Turkey Lurkey (Part 1)

We spent this last week in Turkey, and it was incredible. It is definitely one of my favorite places that I have ever been to. 

So the trip started up with a nice wake up call at 4am, and it was off to the airport. After waiting in a million different lines, we finally made it to Turkey. 

As soon as they got us on the bus they passed around some Turkish delight. It looks like it tastes a lot better in the Chronicles of Narnia, but it was a nice introduction to Turkey. And really the perfect introduction because there was Turkish delight everywhere. Seriously. They are serious about their Turkish delight. 

 We got out of the bus to take some pictures on the bridge. Later on, there were dophins doing full body leaps out of the water. It was pretty cool, so we made the bus driver stop again so we could watch them. 

Our first stop was the Hagia Sophia, one of the largest churches in the world. And unfortunately it was pretty cold in Istanbul.

Legend has it if you can turn your hand in a 360 in this hole in the wall than your wish will come true. 

Gwen really wanted to help me out, so she broke my arm. It was worth it for the wish though. 

Then we went to the Basilica Cistern, and as you can see, they were super cool.

The Blue Mosque by night

The Blue Mosque by day 

 We got to go inside and take a look around. 

It was so pretty and decorative that the pictures will never do it justice

It's blurry, but please notice the gigantic hanging light fixture

. 

 Then we went to Disneyland! or otherwise known as the Topkapi Palace. 

After hours of being in the cold, it was nice to enjoy a fancy indoor meal overlooking the Bosporus Strait

The view out of the front window...

The view out of the back. For lunch they served bread with soup, a salad, an appetizer, a main course, and a dessert. We got really use to this meal because we had it almost every lunch. 

Then it was off to the Grand Bazaar. We only had an hour and a half so the shopping was a bit rushed.

If only I had a house to put these in. 

 I came out with a $16 dollar Armani watch. So you know it's real. 

We then went on a ferry ride on the Bosporus

This could be the blue mosque, but there are so many that I really have no idea. 

Inside the ferry we enjoyed hot apple tea, and felt supper classy. 

At night we went out on the town. 

I wasn't kidding about the turkish delight. 

Here we are, once again, buying ice-cream.I don't know what it is about being out and about, but it only feels natural to stop for ice-cream every time. We actually got pretty obsessed with getting magnum bars in Turkey-I mean magnum bars for a little more than a dollar?!? It's a no brainer. 

Our two days in Istanbul were some of my favorite ever.