Day Five, -- the Day of Love!

Again we had an early start. And today was our 16th anniversary! We turned the bus into the Love Bus. We played “Love Shack”, but sang lines like “I bought me a bus, its as big as a whale, and we’re about to set sail,” and sang “love bus, baby love bus!” It was fun. The whole day I had students bringing Julianne little notes I had written for her. I had purchased a necklace with her, and had gotten one she had once noted she liked but hadn’t gotten it. So I was placing these little things on her all day. Also, she didn’t know that when we had been looking for rings earlier this year and she had narrowed it down to three, I had picked up one of those three that she had not gotten as “the” ring. So, I told the students the story of how we lost her ring, and how we had saved and gotten her a new one here in Israel, and then surprised all of them and her by telling them/her how I had gotten another one of those rings for her, and gave it to her. She was pretty surprised, and I think she really liked it. It was a good anniversary in that way.

Julianne in the orange shirt she bought at Ephesus, which she then began passing around to the students, each girl gets a turn wearing it (I have one going among the men)



Wayna taking care of Jennifer, who was sick, while we learned about Ephesus



Nike at Ephesus



The first thing we did that day was go to Ephesus. This is a great site. The ruins are extensive, well preserved, and incredible. We viewed temples, libraries, houses, and a cool theater. In the theater we talked about Paul’s time in Ephesus. It was one of his most successful preaching centers. He spent between 2 and 3 years there, had many converts, and many friends. At one point, because Artemis/Diana was such a popular goddess there, and because people came from all over to worship there, and because the silversmiths who made Diana idols didn’t like losing business as folks stopped believing in Diana, there was a big riot. In the theater in which we sat they long ago hauled in two of Paul’s companions and held them there while an angry mob raged. Paul tried to get in to help them but was prevented. They shouted there “great is Diana of the Ephesians!” So we chanted that there for a while.


Theater at Ephesus behind a temple



Part of my class and our guide, Fatih, in the theater



This is the only place where Paul went and John wrote to as one of the seven churches in the Book of Revelation. So we spent a lot of time talking about Revelation, and what John wrote to them there. I tried to tie together for the students how the while vision in Revelation is a temple setting, and how the things that are given to those who overcome are set in opposition to those things the people in those churches were doing wrong, and how they are a symbol for overcoming the Fall through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the ordinances of the temple. It is good stuff, and I decided I will need to have a chapter in my temple book about it. This should be really good stuff. Anyway, I think they enjoyed it an learned a lot. We sang a song while sitting in the theater, and a little tour group in front of us clapped and said we should go down to the stage (I think they were Italians). So we gathered the other class and went to the bottom and sang, and it got a good reaction from the many tourists there. We had a nice time in Ephesus.


My class in the theater of Ephesus



We also talked about the tradition that John, after returning from his exile in Patmos and writing Revelation, came back to Ephesus and wrote the Gospel of John and the epistles of John. That makes Ephesus a pretty significant place in many ways. We opted not to go to the tomb of John. It didn’t seem applicable to us.



BJ and Andrew at the Hercules gate, looking Herculean!


Julianne and Josiah (wearing the shirt I have passing around the men) at the Hercules gateway




Students at the great library of Ephesus (which wanted to rival Alexandria, but didn't even come close)



The library



Jul and I studying about Paul at the library of Ephesus


From Ephesus we went to Miletus. This is similar to the return of Paul on his third and last journey: 13 ¶ And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot. 14 And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene. 15 And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus. 16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost. 17 ¶ And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. (Acts 20:13 - 17). So, we traced how we had been on his journey, traveling from Assos to Mitylene to Chios, to Trogyllium, to Miletus, where we then were. We hiked way out to a cool temple in the middle of a swamp (saw a few snakes on the way), and there we read Paul’s farewell address to the elders of Ephesus and others. It is a moving address, and we learned from it.


Miletus



More of Miletus



temple at Miletus



Then we drove out to a hotel. On the long drive, in honor of Julianne and our anniversary, I gave about a half hour lecture on the importance of motherhood. I spent a bit of time talking about how Julianne is a great mother, and talked about the concept in general. I usually try to work this in somewhere for each semester, I feel it is so important. I hope it made some difference to them, it is such a profound topic. I was so glad to be with Julianne on our anniversary, and it was so great to spend it in these places together. I am so grateful to Jill Judd who made it possible for us to do this by watching our children and opting not to go herself. She is a queen.


