So every time I think of a blog post...Jessica decides to use the same one but good thing we don't have any mutual friends ha ha! I know that this isn't the most original phrase for a blog post about a trip to Turkey (probably the least original) but that's okay, I don't boast any creativity.
Our trip to Turkey was just the longest field trip I've ever been on but also, the greatest trip I've ever taken. Just so many sites every day and hurry here and hurry there but all worth it. By the third or fourth day, all of the ancient sites (ruins, temples, etc.) started to blend together and everything was looking more and more similar. But despite everything, I had so much fun and learned more about the New Testament and the Apostles (Paul, John and others) in 7 days than I have in the last 20 years.
We started out our tour on Sunday, flying from Tel Aviv to Istanbul. For a 1 hr 47 min flight we arrived at the airport more than 3 hours early. In all of my flying (which I admit is not very extensive) have I ever been through so many security checkpoints. We went through 2 or 3 security/luggage checkpoints before we could even walk up to the counter and get out boarding passes. After this we had to go through more security/passport checks, at least 5 more, before we arrived at the gate. Whew! It was quite the ordeal but very interesting.
This is a picture of the sunset over Istanbul and you can see in the background at least three mosques and the Bosphorous Straits in the foreground.
First views of the Marmara Sea from the bus driving to our hotel
These are the old walls of Constantinople, capital of the Ottoman empire
Sunset in Turkey over the Bosphorous Straits
Ancient Aquaduct from the Byzantine Empire
After staying the first night at the super classy Cartoon Hotel in Istanbul, we spent all of Monday touring the sites of Istanbul. We started out in the old city and entered through one of the ancient gates.
At the lookout on a balcony connected to the Grand Treasury display in the Topkapi Palace compound in Istanbul
This is the ultimate power stance.
The ornate ceilings and walls in Topkapi Palace, the Palace of the Sultans
View of Blue Mosque, Aya Sophia Museum and other mosques in Istanbul from Topkapi Palace
The Blue Mosque
I couldn't take any pictures inside but it was stunning, using the same bright blue tiles inside that are on the outside of the Dome of the Rock
Istanbul spans two continents with a portion on the European continent and another on the Asian continent.
This is one of the carriages used by the Sultans, kept in a museum in the Topkapi Palace Compound
I am obliviously fascinated with the ornate features and architecture of Topkapi Palace
This is the gate that we left the old city out of, displaying the common murals with fancy Arabic writing
Beautiful view from the Palace of the Sultans
We went to Troy, modern day Troas, and read excerpts from the Illiad by Homer in the theater at Troy...what an experience! And, of course, the original Trojan Horse is on display and still in great condition!
While cruising on the ferry, we passed a barge called the MSC LAUREN :)
Dr. Chadwick teaching at Nicea about the importance of the Council of Nicea
The Coast of the Aegean Sea as we left the fish restaurant on a ferry
A view of the pools created by the hot springs at Pamukkale (Hierapolis)
When we first saw these hills I thought that it was snow, they were so white! The minerals in the water leave deposits on the hillside but a while ago, many of the hotels in the area were using up the spring water and the pools turned from white to brown from lack of water. The springs have since been restored and the hills are white again.
I looked up during the Dr. Muhlestein's testimony and Taylor is standing there with one shoe on and the other off...ha very interesting
Jacey and I wading in the pools at Hierapolis, "Cotton Castle"
This post is just getting so long and I'm not even finished! For a few days in the middle of the trip I thought that my camera was broken because it was saying "memory full" and I had only taken 20 pictures. It took me a few days to check the memory card and just as I had suspected, it had come loose somehow. This is why I have no pictures on my camera of Miletus, the Asclepion, the Acropolis or my favorite place, Ephesus. The library at Ephesus is amazing along with the theater and the residential district. I had my friends take pictures for me while my camera was out of commission so those will follow in a later, hopefully shorter, post.
Our last two days were in Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire and then back to Istanbul for the flight back.
This is the Grand Mosque in Bursa, 5th largest Mosque in the world
Stained glass and Arabic murals on the walls in the Grand Mosque
The covered look isn't my best look but I wanted to get a picture of the large crowd of women that were also in the Mosque with us, all were wearing the traditional burqa with faces or even just their eyes uncovered.
This was just such a beautiful fountain right below the skylight dome in the Grand Mosque
Prayer beads at the Mosque
Cleansing Fountain for use before prayer at the Grand Mosque
I won't put a caption underneath all of the pictures I took at Aya Sophia, a church that was converted into a Mosque and is now a Museum. It is magnificent and boast many fine Christian Mosaics as well as Islamic relics.
This is a marble jar used to hold the water to clean yourself before prayer
Mary and the Baby Jesus
Justinian on the left, offering the Aya Sophia and Constantine on the right, offering Constantinople to Jesus
View from the Aya Sophia out to the Marmara Sea
So, after all of that we flew back to Jerusalem at 11:30 pm, arriving at 4:00 am to the JC. Needless to say we were all exhausted the next day or two! We have resumed our classes and it feels so good to be home. I can't believe that a month ago today we were sitting in orientation meetings here, totally falling asleep because of extreme jetlag.
I'm not sure what I expected when going to Turkey but I do have to say that it exceeded all my expectations. Can't wait for Jordan in 3 weeks!
