Down By the Bay

Life has been non-stop the past few weeks, so it was nice to have a relaxing Sunday at home today. But by the time evening rolled around we felt the need to go outside even though the minute you step outside you start sweating profusely. It may have still been 106 degrees at 6pm today, but we headed out into the heat anyway for a fun family adventure. 

We decided to take the kids to the sea since there's always a nice breeze there which makes the heat a little more bearable. We hopped on the train and rode to the center of the city and bought some ice cream to cool off. The kids had fun feeding (and chasing) the pigeons and watching the water fountains. Then we walked down by the water for a little and then took the ferry across the bay to the other side of the city. 

We have these handy dandy little cards called Kent Cards which are like travel passes that you can buy to travel on public transportation at a lower cost. We put money on our cards and when we ride on the bus, train or ferry we just swipe our cards and a little screen will show us how much money is left on our cards. The great thing about them is that after you swipe it once, any public transportation you ride on in the next 90 minutes is free. I love free! 

So we had fun with that tonight. We went to the city center by train, took the ferry (for free) to another part of the city, then hopped on a bus (only Joel's card was free this time, I must have JUST missed the 90 minute cut off) to get back home. All three modes of public transportation in one night and all for 4.65 lira - about 3 dollars! It was so much fun for the kids - well, until the bus. Poor little Vienna threw up her chocolate ice cream all over me on the bus on the way home. And we also didn't get on the right bus to go home, so we ended up having to walk a little farther and were hot, sweaty and tired till we reached home.

But it was fun while it lasted :)

Colson and Vienna waiting for the train - Colson is either hugging Vienna or trying to choke her. Not quite sure, but judging by the look on his face I'm going to go with choke.

the famous clock tower in the center of our city

a small mosque near the clock tower

Vienna enjoying the fountains

Colson having fun feeding the pigeons

Vienna joining in too

best friends

I love capturing these sweet brother/sister moments

the ferry we rode on

Joel and Colson riding on the ferry

Me and Vienna, not the greatest picture of Vienna, but I'm usually the one taking pictures so I rarely am in any. I was actually there :)

The Aegean Sea