Awestruck!

  TAJ MAHAL!  A must for anyone who would like to see a modern day wonder of the world.  Josh and I were blown away by its majesty.  We headed out to the Taj Mahal early Monday morning with our guide and toddler toys.  Our guide was informative and patient with Anabel's frequent need to run for birds, chipmunks and rocks.  Josh and I took turns learning the history while trying to absorb the grandeur that stood before us.  

  Basic history, an Emperor by the name of Mumtaz Mahal created this masterpiece for his 3rd wife (ladies-I did ask what the 1st and 2nd wife got, but apparently they did not bear children-so nothing) Shah Jahan who died in childbirth with her 14th child (seriously, I would ask for a wonder of the world too if I had 14 kids). Work started the same year she died and finished 22 years later in 1653.  It took 22,000 laborers and 1,000 elephants to finish the marble edifice of love.  The end result is breathtaking.  

  After our morning of wonder, we headed straight to the train station.  As I mentioned before our travelling schedule was daunting at best.  We spent 3.5 hours on a train with a 7 hour wait in the airport to start or 9 hour flight, 3 hour layover in Paris, 3 hours to Turkey than an hour drive to the hotel.  I am tired writing that sentence.  Needless to say, Anabel was more than happy to wake up at 4 am that night (due to Muslim 5 day prayer blaring over the speakers) and requested to sleep with us.  YAY! (enter sarcasm here).  We survived.  

  The last days have been in beautiful Istanbul.  It is a clean, modern city with ruins everywhere.  We went to the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkaki Palace, and Basillica Cistern.  We've eaten doner/kebab everything, pide (like pizza with no sauce) and baklava.  We've also invested money in the shopping mall due to lost luggage incident at the beginning of our trip.  We both wish we had more time here.  It is a place that deserves at least 2 weeks...Tomorrow is a new day though.  In the words of Anabel when asked what are we doing tomorrow and she responded:  "Airplane".  She is right, we are heading to Cappadocia tomorrow...

Anabel enjoying a sunny morning at the Taj

No longer enjoyable, now just hot

Apparently sliding across the marble will keep you cool, keeps the floors clean too

Anabel interested in learning how to make "the pretties" she saw at the Taj

Two belles outside our cafe in Istanbul

Anabel feeding the pigeons...if only they would let her hold them

Shell about to enter the Blue Mosque

Anabel thinks she can sneak up on a sleeping puppy. Its not the puppy who is surprised

Outside the palace

Anabel is intrigued by the endless information available on the audio guide

Reluctant to enter the harem after hearing what it was on the audio guide

Continuing the tradition of pooping on famous places, Anabel leaves her mark on the Hagia Sofia

A little scared by the cistern, but delighted to find the fish beneath

  Bye for now.  Thank you for all the prayers, our transitions have been filled with a calm feeling that God is with us.