Greetings and good morning. And it’s far in the morning there, mid day, here.

I’m in Istanbul, having just arrived.

I’m staying at the Four Seasons here — which, really, is the first time I’ve done this, ever — staying at a hotel like that. And it’s profoundly and unexpectedly luxurious. Really not my thing, per se, since I’d really planned on being here with another. And she couldn’t make it from Paris, so that’s that. I’m alone, which does seem to be my mode of exploration: solo. And already compelled to make my way out of here, exploring. Why wait?

And of course, I’ve seen the ravens here. Karga they are called. And grey shouldered, with the selfsame crackling call, like ratcheting wood.

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