I keep talking about long drives, so I thought I would include a little information about the size of Turkey (though we were probably only in a little less than a quarter of it. Turkey encompasses 302,535 square miles. The U.S. is 3,794,083 sq. miles, so more than 10 times the size, but that still makes Turkey pretty big. It is smaller than Alaska, but a bit bigger than Texas. It is over 3 times the size of Utah, more than twice the size of California, and 38 times as large as Israel. It made for a lot of driving, but through beautiful terrain.


Our journey thus far, plus from there we went inland and spent the night in Pammukale

After the long drive we were ready to settle into our rooms. It seemed like a nice enough hotel, but I was frustrated to begin with. They wouldn’t let us all go to dinner at once. They didn’t have some rooms ready. They accidentally took some luggage with some other people. They sent us to a room, which seemed quite nice, then told us to come back. A man was sent to meet us with the key, but he didn’t tell us he had the key, so I tried to go to the new room, and couldn’t find the key, and had to go find him again. I was starting to get pretty irritated, and complained. Then it turned out that they were moving us to a different room because they were moving us to a honeymoon suite for our anniversary. They gave us some complimentary snacks and a very large suite. It was very, very nice, and I felt a bit sheepish. They have natural hot springs/mineral baths there, so we had a good time going to it. It is full of mud, and became the “mud shack”. Anyway, we really had a great day and a great time swimming. It was a good anniversary.

Day Four -- cool places, cool buildings, cool teachings

Before we left that morning I went out and got a few photos of the giant model of the Trojan horse that was built for the movie “Troy.”

Folks who bought a Troy shirt in front of the movie prop


Then Jeff Chadwick had a short devotional on the dock, where we could see Samothrace across the water. He spoke of Paul having a vision at Troy (just next to where we were), in which he was called to preach in Macedonia as part of his second vision: 8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. 10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. 11 Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; 12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. (Acts 16:8 - 12). From there he went to Athens, and preached on Mars Hill about the unknown God, a place where Julianne and I visited once.

The view of Samothrace from Canakkale, near Troy



While there we also talked about his time in Troas during the third missionary journey, when he preached for so long a young man fell asleep and fell out a window (Acts 20). Then we loaded on the bus and left for Assos. Paul went overland to Assos from Troas, while his companions sailed there: 13 ¶ And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot. 14 And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene. (Acts 20:13 - 14).



BJ, Jul and I with the sea behind us, where Paul's companions would have come to meet him by sea



The citadel at Assos


A turkey in Assos, Turkey




The trip of the day was from Tory to Assos, then to Pergamum, and through Izmer/Smyrna on to just outside of Ephesus



Assos was great to visit. We visited the temple of Athena, an impressive place.



The temple of Athena on the Acropolis of Assos


BJ in the temple of Athena



The class at the temple of Athena



The drive along the coast is incredible. Turkey can hold its own against any place in the world. As we realized we were about to turn away from the coast, Jeff Chadwick and I (who were on my bus together, and with whom I always have such a great, amazing, wonderful, and fun time when we travel together) decided that it was our last moment for the students to get out and dip their toes in the Aegean. So we had the driver pull over and jumped out onto the beach. It caused a bit of a flap with those on the other bus that we did it without consulting them, but we survived the flap and I am glad we did it. The students loved, just loved getting into the Aegean for a minute or two, and it was worth the heat we took for making an executive decision for our class that kind of forced the other class into doing it too. The other class will thank us one day.


The students in the Aegean



Jul in the Aegean (she's cute, huh?)



Then we loaded up and drove to Pergamum. This was a great place to visit.



