Grand Bazaar in Istanbul

The Grand Bazaar has everything :-)

Super efficient - these store holders were eating breakfast off a huge roll of bubble wrap (their coffee table). 

We had a break for Turkish tea & Coffee - on tiny little stools. It was bucketing with rain outside & the roof was leaking (waterfall style). 

Trying on leather jackets :-)

Almost bought this one. The price dropped from $500AUD to $200AUD. I couldn't get the kids to let me buy them a leather jacket. 

Chef's special for 6!!! We really only made a dent in it - we needed Tom to help us finish it all off :-)

Turkish bread in Istanbul is very different to Canberra (this is super thin & hollow) - it is delicious & is made to order. 

Hagia Sophia

For our first day in Istanbul we visited the Hagia Sophia, which is a museum which used to be a Greek Othodox Basilicia & then an imperial mosque. It is absolutely beautiful & magnificent, but not the most wheelchair accessible of places (but we made it work).

Going for an early morning walk, checking out the Hagia Sophia :-)

Graffiti from the Knights Templar during the 7th crusade (crosses painted over Islamic Art)

There is a mix of Greek Orthodox Icons and Islamic religious art. 

Norse Graffiti from the 9th century

Connor & Kierryn pushed Hannah in her wheelchair up a VERY steep slippery ramp to get to the 2nd level. Without them on the trip, it would have been impossible for the rest of us to get her up to the really interesting gallery :-)

But getting to the top was totally worth it!!! Where else will you see 9th century Norse graffiti & get to hang out with your sister???

Apparently the ramp is not suitable for wheelchairs - but this sign is at the end of the bottom ramp, after you have braved the death defying up and down ramps.... But the warning is there :-p

A celebratory beer :-)

Fresh pomegranate juice

A new hat for the COLD weather. It is fur, we hope not made out of one of the many friendly Istanbul cats. 

Sometimes getting there is half the fun

We travelled from two different states on three different travel bookings (which interestingly the check out staff didn't freak out about), but we all eventually made it in one piece to Istanbul, with only only slightly damaged wheelchair road case (which will be repaired whilst we are here). 

Here are some highlights, of a very, looooong journey from Seymour & Canbera, to Istanbul....

The wheelchair case going on its own journey. 

Exercise guru Kierryn will exercise anywhere :-)

In Dubai half of us went into the business lounge & the rest of us plebs got to hang out in very nice bars drinking coffee (some of it Irish) & champagne to celebrate Nikki's book chapter having its revisions being accepted by the peer reviewer. 

Connor had fun on the plane :-) He takes his gaming very seriously

In Istanbul we are staying at the Acra Hotel in the old part of Istanbul (Sultanahmet) & it is lovely. Hannah & Connor's room has a balcony that overlooks the Haifa Sophia, the Blue Mosque & the Bosphorus - which will make it a lot easier when Hannah needs to rest up. 

A whole new adventure begins......

Over the past few years our family has been growing, so our new trip is going to be our first as this new form of family - we will be travelling as Colemans 2.0 :-)

Previously we've travelled with just the four of us, but this time, there will be six - so we expect 50% more fun!  In the past we've travelled with Jacqui on crutches, Hannah & Nikki in wheelchairs, Hannah having IV's, and still managed to have a ball.  This time, we will only have Hannah in her wheelchair, and no IV's, which is a lovely change :-)  Kierryn & Connor will be joining us for our grand adventure for the first time, and it will be the first time we've travelled like this as a family - so a whole new adventure begins.  Some of us have travelled a LOT, whilst some are just like new born giraffe's finding their feet and working out how everything works.

We expect a few hiccups as we work out how to travel with 50% more people, and 50% more "stuff", but we are looking forward to sharing this new adventure together, exploring Turkey and Greece - meeting new people, eating ALL the food, and growing closer together through our shared experiences.