Traveling in Turkey!!

Turkey is awesome! We went on an extended field trip in Turkey this past week and it was incredible! We left Sunday and on Monday we toured all around Istanbul! Our guides name was Yasemine and she was awesome! Istanbul is actually on two different continents because the city is on both sides of the Bosphorus Strait and the west side is Europe and the east side is Asia. The main part of Istanbul with all of the historical parts is on the European side. So we went to the ancient hippodrome, the Blue Mosque, the Topkapi Palace, the Basilica Cistern and then we went to the Grand Bazar. It was one of the most awesome days ever!

Me at the Blue Mosque

Next day we woke up bright and early again and left for Gallipoli. We went to the Gallipoli Battlefield Memorial.  This was the site of a famous WWI battle.  Then we took a ferry ride across the Dardanelles and drove to Troy. Troy was sweet. Even though they don't know if the story of trojan was is real it was still a cool place. Then we went to our hotel which was right on the Aegean sea and we went swimming in the sea and had a dance party on the beach and it was sooo much fun!! 

Trojan Horse. The real one.

Next day(Wednesday) we had a long bus ride and then went to Assos which was one of my favorite spots. Out in the middle of no where was this cute little town, cobblestone roads with little houses all the way up the hill with old little babushka looking women were selling there stuff. very quaint and cool! At the top of the mountain you look out and se the Aegean Sea and there were islands out there which were actually Greek Islands so in a way I have seen greece. Assos was founded in the 7th century BC and there a large temple to Athena was built (alot of it is in the Louvre in Paris) but some of the columns were still there and it was sweet!  On the return trip at the end of his third mission Paul stopped in Toras to preach. His companions  sailed from Troas to Assos while Paul walked the 30 miles overland. He and his companions probably stood right there and preached to the people of Assos! Way cool!! After Assos we went to Pergamom Acropolis which was sweet. You had to take a tram up the hill to get there, Here is the steepest teater and contained about 10,000 seats There was a temple of Athena and it was built on the terrace about the tehater. Then the huge Altar of Zeus was located here but it is all in the Berlin Museum. It also housed the second largest liibrary in the world only second to the great library of Alexandra. Pergamum was one of the seven churches of Aia mionor to which john addressed the Book of Revelation. 

Alta and Me in Pergamum

Next day we went to the Church of St. John and the Overlook to the Temple of Artemis. Justinian constructed the Basilica of John in Ephesus over the supposed tomb of John. But we understand John was translated. But from there, we overlooked to the place where one of the seven wonders of the ancient world was, the temple of Artemis. Then we went to Ephesus. Coolest place ever. They have only excevated 10% of the city and it was huge!!! We walked forever just seeing sweet thing after sweet thing. There is a huge theater there that could hold 25,000 people. THe famous Library of Celsus was built (3rd largest library) and the facade has been reconstructed. People took some of Paul's companions to the great theater where they cried out for two hours "Great is Diana of the Ephesians" and there was a riot. Ephesus was also one of the churches of Asia minor. Then we went to Miletus There is a huge theater there and Paul warned them of the postasy  and taugh the teaching of Jesus, it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Library at Ephesus

Me and Kassie at Sardis in front of the Gymnasium

 Then we went to the beach and swam in the Aegean sea again and then we watched the sun set and it was awesome!! The next day we left and drove to Sardis which was also one of the seven churches (PS I went to 5 of the 7 churches) there are remains there also of a large temple to Artemis also there is a huge gymnasium where they would practice for wrestling and where they had baths and to the side they have a huge synagogue!

  

Brandon and I at the temple of Athena in Sardis

Then we went to Thyatria which was famous for its prodcution of purple dye which is harvested from a certain shellfish in the Mediterranean. After Paul saw the man of Macedonia in a vison he went to Thyatria where he met Lydia who was a seller of purple. Then we went to Bursa and walked around the markets there, then we went to the grand mosque there which was awesome!! it has 20 domes!! 

The next day we we wento to Iznick or Nicea which was where the first and the last Ecumenical Councils were held. We went to the acutal church where the 7th one was held which was sweet. Then we went to the Hagia Sophia!! Which was the most amazing thing ever!! Sooo cool!!! It was incredible I loved it. Way cool architecture and the coolest mosaics from they byzantine period, Then we walked around Istanbul for a bit and got on the buses to come home and then got to bed 4:00 here but really it was 3:00 because of Day light savings. So it was a great time!

Me in the Hagia Sophia

Me in the Church in Nicea

Hagia Sophia

Turkey was awesome I loved every second and I am so grateful for the opportunity to go and see all of the cool architecture and sights but also for the opportunity to learn more about the gospel and the Bible. Especially the missions of Paul and the efforts of the church after the death of Christ. Turkey is great and I already want  to go back!