Hawaii

Ok. Ok. I know this location doesn't exactly count as a travel adventure because this is my second home. But, in August 2004 my best friend from high school came out to visit. It was the first time we have seen each other in 7 years! So we took small trip to the Big Island to celebrate! Apparently time didn't wear off our friendship! We had lots of fun and alot of catching up to do! The Big Island proved to be a great place to adventure volcanos, black sand beaches, the highway HIGH roads over mountains, and a little trail hiking. Check it out!

Turkey   

 I traveled to Turkey in the summer of 2004 for 2 months.  I viewed some of the most amazing Islamic achitecture and historical sites while visiting my extended family members from my Mom's side of the family. I began the tour in Istanbul where I headed straight to the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Bacillica Cistern. These are places I had studied in art school was was happy to tour them for the first time. Next, I made my way south to Izmir where I had stayed with my cousins for 3 weeks. Antalya, located south along the mediterranean was next on my list for see my cousin Merhiban and her family. There I had only stayed a week, but it was magical and dreamy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Then, my mother  joined me about one month into the visit. The plan was to see where she lived when she was young. We rode on a 16 hour bus ride across Turkey to go visit her old village of Adcedre, just outside of Adana located in the south east. I was able to witness some of the most lovely reunions between my mother and her old relatives and friends. We were invited for lunch and dinner to an new home almost everyday. The town's people were so excited to see her after all these years gone by. It was a time never to be forgotten.