Sunday, April 26th
We got to Istanbul that evening. It was a long slow drive. We checked into our hotel (same room as before) and got some dinner.
Monday, April 27th
We rode a train to the aquarium in Istanbul. Actually the train didn't quick go all the way there and we had to taxi the rest of the way.
The kids had a blast! They just ran from one tank to the next, and back again.
Lots of big fish!
Hyrum loved it! He was still really small the last time we went to the Aquarium in Monterey, so this was like a first for him.
This tank was huge. First, we saw it from the top and then we went down and got the whole view. Lots of big sharks.
The kids found King Triton!
Big block of ice. Hyrum was so funny with this. He wanted to touch it but was scared.
Shark attack!
Hyrum liked to tunnel.
An awful rain forest part. It was so hot and humid it made me sick. The kids loved the piranhas.
I thought this sign in the bathroom was funny!
The aquarium was connected to a big mall. We had some lunch there. Took a taxi to the train. Almost all the kids fell asleep! We spent to rest of the evening in the hotel room watching movies. Josh got us some dinner and we ate it in our room.
Tuesday, April 28th
We did school in the morning. The we walked around the Sultanahmet Park (by the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia). We went down for a boat ride. We walk through all the windy streets. This place is crazy to try to drive. Walking is best. All the street wind around and there are so many one ways.
The boat was pretty crowded. It was a long ride (over 2 hours). We started in the Sea of Marmara and up the Straight a bit towards the Black Sea. The kids sat inside for a bit.
Hannah
Katie
Lots of jelly fish.
Joseph loved the big battleship.
My pretty girl up at the front of the boat.
Joshua and Michael taking in the scenery.
Hyrum wanted to sit with the big kids.
Hannah enjoying watching the water.
An old lighthouse out in the water. Apparently now it's a restaurant and museum.
Perhaps 2 hours is a bit long for kids! They were tired.
Getting off the boat.
We had a long walk back to the hotel, but the kids made a fun adventure of it. They loved all the flowers! I've never seen a city with flowers like Istanbul!
You'd think the kids would stop getting excited to see the stray cats, but it never got old.
Josh was patient with our slow pace. Thank goodness for all the benches!
We stopped and got a pizza. We ate it on a small strip of grass.
kids chillin'.
I love the old pillar. There are so many old pillars they seem to just get tossed aside.
The worker in the hotel by where we sat came out and brought the kids suckers and drinks. People love kids here.
These pictures are actually from our first day in Istanbul.
Trying some nasty street food. It was pretty bad.
Hyrum eating a cinnamon rolls thing. hard and not very sweet.
Katie with a sandwich. The meat is like a really bad balogna.
Same type of meat in the "hot dog".
The kids did like the soda. It was different too. Josh and I didn't care for it.
Chasing birds.
Back to the boat ride day. I love these flowers! We tried some corn on the cob. It was the worst corn ever!
Walking by the Hagia Sophia.
It was raining just a bit.
This is suppose to be the worlds largest flower carpet in the world.
Tulips, and tulips, and more tulips!
We went back to the hotel to pack up again for our Morocco trip.
Wednesday, April 29th
We got up early to drop off our rental car and get to the airport. We did school while waiting for our plane.
It was a long 6 hour flight, the kids did really well.
