiny walls.At first it seemed strange to me the unoccupied chairs in many cafes and bars. But after tasting a glass of beer for twenty euros and buying a small can of cola for five, I inwardly accepted the empty seats in these establishments. Although the toilets in this oasis are free. But it would be better to pay them: perhaps then they would be cleaner. In a nutshell, the Second Rome, even at the airport, did not allow people to forget that money and contempt for the person are a Byzantine inoculation that classical Rome received here, in Constantinople.
…In the morning, my compatriots and I gathered at the information boards. Flights to Berlin, Paris, Madrid, Venice, Brussels, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Prague were preparing for departure … I looked at the faces of Russian speakers to my right and left, hoping that most of them flew to Europe to the original values of First Rome: classics, respect for the person, beauty and proportionality. Alas, it sometimes seems to me that today’s European elites from the Brussels oil spill are moving in the opposite direction, to Rome II, with its Byzantine priorities of gross profit and the sophisticated art of submission within a strict hierarchy…However, what doesn’t come to mind on an all-nighter at Istanbul airport. That’s it, they announce boarding for my flight. I stole. Bye…Experience
10 useful tips for traveling to Europe via Istanbul
1. If you fly from Moscow to any country via Istanbul, remember: you must fly from Istanbul to the European continent with the same airline that took you to the capital of Turkey. In my case, it was Turkish Airlines. Only compliance with this condition can guarantee receipt of your baggage at the destination airport.2. When checking in your ticket in Moscow, be sure to ask the airline employee if he sees your final destination on the computer. As a result, you should receive two boarding passes: for a flight from Moscow to Istanbul and for a flight from Istanbul to the city where you are actually flying.
3. Turkish Airlines is cool on the size and weight of hand luggage. So don’t be shy.
4. Arriving from Moscow to Istanbul, remember: you must immediately go to the transit zone, from where you will continue your journey. But before entering this area, you will have a security check procedure – inspection of personal effects, hand luggage and outdoor clothing. Trouser belts must be removed, heavy boots too.In Istanbul, you have to look carefully at the scoreboard. I am no longer your adviser. Photo: Yuri Lepski
5. After passing the checkpoint, you will find yourself in a huge hall reserved for transit passengers, twinkling with the lights of the shops. Your behavior will depend on the waiting time for your next flight. If it’s an hour or less – don’t waste a second in luxury stores, get to work. Tip: Go to any electronic dashboard and study it carefully. And pay attention to the departure time of your flight and the destination airport. Your flight number on the electronic dashboard may not match the one on the boarding pass. Do not panic. Turkish airlines tend to merge multiple flights into one. On the dashboard, all the numbers of the merged flights will alternate. Be patient and wait for your flight number. When this happens, write down the gate number and markings. Only after that start moving.Everything in the shop is expensive. It is better to sit quietly. The table shows how many minutes it takes to land. Photo: Yuri Lepsky
6. There are many boarding gates in the transit area of Istanbul Airport. All are marked with a letter (from A to F) and a number indicating the serial number of the portal. For example, my boarding gate was F 17. Be aware that being in the central part of the transit area, you can take more than 20 minutes to reach the gate you need. Please note: the walking time to the door is indicated on any electronic scoreboard.Everything in the shop is expensive. It is better to sit quietly. The table shows how many minutes it takes to land. Photo: Yuri Lepski
7. If you have to spend several hours waiting for your flight, I would advise you to solve several trivial tasks sequentially. The first is to exchange a small amount of Russian rubles for Turkish liras (well, don’t exchange precious euros for liras). To do this, you need to find an exchange office where such an operation is possible. You can find one if you want. I exchanged 5,000 rubles for 950 lira, which is about 42 euros. This money was enough for me to buy a glass of beer (300 lira), two cups of tea and a croissant. Such is Turkish life…Everything in the shop is expensive. It is better to sit quietly. The table shows how many minutes it takes to land. Photo: Yuri Lepski
8. If you’re expecting your flight at night, you’ll want to get some sleep. There is nowhere to sleep in the transit area of Istanbul Airport. However, it is necessary to agree on the conditions. It all depends on what the word “sleep” means to you. After all, there are cases when soldiers managed to sleep during the march. In this sense, Istanbul Airport can offer you much more comfortable conditions: a relatively clean floor or a side table. Keep in mind: before you sit on a side table, you must go to the bathroom. If you dare to leave your end of the sofa to go to the bathroom, you will find it busy when you return.Istanbul is good for those who know how to sleep seated. Photo: Yuri Lepski
9. Therefore, my advice to you is not to sleep. Think of the bad, the good is always something to think about.Istanbul Airport is not for sleeping, it’s for shopping. Photo: Yuri Lepski
10. Do not drink alcohol in the transit area of Istanbul Airport. Be patient until the end of your trip. Well, there – I am no longer an adviser to you.Second Rome, aka Constantinople, aka Istanbul. Photo: iStock
