Don't you hate winter?

Before we went to China, Peter had never seen snow. He (and our daughter Beatrice) soon discovered that snow is pretty to look at, but after the first few minutes it can be really unpleasant and even painful.

We had hoped that winter in Istanbul wouldn't be so bad. All people had told us was that "Winter in Istanbul is just miserable weather".

So we have been waiting to find out just what "miserable" means. We've been waiting beautiful day after boringly beautiful day!


No wind, no rain (other than an occasional shower), no snow ... beautiful clear skies. A couple of nights ago it was foggy - that was different!


Middle of January, here are people sitting around at the railway station waiting for a train. Miserable weather? I suppose there are still a few weeks left for it to rain or snow or whatever.

What were we doing sitting around watching people sitting around at the railway station?

Well, at our favourite railway-side 'bufe' - little cafe/kiosk place with outside tables. For a couple of lira - less than a couple of dollars - you can get a delicious, fresh chicken doner, with all the fresh veges you could wish, and a cup of ayran (salty yoghurt drink, my favourite).

Yeah. Don't you just hate winter!