Today is checkout day. Our bill for six people was alarmingly small considering the amount of room service we had. I also got my passport back. They hold it in their office to probably keeping you from absconding.

We leave around 1:00 pm to catch a 5:30 plane and the kids are catching a 9:30 plane. One night near the airport and then off to Munich in the morning.

I am not looking forward to the three hour ride to Dalaman in the shuttle. Mary is off to the cabanas and the Mediterranean for a last swim. Last minute goodbyes to everyone with promises to return someday to this beautiful place which probably won't be kept. But it's a worthy sentiment.

The ride to the airport was fast and hot. I mean real fast. Rocket ship fast. We were there in 2.5 hours. Through the security check points in less than 15 minutes. Ann finally got the cheeseburger she has been jonsing for for two days at a cafe in the airport. Life is good.

We split with Ann, Kirsten, and Mickey at the airport. They are off to the Mosques and Bazaars for the next three days before returning home. Mary and I had a one hour cross town cab ride to the Courtyard Marriott near Ataturk Airport in preparation of our trip to western Europe. Driving onto the Marriott property our cab was searched at the entrance and examined with mirrors underneath. Entering the lobby, our baggage was X-rayed with a machine similar to airport scanners and each arriving guest goes through a personal screening including wanding. Very elaborate screening for a hotel. I am thinking that sometime in the past a Marriott Hotel was attacked by terrorists?

A quick drink in the hotel bar and off to bed.