The Acropolis of Pergamum/Pergamos from the Asclepion




BJ and classmates on the tram up to Pergamum


The white stones of the Trajan temple at Pergamum



BJ in the Trajan temple





It is one of the seven churches addressed by John in his great Revelation: 12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; 13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. 14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. (Revelation 2:12 - 17). This was so great to visit and tie into this vision for a number of reasons. First, we saw the remains of a magnificent temple to Trajan. It was made of some of the whitest stone I have seen. Jeff Chadwick pointed out how they would have thought of this as they read about the white stone in the vision. There is also a large and impressive altar to Zeus there, now mostly destroyed. Many consider this to be the seat of Satan mentioned in the reading. So, we talked about how they could choose to eat of the things sacrificed on that altar, the things of the world, or they could choose to leave the world behind and follow God, and thus end up eating of the hidden manna. The idea of a choice, and of giving in to the world’s ideas rather than listening to God struck me as a powerful choice, and we talked about it in a powerful setting. It was a great moment (other than a tic or two that dropped from the tree onto people).


What is left of the altar of Zeus, the supposed "seat of Satan"



The theater at Pergamum and a temple of Dionysus




On the way down from Pergamum we made a quick photo-op stop at the Serapion, a temple for the worship of Serapis, a Greek recreation of some Egyptian gods that spread wildly throughout the Hellenistic world. Since I have been doing some studies on the cult of Serapis I loved this chance to get out and see one of the best preserved temples for the cult anywhere.

Temple to Serapis


Then we went to the Asclepion, a temple dedicated to Asclepius, with an attendant healing/medical site (Asclepius is a god of healing). This was a great place, though it rained on us. BJ had been pushed down pretty hard the night before playing basketball, and the Docs were afraid he may have broken his wrist (that reminds me, we need to get that checked out), so they wrapped him up just before we got to the Asclepion. We were glad to have some healing going on there.



BJ and the Docs at the Asclepion

The temple at the Asclepion



Frogs in the Asclepion pool. It rained on us there, it was kinda fun and a great temperature.



Students drinking from the healing waters of the Asclepion. The girl drinking actually got very sick that night. But since about 20 students drank and 19 didn't get sick, I think that wasn't it. Hope not.



Me pointing out an archtectural feature at the Asclepion




From there we spent about half an hour in a place they teach about making rugs, and try to sell them to you, and then we continued the gorgeous drive along the Aegean coastline. This is such spectacular country.



Elise learning about weaving

On the long drive to the hotel we drove through the city of Izmir. This is on the spot of ancient Smyrna, one of the seven churches that John addresses.

We did not get to the hotel for dinner until 8:50, which is a bit late. Dinner closed at 9:30, so we really had to hurry to get in some dinner. It was a great hotel, on a beautiful beach, with wonderful pools. But we got there too late to use any of it. The students were allowed to wade on the beach just a bit, and then we were done. We were all exhausted, and just a bit disappointed to waste such a wonderful hotel. But it’s okay, we would rather spend our time in the Biblical sites than the hotels.

View from our hotel room

Turkey Day Three -- Trojans Beware (as a Bruin would say)

The next day was mostly traveling. We drove forever, sometimes with the Marmara Sea out the window, sometimes it was the Aegean out the window. We took a ferry across the Dardanelles (the strait) and got to the big part of Turkey on the Asian side, or in other words, Asia Minor.


BJ crossing the Dardanelles on a ferry. The Persians, Spartans and and Athenians all had serious adventures within his eyesight.



Julianne, BJ and I on the ferry.



Me showing the studennts where we have been and where we are going as we cross the Dardanelles


Then we drove for a long time more. We finally got to Troy. Yes, Troy! BJ, Julianne and I were so excited to be there.


A map of the area. We went across the Dardanelles to Asia Minor, then drove to Troas/Troy, then slept near there. The next day we went to Assos and Pergamum. During much of the drive we could see the island of Lesbos out the side.



Students walking along the Walls of Troy



We walked around seeing the various phases of the city, and I especially enjoyed seeing Priam’s palace.


Priam's Palace


We finally got to a little theater that was next to some of the walls of the city that existed in the time of the war with the Achaeans. There we read several parts of the Illiad, having students act some of it out. It was very cool, and I think everyone enjoyed it. I will always remember reading from the Illiad in Troy.

