We just got back from a 2 week vacation in Istanbul, Turkey. We had a great time visiting the sites, taking in the culture, and seeing Ebru’s family again. It was the first time I met Bahadir, Ebru’s brother. He really made our trip because he took time to show us around and drive us from place to place.

I have so many pictures I don’t where to begin. I’ll start with this and the rest you can see in our Photo Gallery – Turkey Vacation 2008.

We spent most of our time in Istanbul, but we did take a side trip to Izmir. From there we visited Ephesus, Kusadasi, and the last known house of the Virgin Mary.

We really got to relax by hitting the beach, getting a massage, and even a Turkish bath. Now that was an experience!

Istanbul has so much culture and history it’s just unbelievable. Castles and mosques side by side with street vendors, apartments, and cafes.

Some of the most memorable parts of the vacation were unexpected, such as the 4:30AM prayer that was chanted over the city’s loud speakers, the city traffic, and just the overwhelming number of people in Istanbul. There are people everywhere. You can find almost anything from any street vendor.

Special thanks to Ebru and Bahadir for being the tour guides. They know the language and the area so it was a safe and pleasant trip overall.

We’ll now we’re back home to our peace in quiet in our own home and it feels great! I’m sure I’ll need a vacation from my vacation. As soon as I get settled, I’ll make my rounds.