We started our second day on this three week long journey with another first. We slept through our first night after a transatlantic flight. Every Europe trip before we've woken up in the middle of the night hungry, wide awake, and not sure what to do with ourselves. We woke up this morning at 5AM (a little too early) and felt refreshed and ready for our first day in Istanbul.

We made it! The trip we've had planned since the last few days of our China/Bali trip has finally arrived. As I sit writing this post in Istanbul, Turkey, I can tell its the start of something truly spectacular. The trip started easier then any trip before it. Instead of staying the night at an LAX hotel, Jake spent the night, the night before our departure and drove us to the airport. It tuned out to be a great start to the trip, even if we almost died trying to take a picture of us driving. 

Even though our big Europe Trip is only a couple of weeks away, I was fortunate enough to tag along with Jenn to Colorado Springs for a Taco Bell conference. If Jenn was writing this post I know within the first few sentences she would mention that I keep getting the lucky end of these deals as this is the third work trip that I've come along for (Washington DC and Stanford before it). 

A month ago Jake and I decided we were going to take a weekend trip up to the bay area to go see a 49er game at the brand new Levi's Stadium. Since Jake had a Washington DC trip planned for the first pre-season game at Levi's Stadium we bought tickets for the second game against the Chargers. 

I'll never forget the moment. We're on our very last day in Bali. Desperately trying to soak up every last second of the gorgeous Alila Villas Uluwatu when we started a quest. Our mission, to figure out our trip for 2014. We landed on an incredible 11-night Celebrity Cruise sailing from Istanbul to Rome with stops in Egypt and Israel. When we got home from our China/Bali trip we booked the cruise not too long after.

You know my only problem with mini-vacations? They go by far too quick. Today marks the last day of our quick trip to Scottsdale and boy was it a great way to end the trip. We woke up to the devastating Wimbledon finals where Federer had his opportunities to take a record 8th Wimbledon championship but fell just short. Luckily the match ended only fifteen minutes before our reservations for Sunday brunch at The Phoenician.