Last day in Turkey and I visited the Dolmabahce Palace. It was where the last Sultan lived until he was deposed in 1923. A grand old palace right on the waterfront. Last night was the 84th Anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey. Loads of students marching about the streets shouting patriotic slogans and cars with ever sounding horns draped in the Turkish flag. This country certainly doesn’t have a problem expressing its national pride. There is hardly a building which doesn’t display the Turkish flag. One thing I won’t miss are the stray cats everywhere. I’ve never seen so many tattered specimens. Off now to the airport for the flight home.