Istanbul, not Constantinople.

Next weekend stop....Istanbul, Turkey.

Where we were joined by family, Josh's dad, Rick, and my mom, Linda. Can you see how happy Josh and Maddie are to have their best friends visit? :o)

Our first night, we walked down to a square and ate all kinds of yumminess. It was surreal to keep passing the hundreds of mosques everywhere and to hear the the call to prayer five times a day. It is so loud and you can hear it all over the city.

Maddie was so happy that her Grandma was there that they slept in the same kid bed, where they were giggling and whispering late into the night.

Maddie was all about the local dress:

Dinner with my cousins Kim & Lee. Kim works for the U.S. Consulate's office in Istanbul, so going to visit her was just enough of an excuse to go all the way to Turkey. :o)

Shopping:

River Tour Cruise:

Maddie swimming in our hotel pool, which looks like a palace.

Riding in the back of a sweaty cab, hoping you won't die because the traffic is horrible and there aren't enough seatbelts to go around.

Enjoying the local cuisine:

Touring one of the Mosques:

Touring the palace of the Ottoman Emperors:

Touring the palace's "harem."

Our last night in Turkey:

The airport in Turkey was probably my least favorite time of our trip. Apparently, lines and manners and air conditioning are not a world wide custom.