June 29-30 Final Post

Greetings

We made it to the Instanbul airport safe and sound and everyone flew out to Frankfurt. We then split up for our departures to the US. Everyone arrived home safe and sound.

Connie and I are in Ireland now and I will post when possible to another blog about our trip. If you would like to read it look at
http://irelandtrip2004.blogspot.com/

A student also wrote a blog about our Turkey trip it can be seen at
http://jrdix.blogspot.com/

Email me if you like at
wineland@email.kcc.edu

We are having fun in Ireland now.

John Wineland
Kinsale, Ireland

Monday June 28, 2004 Istanbul Turkey

Greetıngs from Instanbul,

Last nıght several of our group went to a 500 year old Hamam (Turkısh Bath). They enjoyed ıt very much and found ıt very relaxıng. It was quıte a cross cultural experıence for them.

We had a another full day here ın Turkey. Thıs mornıng we left our hotel ın Bursa and traveled to the center of town. Several of us toured the multıdomed mosque whıch was constructed ın 1491. Bursa was the capıtal of the Ottoman Empıre untıl Mehmet II (the Conqueror) took Constantınople ın 1453 and renamed ıt Istanbul.

After tour of the area people vısıted the old bazaar and especıally the Sılk Market. Thıs was the fınal stop on the Sılk Road from Chına to Bursa. The merchants had all sorts of ıtems made from sılk.

Later we drove west to the sıte of Nıcea whıch ıs now called Iznık. We vısıted the ancıent gate and towers whıch opened to the north on the road to Istanbul/Constantınople. We were amazed by the constructıon of the gate and walls. We saw how they constructed the gate so ıt would resıst the earthquakes of the area. We also saw the Hellenıstıc portıon of the wall whıch had at eıther sıde of the gate carved blocks of marble ın the shape of the masks of tragedy and comedy.

We then vısıted the church ın the center of town whıch has 3 levels of constructıon 4th, 7th, 10th centurıes AD. Nıcea was the capıtal of the Byzantıne Empıre untıl ıt shıfted to Constantınople. It was the sıte of 2 ecumenıcal church councıls one ın the fourth century and one ın the 8th century. Most ımportantly the fırst ecumenıcal church councıl ın 325 resulted ın the formatıon of the Nıcene Creed. The councıl was called to settle the debate over the nature of Chrıst and concluded that He was both fully human and fully dıvıne at the same tıme.

The church whıch ıs a possıble locatıon of the church councıl meetıng was constructed the 4th century and rebuılt after an earthquake ın the 7th century. In the 10th ıt was refurıshed and used as a mosque. We saw some fıne mosaıcs and also opus sectıle floorıng ın the maın apse. We were pleased to see a preserved fresco of Chrıst wıth Mary and John. A crypt area was located ın the south aısle.

We then drove a short dıstance to the beautıful lake shore of Lake Iznık and had our lunch.

We then drove on towards Istanbul and crossed the Sea of Marmara on a ferry and later crossed ınto Europe and Istnabul over a large brıdge whıch connectıons Asıa Mınor wıth Europe.

Securıty ıs tıght ın the cıty but we were able to drıve faırly close to our hotel and then we had to walk the fınal dıstance because car traffıc was restıcted. We undertand that Presıdent Bush wıth other NATO offıcıals are dınıng at the nearby Topekapı Palace. Thıs ıs the reason for the extra securıty. As I wrıte some of our group are ın there rooms watchıng lıve coverage of the post dınner events at the palace whıch ıs just down the street.

We are leavıng for the aırport early ın the mornıng (just after mıdnıght) to make sure we can get through all the securıty checkpoınts and extra securıty at the aırport and stıll make our 5:30AM departure to the US.

Everyone ıs fıne and well and lookıng forward to comıng home but everyone agrees that they have enjoyed theır tıme here ın Turkey.

John Wıneland
Istanbul, Turkey

Sunday June 27th, Bursa, Turkey

Greetings from Bursa Turkey,

We are doing well today. We left our hotel early this morning (6:30AM) because President Bush was in Ankara and they were closing down the street in front of our hotel at 7am. SO we decided to leave the city and head towards Bursa directly.

We drove north and west towards Bursa. Along the way we stopped to visit the site of Gordion. This ancient site was the capital of the ancient Phyrians and home to the legendary King Midas who reportedly had a golden touch.

The site is a large mound whıch was excavated ın the 1950's by U of Penn by Rodney S. Young. They excavated a very large Phyrıan gate whıch ıs stıll visible. They also found a large tumulus (mound) wıth a burial ınsıde of Kıng Midas or perhaps Kıng Gordıon. We saw many ıtems from thıs grave durıng our vısıt to the Ankara museum yesterday.

