TURKIYE

Why Turkey, I say why not Turkiye. Actually it was my daughter's idea to go play in Turkey for two weeks. So her and two of my friends that went to China decided to go with me.

Turkey is the land of everything. It was the beginning of the world and the center of history. It has been the middle of most cultures and most wars. Still to this day some cultures would like a piece of Turkey, but Turkey will stand strong against such advances because they are a proud people with a beautiful culture and country.

Did I gain a new appreciation for the muslim faith, you bet. Did I gain an understanding of christianty and my inherent background, definitely. Turkey was laid before us in all of its beauty and past.

You bet I was a little skiddish to think of taking my daughter, mother of two babies, to a country that was so close to Iran and Iraq, but as the days approached I felt a real sense of calmness and surety of wanting to go there. I definitely wanted to spend it with Ammie and my friends.

All things are based on your surroundings of how successful it maybe and with the true friendships of 42 people on a bus, almost 24/7, this trip turned into a successful experience I will not soon forget. As it once was said "Two of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world - the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus and the Temple of Diana at Ephesus. Little of these wonders remain, but with the ruins of 12 great civilizations the whole of Turkiye is one vast open air museum." I cannot bring you the smells, the food, and the friendships, but I can sure try. Travel with me through Turkiye ...

Bazaar, bazaar, bazaar

We left on St. Patrick's Day. Coincidently, my favorite holiday so all of us were dressed in green. Delta all the way to Istanbul. My first impressions were very different from my last impressions. I truly felt nervous and unsure that this was going to be a good experience. We landed around 8:30 a.m. We had been up all night so off for a quick two hour nap and then off to the Bazaar of 4,000 shops. Can you imagine the damage one woman could do with a Visa in this area.
Hey lady how many camels for your daughter?

Honey I'm just bringing a little teapot home!!!

Some tea while I spend your money for you?

Prior to dinner we met up with most of the people in our bus and Dilek our soon to be tour guide. She gave us a quick preview of what we were in store for and then off to dinner and definitely off to bed.

Blue is the color of the day!!!

We woke up to rain and cold, but in spite of the weather we tried to make the most of it. We left for the Blue Mosque or Sultan Ahmet Cami. I wasn't off the bus 10 steps when I landed in the biggest puddle. Now not only rain and cold, but wet as well.
We soon realized that Dilek was not just a tour guide, but a fountain of information and spirituality. While sitting at the back of the Blue Mosque she explained the Muslim faith, how they prayed, what they did everyday and how beautiful this religion was. It brought my fears to rest that these people had the same wants, fears and desires that I did, they just showed it in a more spiritual way.




Topkapı Sarayı (Palace), this is where the sultans lived with all of the wives and many workers and soldiers. Jewels, jewels, jewels. Ammie and I wanted to try on the sultans clothes, because we knew they made the sleeves tooooo long. It was amazing walking through the courtyards.



Aya Sofya (Hagia Sophia), It was the largest Christian church in the world at one time. Muslims do not believe in ideology so they wiped the faces of Jesus off of the walls and replaced it with their spiritual script. In this very large building you find a sense of peace knowing so many people before you have been there to gain understanding of God.






The Yerebatan Sarayi - Basilica Cistern: This was used to storing the imperial water supply.


Ironically the head of Madusa is found holding up the columns of the cistern, who would have thought...

The Spice Market: Hey lady want some spices, just come on in...



We finished off a very busy but successful day with a new friend from Istanbul. Stephanie. Stephanie is a teacher with the international school. Her and her husband have lived in Turkey for 6 years and plan on staying for the rest of their lives. It seems so strange but she seems really happy. She was quite informative and fun to talk to.

It's still raining!!!!

Brad Pitt here we come

Off along the Marmara Sea to a ferry waiting us.

We had lunch along the Sea and then headed out to the other side to Troy.


Dilek had explained that she had taken her Mother and Grandmother to Troy with great expectations to please them both, they were both disappointed with the few rocks that were there and she was hoping we wouldn't feel the same disappointment. ARE YOU KIDDING. We fell in love with Troy knowing Brad had been here, NOT REALLY. But we were amazed at the city. I think at this point I realized that if it wasn't for Dilek this place would have been just a pile of rocks along with a fake horse. She made it so interesting and to think that people really believed it was a myth.





Off to our next hotel. The hotel was ran by a family and Dilek had told us that it was a 3 star. Inspite of the family's best efforts to please everyone, I think Ammie and I were cheated somewhere. Our friends had beautiful rooms overlooking the sea. Ammie and I got a very delapted room that smelled. The tub was so small I don't think a rabbit could sit in it. Believe me there were plenty of rabbits that tried. But we tried to make the best of it along with the beautiful sunset.

Empresses amongst the pillars

Pergamon a thriving Hellenistic city was once a centre of culture, commerce and medicine to rival the other centres of Mediterranean Hellenism such as Ephesus. I soon realized that this trip was so lost on me.









I forgot to read the bible before coming on the trip. I also forgot to read all the greek mythology, along with all the roman history books necessary to stay with it. Where was my informative husband when you need him. Oh but again I have Dilek.

Just down the hill was Apostile Paul's church.

Then off to our beautiful hotel on the sea. Kusadasi.