Recap of our week in Turkey

We just got back from an intensive week in Turkey. We had the worst ever takeoff in the plane from Istanbul. In fact all of us thought that we weren't going to make it! We didn't get back to the center until 4 am.

We spent two days in Istanbul. I love that city and would love to have more time to explore. We went to the Hagia Sophia (first Turkey post). Then we went to Istanbul Museum where I got to see things that I've always wanted to see, such as the Siloam Inscription from Hezekiah's tunnel in Jerusalem. It talks about when the two groups who were digging the tunnel could finally hear each other just before the two tunnels met. I also got to see a copy of Hammurabi's law code, and magnificent panels from Ishtar's gate in ancient Babylon! The next day we went to the famous Blue Mosque, the bizarre for some shopping, the Bascilica cistern under the city, had a boat ride on the Bosporous, and then went to see some Whirling Dirvishes, which was a bit too much for me after an exhausting day!

Day 3 we headed out on the road, first to Gallipoli, which was great! I spoke about the ANZACS and why this place was important for both Turks and Aussies. I think that at first the students were wondering why we were going there but they all ended up having a wonderful, spiritual time! Then we went to ancient Troy and got to talk about Homer's Iliad and also about Paul's experiences at nearby Troas. Day 4 we went to ancient Assos (Paul's 3rd missionary journey). What a MAGNIFICENT view!! 

 I am standing with Abbie, and Cygnie is sitting down. This a view of the Aegean Sea. The island is called Lesbos

                          Pergamum, one of the seven cities of Revelation - a white marble temple.

Some have thought that this may be the background for the mention of the white stone with a name written on it mentioned when john wrote to Pergamum. Day 5 we went to Ephesus, which is an amazing site.

I've included a picture of the theater where Demetrius and the other silversmiths made a riot because of Paul's teachings

 and also a picture of the Main Street looking down to Celsus's library.

Then we went to Miletus, where Paul stopped at the end of his 3rd mission and invited the elders from Ephesus to come and meet with him.

Day 6 we stopped at Sardis, another one of the 7 cities of Revelation. It has the remains of a magnificent temple to Artemis and one of the earliest synagogues that has been found outside of Israel.

I've included a picture of me standing in front of an ancient Roman road. I took the picture because it followed the very ancient Persian road that went from Persepolis in Persia to here in Sardis.  We then had a long trip to Basra where we got to go shopping at a local bazaar and see another mosque.

On our last day we went to Nicea where two of the Ecumenical Church Councils were held, and then headed off to the airport. At the airport we saw a group of men who were just wearing white towels! We found out that they were on their way to Mecca to take part in the Islamic pilgrimage!

So that was our week in Turkey. It's taken a while to recuperate! At the moment we are in the middle of the Jewish High holy days. While we were in Turkey they celebrated Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year. Today is Yom Kippur, the most holy of Jewish Holy days where they seek forgiveness for their sins. In five days time they will celebrate the feast of Succot or Tabernacles.