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I’ve had a proper lazy morning just dicking about on the internet in preparation for tonight’s overnight bus to Istanbul. I was considering a trek that’s at least a 10k round trip into the hills to a monastery, but it’s supposed to be pretty difficult to find the trail and I basically can’t be arsed. I’ll save my energy for another battle.

I enjoyed watching City take West Ham apart last night. It does indeed seem we’re the real deal. I don’t reckon the Rags will be singing 20 odd years (and we’re still ‘ere) for too much longer.

A spot of lunch may be in order just now I think, let’s have a trundle into town.

I’ve managed to find the one English bar here, St. Georges. Classy eh. I’ve gone for the full Wetherspoons experience to ease any mild home sickness I may have; beer (Boliarka, which now I’ve seem the translation, is what I’ve been drinking in the hostel all the while) burger and chips. Jurassic Park.

Food finished i think I’m going to have rush my pint as ‘Radio Swiss Pop’ is the resident noise pollution, it’s as bad as the name suggests it might be.

Have a read of this. I don’t think I want to go to Turkey anymore.

I found my way to the bus station with nae bother and picked up a ticket for 40 lev (20 quid). I’m just waiting for the bus now.

I’ve rang the hostel and they’re open 24 hours, the tram starts running at 5 in the morn and I’m due in at 4 (if there’s no delays), the visa at the border should be 20 lev for a British citizen like myself, mozzie repellent applied, hoody in hand, battery fully charged and I’ve got a 2 litre bottle of water and a large pack of cheese crisps. Basically, I’m hot to trot baby.

The passenger next to me is a very friendly Bulgarian named Kenan and we’ve discussed a whole plethora of subjects in the past 4 hours or so. We will keep in touch via Facebook and all that.

We’ve just gone through customs and I got stung a bit (not by the rampaging bees I should probably add), because I paid in lev they charged me 40 rather than 20 (so 20 quid rather than a tenner). I’m not sure why but there’s only so far a debate can go in impromptu sign language. It’s not the end of the world though is it.

So I made it to Constantinople in one piece. The bus got in at about half 5 in the end but by the time we (there was an Australian girl on the bus also heading to the hostel) got to the hostel it was well past 7, big place this Istanbul. I can’t check-in until 13:30 and then some much needed sleep will be on the agenda. Until then I may as well have a mooch round as I’m right in the tourist bit. TTFN.