Off on ANOTHER adventure ♥

I am already on one awesome adventure to Germany but I arrived in Turkey yesterday for another adventure!

My cousin, Cindy is married to a Turkish man, Cagri. They have two little ones and her mom, my Aunt Nancy, lives with them in Istanbul, Turkey.

I flew direct from Berlin to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines. It's a great company and they we really accommodating. Instead of giving you peanuts or pretzels, they passed out hazelnuts, which is one of their commodities from what I understand.

I arrived around 3:30 p.m. but before I knew it I was already turned around. I went into the passport line,
but evidently I was supposed to get a visa before that line. I was lost. The guy was not too nice about it. After I got a visa for 15 euro, I went back into the passport line to finally get entrance into Istanbul. Cindy was waiting.

We killed sometime by stopping at Starbucks, of course, where we caught up on life and the last three years. It was so good to see her. I have always looked up to Cindy. She is a driven person who has accomplished a lot. and now has a wonderful family.

After a chai latte and splitting a piece of lemon cake we went to go pick up Cagri from work. He had sent his driver home and the three of us were going to dinner.

We left the airport at 5-5:30 and didn't get to his work until 6:45 p.m.

The traffic is unreal in Istanbul. With close to 16 million people, you can only imagine how bad it can get. Istanbul is like the New York of Turkey, people everywhere and really tall buildings with lots of flats and apartments.

By the time we got out of the airport, it was getting dark and it had already been raining so it was hard to see the scenery but from what I could tell Istanbul is very hilly with many different structures and architecture types. Mosques have been built through out that are just simply stunning.

This is one of the many Mosques.

After about an hour in traffic we came to Cagri's school where he works. It was gorgeous and so many things surrounding it. We picked him up and off we went slowly went to dinner. The traffic in town I think is worse than on the interstate but I could be wrong, there was some different techniques of driving I will say. 

We didn't get home until about 10 p.m. Aunt Nancy was waiting up while the little ones, John 4 and 1/2 years-old and Adelia, 14 months, were sleeping. Cindy, Jon and Adelia, were all sick so I didn't feel as bad coming with whatever little cold I have but the poor little guys are so sick today. 

They're house is gorgeous. It's in a gated community with lots of amenities. They live in a four bedroom apartment that is so spacious, with pretty details.

After a couple more hours of catching up and eating sugar cookies Jon and Aunt Nancy made, it was time for bed. It was a long day, full of new sights, people, sounds, and traditions. It is so good to be with family. I have missed them so much. 

Aunt Nancy just came down for my graduation about a month and 1/2 ago but she is one of the aunts I am closer to. She is such a wonderful person and I am so glad I get to spend this time with them. 

When they told me a few years back they were moving and  "You should come visit," I always said "That would be awesome, I will look into it," but I never really thought I would really have the chance or opportunity to visit them in Turkey. Little did I know what the future had in store. Now I am here, loving every bit of family time.