East meets West in Istanbul, Turkey

I knew I would love Istanbul—mosques, fresh scent of kebab and tea in the air, and a true East-meets-West metropolis. Christian’s older brother had gone there years ago with his wife and he loved it, describing it as a place with such a unique mix of cultures and that it was most certainly the best city in Europe. Hearing this and also knowing just how important Istanbul has been for so many centuries (it’s the former Constantinople for Petes-sake!), Istanbul was definitely on our list of places to visit. Last Easter we took advantage of our 4 day weekend and jetsetted across Europe to Turkey. We were really excited that Christian’s twin brother (I have a twin sis too! Actually we’re part of a weird network of twins that is definitely deserving of a separate post, you won’t believe it!) and his girlfriend were also craving a quick getaway, so they joined us for the weekend. All the great things we heard about Istanbul were about to come true...and did!

The four of us bunked in a hostel and ventured around the city, kicked off our shoes to enter the Blue Mosque and explored the grandeur of both the Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar. Istanbul actually sits on two continents—Europe and Asia—and being there almost makes you forget about the Western world altogether. The streets were filled with kebab stands and markets selling exotic lamps and the women were quite fashionably clothed from head-to-toe with colourful head scarves and garments. The skyline is riddled with mosques which every now-and-then call its inhabitants to prayer 5 times a day. Christian and his bro were ofcourse happy campers with some of the most delicious Turkish food we’ve tasted—kebabs, pides, fresh Turkish bread for dirt cheap. I was stoked because the city was run amok with cute little kitties (Christian and I from then on dubbed Istanbul ‘Kitty City!’). Getting lost in the Grand Bazaar and the small streets surrounding Sultahnemet Square felt like we stepped back in time and four days in Istanbul went by fast but we enjoyed every minute. Our nightcaps usually consisted of a few local Efes beers and some puffs on an Apple or Melon flavored waterpipe (when in Rome right?). Time to let the pics do the talking :)

Heaven on Earth in Buena Vista, Mexico

No matter where I venture in the world, there is always one place that is eternally one of my favorites: Buena Vista, Mexico, a place that is truly undiscovered with the most crystal clear water and pristine beaches you may have ever seen. Ever since I can remember I’d vacationed there with my family—fishing, swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, riding ATVs and enjoying spending the day laying on a beach with absolutely no one in sight. Long before I was born, my parents also fell in love with the place (although I know my pops loved the fishing opportunities), bought a plot of land there several years ago and built a house there—it’s the most magical place in the world. The house sits one row away from the beach with a 360-degree view of the Sea of Cortez and was designed by my parents (but mostly my mom!) and has been the sight for so many memories—my dad’s 50^th birthday, my brothers annual fishing trips with their college buddies and soon-to-be wives, and a place for me and my family and friends to unwind after middle school, highschool, spring break and now me as an adult. Although the house has now been sold off to new owners, we are still able to rent it every once in a while. Last year on a trip to visit California, Christian and I decided to hop down to Buena Vista for a week and bask in its greatness. I was SUPER excited to show Christian a place I had always talked about. It turned out to be even better than I planned! My twin sister decided to join, my older brother and sister decided to tag along too (‘a trip to the East Cape? Are you kidding me? OFCOURSE I’M IN!’), my best friends Julia (her third time!) and Sara (also a frequent visitor) decided to come along too and ofcourse my parents :). Only a few hours flight from So Cal, we jetsetted down to Cabo San Lucas and drove the 1-2 hours north to get to the small, secluded beach town—a place where I’ve played on the beach every year since I was 4 and subsequently ate the same beef enchiladas year-after-year from the best spot in town—Tio Pablo’s. My dad’s longtime friend Mark, pro fishermen and Dive master, took us ‘O’Banion kids’ for a snorkeling trip to Muertos Bay equipped with enough beer to keep us good and happy for the boat ride, and ofcourse at the request of my fisherman-older-brother, we plopped some fishing poles in the water on the way back. My mom’s best friend Sharon and I think it’s a great spot for a wedding one day…wink wink!