BJ in Troy, with what used to be the shores of Troy behind him, where the Greeks would have landed



We also went to the model of the Trojan Horse they had there and read from the Odyssey and Aeneid about the Trojan horse. Fun stuff!Us three at the Trojan Horse outside the gates of Troy




We continued our wonderful drive along the Aegean coast. Somewhere in the middle of all these long and beautiful drives we told everyone the story of Julianne and I getting married. They always love this story, they really get into it.
We finally got to our hotel. The hotel was adequate, but the location was great! It was right on the boardwalk. We all went out and had some fun out there, then came in for a nice dinner, and then we went out and spent several hours going up and down the boardwalk. We got some local food that was supposed to be the best of its kind. It tasted to me like undercooked corn bread drenched in honey. That’s okay, I like my cornbread underdone, and I like honey. Most deserts in this country are swimming in honey. Worse things could happen. We also enjoyed watching a beautiful sunset, looking at local crafts, and watching BJ and some of the boys play basketball with the local kids. It was a great evening!

The harbor behind our hotel

Turkey day one and two (oh, this is good stuff)

So much has happened that in order to get it written about I will have to do it in small chunks, a few days at a time. We left on Sunday, but just before noon, which was nice because it let us spend time together and get some packing done before we left. We ate brunch in the Oasis with students, cleaned, packed, and then I was able to play a bunch with the kids. It was a lot of fun. The airport experience in Israel is always long, but it was relatively uneventful.

Waiting in the airport for a delayed flight to get going


We arrived in Istanbul and had a bit of a drive to our hotel. The hotel was not super nice, but nice enough. They served us a wonderful dinner with many courses, but it took forever, almost two hours. This prevented us from getting out and doing things in town. We should have just gone out.



Entrance to Topkapi Palace



The next day we went to Topkapi palace, the palace of the Ottoman Sultans. We saw so many cool things there, it was large, impressive, and too much. Julianne and I paid to go into the Harem, which was one of the more impressive parts.

Jul in the Harem


Then we had a wonderful lunch, with many courses, that also took too long so that we had little time for some other things. We did go to a beautiful mosque, known as the Blue Mosque because of its beautiful blue tiles.

BJ, Julianne and I at the Blue Mosque




Inside the Blue Mosque



Julianne and Shelby inside the Blue Mosque


I have to say that the mosques in Turkey are the coolest looking mosques I have ever seen. Most of them are fairly standard, except that they build them large and beautiful, and often have cascading half domes under the full dome.

The Blue Mosque


Plus, under the Ottomans, only a sultan could build a mosque with more than one minaret. Since the sultans lived in Istanbul for a long while, there are plenty there with many minarets, making them very beautiful. Elsewhere in the country we saw mosques that looked like the local architecture. One was a pink house-like building. Another, my favorite, was in a town nestled in the countryside which had alps-looking houses, and the mosque looked like a chalet with a minaret. Very cool.




One of the many cool mosques we saw




We also saw the top of an obelisk there, the bottom half of which I have seen in Karnak in Egypt. It was an interesting obelisk. We had a very little bit of time for the Grand Bazaar.




BJ holding up the obelisk (the upper half of the obelisk)


BJ in the Grand Bazaar


Then we went on a boat ride along the Bosphorus, the part of the straits that leads from the Maramara Sea to the Black sea.

Map of the Seas we traveled around


The Marmara Sea is a little bulb of a sea that is really an extension of the Aegean sea, connected by the Dardenelles (a strait between the Aegean and the Marmara) and the Bosphorus (connecting it to the Black Sea). I love boats and water, and it was too much fun for me. We had a great time, and the countryside is so beautiful!



Jul and I on the boat



View of Istanbul houses from the boat ride





A bridge that spans from Asia (on the right) to Europe (on the left), connecting the two parts of Istanbul. We sailed under this bridge.


We finally ate in a great fish restaurant, and then went back to our hotel.

The Basillica Cistern, a water storage underneath the city



The hotel is right by a big square, Taksim square. We went out to the shops there, Julianne and I, and we walked for more than an hour and never came to the end. It went on forever, with a million fun people and things to see, do, and buy. We bought some of their weird ice cream. It is like it is half ice cream half taffy. Weird, but fun. I like Istanbul: Big, beautiful, variety, life. I wouldn’t want to live there, but visiting is great!


View of the top of Taksim square from our hotel