Rahil, his parents, two of his Masis, and his maternal grandparents arrived in Istanbul on Wednesday, June 16th. Rahil spent most of his time either examining this incredible city's nooks and crannies with his family or pretending he was a paper-airplane-flying lion.

Trip highlights included excursions to the Blue Mosque, the Haghia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Grand Bazaar, several toys stores, the aquarium at Forum Istanbul, the Hippodrome, the Spice Bazaar, Iskitlal Caddesi, Taksim Square, the Cartoon Hotel(!), the ferry to Asia, a telescope store, and to Istanbul University. Rahil ate too much candy, raced slot cars, rode a city bus for the first time, took the tram and the funicular, ate olives, roared like a lion, drank a lot of chocolate milk, met his friend Zoya, posed endlessly, swam, and repeatedly had his head patted and cheeks pinched by locals.

For videos of:

Rahil in the Forum Istanbul Aquarium, walking under the huge tank:

Rahil racing slot cars for the first time ever, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMq_CYILfes

Rahil sampling Turkish Delight for the first time, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYQKzqq8kMU

Rahil being frightened of pigeons in Taksim Square, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZV6ps1KWPA

For a short time-lapse video of sunrise over the Bosphorus, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zAThWFhumc