vv CHAPTER ONE
Journey to Istanbul
It is early morning on a sunny spring day in April. Heathrow Airport, London, is
busy, as usual. Hundreds of people are arriving, leaving, or waiting for planes.
In the Departure Lounge of Terminal One, a man is sitting reading a newspaper.
He does not like airports. There are too many people, and he is always nervous when
he flies. He looks at his watch impatiently. Then he hears the announcement over the
loudspeakers.
'British Airways announce the departure of Flight BE570 for Istanbul. Will
passengers please proceed to Gate 16 for boarding.'
Tom Smith picks up his suitcase and walks towards Gate 16.
Twenty minutes later, the plane is preparing to leave. It moves slowly across the
airport to runway number two. Tom is sitting looking out of the window.
The plane suddenly moves forward, races down the runway and rises into the air.
Tom looks down at the houses and roads far below, and smiles. London is behind
him. Now he is on his way to Istanbul.
Tom relaxed and took a letter from his pocket.
Resat Bey Apt 11-3,
Kamerot Sokak,
Ayazpasa, Istanbul
My dear Tom,
Thank you for your letter. I am so happy that you can come and visit me for a
holiday. Life here in Istanbul is very interesting. I am enjoying my work, but I miss
you very much. It will be wonderful to see you again.
I'm sure we will have a very nice holiday. Spring is here, and the weather is
beautiful. I have to work on Monday 14th of April - the day you arrive. So I can't
come to the airport to meet you, but you can take a taxi from the Air Terminal to
Taksim Square. That's in the centre of the new part of the city. There's a big hotel
called the Park Hotel near the square. I'll meet you there at 5 o'clock. We'll meet in
the American Bar. The view over the city is beautiful.
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