Istanbul, Turkey

Turkey has been a place that Kyle and I have been talking about visiting since the first day we met, so to say that expectations were high is an understatement. Kusadasi and Cappadocia far exceeded our expectations as did Istanbul and I could not have been any happier sharing it with my entire family. It truly made this part of the trip really special and completely different.

I inherited my love of writing from my mother so to kick of this post, I asked her to share a few of her thoughts and memories from our six day adventure in Istanbul. Most people refer to me as "little Nancy" so this blog post will be coming to you from Nancy and little Nancy.

(Nancy)  I couldn't begin to describe all that we saw in and did in Istanbul so I'm leaving that to the experts Kyle and Sammar. I just wanted to contribute a few thoughts about what I'll take away from our time together. First of course are the wonderful memories of the time spent together that goes without saying, we realized just how much we missed them.

(little Nancy) The wonderful memories are not just the amazing things we saw but of course the little moments we shared together. It would not have been a Rajjoub family vacation without daddyisms. Daddyisms are the quotes my father says that only he could come up with. Highlights from this trip: 1) walking into the apartment after being in the sweltering heat, standing in front of the AC and saying in a very dramatic voice "I already hate myself" 2) while sitting in a coffee shop, putting his hat on sideways and in all seriousness saying "Farell (meaning Pharell Williams) has nothing on me.

(Nancy) Wow Istanbul where to start? The contrast of what was in store for us was evident the moment we arrived to Istanbul from quiet, serene, laid-back Cappadoccia. The crowded airport and the infamous traffic were just the tip of the iceberg. As we drove into the city you start to realize just how long this city has been in existence, the buildings are stacked upon each other along the crowded streets hugging the land between the Bosphorus and the seven hills that surround and are Istanbul. Oh my those pesky hills and stairs, words can't describe the daily 'burn'.

(little Nancy) The architecture and streets of Istanbul are completely different than any city we have visited thus far. Everywhere you look, you see so many different cultural influences and backgrounds, but somehow it all works together perfectly....except those stairs my mom referred to. Going to one of our apartments, you had to climb 216 stairs! Oh yes, we made a bet and counted one afternoon because it was just insane. Kyle and I didn't realize how much we have been walking on this trip until we had my parent's handy dandy fit bits.

(Nancy) There was so much history everywhere even right down to the cobbled streets that were like a madman's maze, and thank God for mobile google or we may be still lost wandering. But, the diversity of the people and their acceptance of each other is what struck me the most. There were people everywhere en masse with all the cultures, religions co-existing which was wonderful to see in this time of so much unrest and intolerance of differences in the world and especially in this part of the world. Istanbul was a place that embraced these differences. Giving anyone who visits here a true picture of this magnificent culture, not the distorted view that is plastered all over the media and we were so fortunate to be a part of it, thank you Turkey for your benevolence.

(little Nancy) So much history and landmarks that two of our days were 100% dedicated to making sure we checked them all off the list. Places like Galata Tower, the Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, the Spice Market, Hagia Sophia, Bascilica Cistern and so much more. Out of all of the landmarks, Hagia Sophia was by far my favorite. Turkey is truly a place where all people and religions co-exist in a way that I have never seen before other than through my parents. Hagia Sophia depicted the beauty of my own family, Christianity and Islam living in peace and love, through a beautiful building that was once a church and a mosque. Inside both Christianity and Islam are represented through the various biblical paintings and the ornate Arabic scroll from the Quran. For me, Hagia Sophia will always have a special place in my heart and is a place that has touched me in a way that I will never be able to describe.

Visiting places like the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market brought back so many memories from our visits to Syria. In these places, you could see the middle eastern influences in Turkey. They were both an even more special place for us because we met so many wonderful people working in the shops that are recent refugees from Syria. As soon as my dad would tell them where he was from, their faces lit up and they were insisting that we sit down and enjoy some tea and whatever their shop had to offer. I think it was something really special for them and my father...to feel like they still could experience a little piece of home by just sharing stories or being with a fellow countrymen. The smiles on their faces will be something I will always remember.

The beauty of Istanbul was not only in the people and the city itself, but the towns that surrounded Istanbul only added to its wonder. Thanks to our amazing friends, Anil and Nez, who gave us a holy grail email of local places to visit and see, we were able to have a wonderful day walking along the Bosphorous between a few towns about 30 minutes north of Istanbul. We enjoyed one of our favorite meals at Kale Cafe where no English was spoken and the waiters just brought us a spread of food that was beyond perfect. We all picked our dream boat while walking along the channel side. And were able to visit one of the most beautiful mosques I have ever seen, Ortakoy Mosque.

Our time in Istanbul was perfect and truly special, especially for our family. We know completely understand why Turkey is a place that so many hold close to their hearts. It has already been added to our "must return" list!