Review of Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Paris in Economy

Hello everybody
This report is part of the following itinerary:
LGW-IST on november 28th TK 1982 : no report
IST-ADB ((Izmir) on november 28th TK 2336: no report
ADB-IST on december 2nd: http://flight-report.com/fr/report/20542/Turkish-Airlines-TK2317-zmir-ADB-Istanbul-IST
IST-CDG on december 2nd: this report
Arriving from Izmir, flight is slightly late but I have plenty of time as the layover between both flights is 2h40; but the landing plane is parked at large and there is a long long long bus ride on miles and miles and miles to the domestic terminal entrance.
Once in the terminal building I think the way out is not clearly marked and I follow a series of small corridors and stairs until I eventually reach the large gallery which connects boths terminals to the underground station. I have a short break to visit the loo and eventually get into the international terminal.
Like in Izmir there is a luggage Xray control and body scan before entering the building itself. It goes rather fast.
I got my boarding pass to Paris when checking in in Izmir and I have no much problem to go through each stage with my small wheeled carry-on bag.
So after a quick look around (I had kept in mind the image of a very modern airport since my last flight off IST in 2007, but it seems a bit gloomy today, the light perhaps?)
Oh!!! after the Xmas tree at Izmir airport, it seems they celebrate Xmas over here too.

I walk to the immigration line. There seems to be immigration 1 and 2 but sign for 2 is visible only once you are stuck into queue for 1; did I miss something?
Crowdy!!

After all the long 2h40 layover will be very very helpful; in spite of more than 20 police officers on duty and what seems rather quick process for each passenger, the queue winds around for meters and meters and seems to flow very slowly.
But no other way to go, so just stay patient and it will be alright.
And indeed, 45 minutes later it's done and am ready to go through security. Fortunately it goes rather fast and am lucky to be on a fast queue where nobody has any problem or too many items to check.
So all in all there is just one hour left before departure time.
BP issued in Izmir

doesn't show boarding gate but it will be 711; I guess this is far away and presumably plane at large since boarding is announced 60 mn prior take off. So I walk quickly through shopping area (I hardly ever buy things at airpors).
Yes indeed it's a long way to the gate

and when I reach it, the staff in charge of boarding is just settling down. There are still 50 minutes left before flight but 45 minutes before, comes the first call. I'm deaf and as usual it's totally inaudible in spite of my earaids. I mentioned this as a special request when booking, TK thus asked me to check in at counter (I could not check in on website) but totally ignored the situation at check in and boarding (which was not the case when I flew on QR for instance).
Anyway most passengers are now gathering in two lines, so I choose one at random and wait and see.
Bingo, it was the right line for me as when staff takes my boarding pass, it is ok
Boarding is by bus, and happily enough bus moves off just once I'm on board.
I guess my boring story makes you drowsy; so wake up now and this picture is just to remind you the story starts in Istanbul !!!

Sorry, weather was very bad and bus windows not that clear…
Plane is not far. I'm one of the first out of bus, right at bottom of stairs to front door which I choose since my seat is 6F.
Nice welcome by smiling staff, I walk through business class which is a real 2-2 biz with no barred central seat; I think I'll travel biz next time…
As I mentioned in ADB-IST report, I booked my seat on an A330, but there was a change and my selected seat was changed to 6F on the A321; staff in Izmir had offered me another seat but did not tell me it was a bulkhead seat which of course is not the best for my legs…Hard luck!!!

But once in my seat the pitch is quite acceptable

Yes indeed it's A321 200

I hope I won't have any neighbour, but right after me comes a young lady on 6D, and eventually a gentleman on 6E just a few seconds before doors are closed.

But they are very well behaved people and will be nice travel companions.
Gradually, our plane is getting full

We leave on time and I make a short video until a FA asks or rather orders me to switch off my iphone, which I do.
Unfortunately my videos are too big files to be uploaded on this website, but if anyone can tell me how to do it, I'll appreciate his help.
Bulkhead seat, therefore the screen is in armrest, but at least there is a personal IFE just like on all other TK aircrafts I flew on.
Once again I'm amazed to have such a choice on a Y european flight. I'll watch a film (new version of "Far from the madding crowd")

and then will follow my flight over Austria Germany and France.

Screen and sound offer good quality in spite of the plug which doesn't match tightly with the socket;

Anyway we both have a fight for a few minutes, and guess what? I won!! and after a while I could get fair quality sound!
Short after take off, a meal is served, with a choice of meatballs or chicken; choice is presented by a french speaking FA;

I take chicken, nice meat, lovely sauce and enough rice to satisfy my stomach; dessert is very tasty smooth and not too sweet.

I never drink wine so no comment; I'll have tea after meal, a refill will be offered.
To me this is perfect.
After a long flight over Paris by night we arrive on time and after taxiing a few minutes we park at T1. Quick passport check by immigration officers in the gangway, then the long underground moving sidewalk to main building. The terminal is almost empty except a few korean passengers who do a last purchase before flying off back home.
We have to walk half way round the " camembert" before getting to the glass gangway signed "sortie".
There is no other landing flight at that time, biz class passengers have taken the priority line, I was the third Y pax out of the plane, so when I arrive at immigration there are more police officers than passengers and I'm thru in a minute.
Then lift down to the VAL, quick train ride to terminal 2 and railstation where I get just 30 minutes after landing, not bad!
And then a TGV to Lille, home sweet home.
Have you enjoyed i? Just tell me… Thanks