Day 66, 8 September 2012, Istanbul to Morocco. Via Madrid - Very, very productive day on the travelling front. We leaped out of bed at 4 am. OK, slight exaggeration. But definitely perkier than we have been due to the soft bed. We were at the airport within 5 minutes of leaving the hostel due to non-existent traffic and it actually took much longer to get through the onion-like layers of airport security. For once I looked like the terrorist risk - jacket off, boots off, pockets empty and the metal clasps in my bra were still making the machine beep. Fortunately I got to keep my dress on! The first airport lounge of the day was the British Airways international lounge. Sorry excuse for an airport lounge. Even the fruit was sealed in plastic bags. The packets of crisps and kit-kats were however perfectly designed to provide sustenance for the rest of the day.... The flight however on Iberian Airways to Madrid was excellent and a hot, non-Turkish breakfast was just what the doctor ordered. The best was yet to come however. We made it through the Madrid airport (superb, gorgeous, delightfully designed.... no wonder the country has no money) and into the Iberian Airways lounge (internet picture above). Now that's a lounge! Fabulous hot showers, fluffy towels, and bacon. Most importantly bacon. Our first hint of lovely, non-Islam, Europe! The breakfast buffet was closing and we secured frittata, omelettes and bacon for an early lunch. Followed by Haagen-das icecream and all washed down with multiple small bottles of Cava (Spanish sparkling wine). Aside from the drinks and eats and sheer salubriousness of the surroundings, the nicest thing about the lounge was the peace. The quiet. The tranquil serenity of it all. It is only when one leaves Turkey that one really notices how much people yell at, to and about each other in that country. It seems to the western eye that as long as people are in eye-shot of each other then the Turkish assumption is that they are definitely close enough to talk to. In any event the lounge was exceedingly peaceful until a dear, dear friend in Sydney Skyped us - quite happy she was on her birthday (you know who you are!) and we were huddled around the iPad in the middle of the lounge whispering... hilarious... those loud Australians! All too soon our 2 hours of Spain were up and we left the lounge with regret to trek to our next departure gate.... North Africa/Marocco/Maroc - Allons-y!