Passenger ship launch from Istanbul

Passenger ship launched from Istanbul port today 22nd May. I got up and managed to rush through some breakfast sitting with the rest of UK group before we had to make our way to the port side for a press conference and ship launch. Getting closer to the location in a cab with Mustapha, Tox and Ibrahim it became clear that this event is large. There are families and people making their way along the road towards the ship. I can see bags of red white and green balloons strapped to the back of the vessel. Huge crowd, lots of press and cameras, Palestinian and IHH flags.

A variety of people make speeches which I cannot understand as they are in Arabic or Turkish.






Then Fatima and Julia from Belgium and I jump onto a small boat that is one of 25 bobbing about near the docked passenger ship. All the boats are full of people waving flags and shouting support and the dockside is also full. There are children onboard and we make conversation, eat bread and have a cup of coffee while waiting for the big ship to be released. Finally the Mavi Marmara is released and steams away from the port side accompanied by the smaller boats for a short distance. The atmosphere is excitable and the sheer number and sound of the crowd is awesome.