Snow in Istanbul:

De-icing the plane (2 hour delay at this point…)

So we were two hours late at this point, but finally on the tarmac and getting ready to take off, when over the loudspeaker someone said, “If you’re a doctor on board, please identify yourself.” My heart dropped.

There was no doctor so we headed back to the terminal. Ambulance came:

And then for some god knows reason we just sat there… For three more hours. My seat mates (a brother and sister coming home from medical school in Sudan to home in Sheffield for winter break) came up with lots of reasons why we weren’t leaving – plague being the number one theory. Luckily, we finally left (I led the cheering at takeoff) and got dinner (plane food has never tasted so good!) and got to England.

We missed our train last night so we’re leaving this morning. Obviously I am wide awake as it’s 9 am although Neil is still sleeping because it’s actually 7 am. Silly time change. Oh well!

Yay London! Or in the words of Joey Tribiani, “London baby!”

Sunset from cruising altitude as we finally were on our way: