Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul is the only city in the world to straddle two continents—Europe and Asia.  It was the perfect stop to transition our way back towards the West.  Istanbul is a fun and lively city with so much to see, that just wandering around in a state of awe was good enough for us.  History and happenings ooze out of every sidewalk crack and around every corner in Istanbul.  We took it all in cruising from dawn til dusk, and hit the biggies like the Blue Mosque, Aya Sofia, Topakapi Palace and the Grand Bazzar.  Channing ate, what she claimed to be, the best calamari of her life under the Galata Bridge. She chased the perfect calamari with Turkish ice cream.  A simple order of two scoops comes with a comedy act that left us in giggles.  Istanbul is a fantastic place to just hang out, take it all in, and live a life with your heart and soul in both the East and West—a perfect state of being if you ask us.