Next weekend, I will be in Istanbul.

Turkish Airlines, Europe’s best airline in 2013,  is sponsoring a group of bloggers/media in the GCC to see the beautiful, historic city with a side trip to Bosphorus. I’m totally excited and very honored to be part of this group! It will be only for three days (including my birthday on the 22nd!) but I’m already excited for this little break and wonderful photo opportunities.

I’ve always been fascinated by Turkey since I took interest in history: strategically located on the Bosphorus peninsula between the Balkans and Anatolia, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, Istanbul was successively the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, and the Ottoman Empire and has been associated with major events in political history, religious history and art history for more than 2,000 years.

So this trip…while I’m very ecstatic, I have my set of worries because you know me…”worry” is my middle name.

Weather forecast for Turkey at this time of the year says cool temps between 10-14C – definitely colder than Dubai! And bam, I have no ‘warm’ clothing! What to pack then? I have light cardigans and a winter coat (which I used in Japan) –  I don’t know if the light cardigans are too light or if the winter coat is too hot. Either way, I’m bringing both. My other worry is Benjamin – I am sure that he will be alright, he will be in safe environment at home and loving arms of his carer + 2 other backups (my friend and cousin) but it’s certain that there will be crying…from both of us. I am not even sure if I can sleep well thinking about him and how my body is going to cope up this weaning period (engorged, painful chest parts are more like it).

Fellow breastfeeding moms have encouraged me to go.

“You’ve done enough service…two years!”

“He will be alright. You need a little mommy break.”

This might be the perfect chance to finally wean Benjamin who at two, is still breastfeeding (for comfort, mainly at night).

It took me days to gather all my mommy courage (I’m soft on tough love) and said yes to this trip. I will be gone for 3 days and 2 nights so it shouldn’t be that bad? I’ll be video chatting with the kids as soon as I land, I am curious how Benjamin would react!

Stay tuned for photos and stories of the trip by subscribing to this blog (enter your email address at the box at the top of the right sidebar)!

Top photo credit