Istanbul by Car, with Three Kids

It was a sudden decision, to leave the rainy Bucharest with all the kids and to head South, to Istanbul. Of course we knew long time before the girls will have a week of spring holiday, but we didn't plan anything due to Bogdan's hectic work schedule and difficult weather conditions. The idea to go in Istanbul came only few days before we actually did it, and now I think it was one of the best holiday ideas ever. 

We were scared about this trip, mainly because we never took all the kids by car on such a long distance (eight hours drive, 625 kilometers from Bucharest to Istanbul). But our fears prove themselves unfounded, the children were well behaved and we didn't come back after the first corner, as it happened before. To make you feel better, I'll unveil the secret: the DVD from the back seats, where they watched "How to Train Your Dragon" five times in a row. Not to spoil the surprise, but when we came back they watched it only three times. "The Lion King" was the other choice.

We left Bucharest in a showery Sunday and we slept overnight in Arbanassi, in Bulgaria, not before a short stop at Hotnitsa water fall we discovered last year (I wrote about it HERE).

©ABV Photos

©ABV Photos

©ABV Photos

For that night I had a small luggage only with everybody's pijamas, toiletry products and clean clothes to wear the next day. Is good to travel by car, you can afford more luggage, but I tried to keep it at minimum possible and I reused the children outfits anytime I could. 

Runa and Bogdan went to see the castle in Veliko Tarnovo, while I spent the cold and rainy afternoon in the swimming pool with Radu and Mara. Heaven! 

©ABV Photos

©ABV Photos

©ABV Photos

©ABV Photos

©ABV Photos

©ABV Photos

In the morning it was heavy snowing over the mountains, but despite the bad weather, we reached Istanbul in about six hours from departure. 

If you go in Istanbul by car, be prepared to wait for hours in the awful traffic, there are 14 million people living in this city and I think they all have cars.

The hotel was in Besiktas, a beautiful and green neighborhood with very weak links with the old city center (no tramway, no subway, and only one direct road with three inter-changeable lanes). But it was a boutique hotel rich furnished in an opulent ottoman style, with gorgeous gardens, so it was worth the effort.

 

And now, someone please tell me, how am I suppose to choose only 30 pictures from all the 2000 Bogdan made during our five days in Istanbul?