GetOffYourCouch

Here is a map that pretty much covers our trip to Turkey.

We started in Istanbul but just ate dinner, slept in a hotel and then got on a bus after breakfast the next morning. We went to Gallipoli and spent WAAAAAAAAAAY too much time looking at the museum, memorials and trenches. I must admit that the memorial dedicated to the families of the fallen soldiers was touching. We took a ferry and spent the night in Canakkale and got up to see Troy the next day. Troy was a bit underwhelming - it was basically "trenched" by its overzealous archaeologist in the late 1800s. He pretty much dug until he found some gold and jewels to give to his girlfriend. My favorite part was the bat cave/springs which supplied water to the cities (there were at least 9 Troys - one on top of each other). Next we went to Pergamum/Acropolis and spent the night near Selcuk. Everything paled in comparison to Ephesus which was astounding. It is a very impressive ghost town with a library (my fav), houses for nobility along a very fancy boulevard, Turkish baths and even a bordello. This is where the Ephesians lived that the apostles taught... St. John settled nearby and we saw his humble church which is dedicated to the Virgin Mary who he may have brought with him. Many people believe this is where she died.

We skipped over to Pammukale to see the travertines and thermal springs. It was quite cold and we enjoyed a dip in the thermal springs at our hotel. THEN we made a long bus trip through Konya and ended up in the Goreme Valley where Cappodocia's famous underground cities and the cave churches where religious institutes, schools and monasteries were carved out of the soft volcanic tuff (also called Kappodokya). We looped back to Ankara on the day before the memorial day for Ataturk and we were denied access to his tomb. Luckily this allowed more time to visit the excellent Anatolyan Museum with relics that go back to 4500 BC. We were fortunate to visit with Cuneyt Can - a former TAMU Baha'i Club president - who has been to the museum so many times in his life. He is now a Physic professor at the Ankara University and Director of the Baha'i External Affairs Office.

In Ankara, we boarded a plane back to Istanbul and spent the last day in the Golden Crescent visiting the Blue Mosque, St. Sofia and Topkali Palace. We finished with an hour in the Great Bazaar - which totally overwhelmed all remaining senses.

With love,
Christy

My Favorite Things to do in Turkey so far:

1. St. Sofia or Aya Sofia - beautiful Christian and Moslem icons and motifs together. Beautiful mosaics.

2.Cappodocia - unbelievable cave churches and underground cities where the early Christians trapped Roman soldiers.

3. Ephesis - amaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazing city - much better than Troy ruins

4. Rumi - Sufis - Whirling Dervishes.

5. Grand Bazaar - 4500 of the most unique souks I have ever seen (I only saw about 8).

6. Last, but not least, visiting with Cuney Can at the Antolya Museum (Hittites and other tribes PLUS King Midas) in the beautiful city of Ankara. Cuneyt is a university physics professor and the director of the Baha'i External Affairs office.

I want to go back and hike on Mt. Ararat (maybe we will find Noah's Ark??), stay in the Capella Otel in Istanbul, see Baha'u'llah's Constantinople house (closed when we were in Istanbul) and then take the Orient Express to Edirne to see Baha'u'llah's Adrianople house there.

Go if you can - it is very inexpensive right now. I met an American who had 2 special souks in the Grand Bazaar. She works with a women's craft cooperative and everything in her shops were very unusual.

With love,

Christy