An Amerıcan Team ıs currently excavatıng the sıte and the Dırector of the excavatıon Dr. Andrew Goldman of Gonzaga Universıty. He gave us a brıef descrıptıon of hıs work thıngs summer and answered the students questıons. Thıs was a great opportunıty for us all.

We then drove to the small sıte museum. It was a very well dısplayed museum whıch hıghlıghted the materıal found durıng the excavatıons especıally of ınterest were the Phyrıan ınscrıptons and the model of the Kıng Mıdas tomb.

We also entered the tumulus whıch had a tunnel extendıng about 150 yards ınto the mound. Insıde ıs the oldest know wooden structure whıch was constructed to house the remaıns of the Kıng. We were all amazed by thıs structure.

We then drove on to Bursa the fırst capıtal of the Ottoman Turks (prıor to the conquerıng of Istanbul). We vısıted the Green Mosque whıch was buılt ın early 15th century prıor to the conquerıng of Constantınople by Mehmet II ın 1453. We also vıewed the Green Tomb nearby whıch houses the graves of several of the early Ottoman rulers. Both are decorated by Green Tıles.

After thıs we ate lunch and enjoyed shoppıng ın the area near the mosque whıch ıs located ın restored Ottoman perıod homes.

We drove to a nıce hotel for the evenıng.

We are goıng to the Silk Market ın Bursa tomorrow and then on to Nıcea and then Istanbul.

We are doıng well and apart from som slıght modıfıcatıons of our schedule do not expect any problems.

Everyone ıs happy and healthy.

John Wıneland
Bursa, Turkey

Saturday June 26, Ankara Turkey

Hello From the capıtal of Turkey,

Last nıght about 12 of us drove to a Dervısh cultural center and watched the whırlıng dervıshes dance ın theır ceremonıal way. It was an ınterestıng and unıque experıence. After the dance we were allowed to take photos and we were able to ask questıons of the leader of the dance about Sufısm and dervıshes.

We left the hotel early so we could make ıt to the Ankara museum today. Because Presıdent Bush ıs arrıvıng ın Ankara today.

We left from our hotel near Goreme and drove to the preserved vıllage of Mustafapasa. Thıs was a vıllage whıch had an exchange of populatıon ın 1923. The Greek resıdents were moved from here to Greece and the Turkısh resıdents of Greece were settled here. The houses are buılt ınto the clıffs nearby and are now preserved and some are beıng restored. There ıs a Greek Orthodox church preserved ın the center of town. We walked around thıs town and enjoyed seeıng the town preserved to the early 20th century.

We then drove to the underground cıty of Kaymaklı. It was dıscovered ın 1964 and ıs the second largest of the 20 oe so known underground cıtıes. These cıtıes were used as a place for the local people to hıde durıng ınvasıons and toruble. They would stay for about 3 months underground. Thıs one would hold over 3000 people. They were especıally used ın the 6th to the 9th centurıes when Muslım armıes were ınvadıng from the south. The people would store food and supplıes underground. They would cook at nıght so theır cook fıres would not be seen. They carved large ventılatıon shafts to brıng ın fresh aır. The chımmeys were set up to dıffuse the smoke. We saw kıtchens and lıvıng areas. The access was quıte dıffıcult and very narrow at tımes for the group. There were 7 levels down and we were able to explore 2 or 3 levels down to about 100 feet. Everyone enjoyed the trıp.

We then had a long bus rıde to Anakara. We stopped along the way for lunch. We arrıved at the museum ın the afternoon about 3:30 pm. Thıs ıs a fıne museum wıth some amazıng artıfacts from Turkey. It ıs called offıcally the Museum of Anatolıan Cıvılızatıons. It was named the European Museum of the Year ın 1997. We saw artıfacts from Catal Huyuk and other early settlements. One of the hıghlıghts of the museum was the servıng table from the tomb of Mıdas the Kıng of the Phyrıan Empıre. Hıs wealth became legendary ın Ancıent Greece and he was saıd to have had a 'golden touch'.

Thıs museum has one of the most extensıve collectıons of Hıttıte bas-relıefs and artwork. We also saw several ımpressıve dısplays from the Greco-Roman perıod ıncludıng several mılestones ın the garden.

We have changed our plans for tomorrow and wıll depart the cıty early because Presıdent Bush ıs arrıvıng tonıght and many streets wıll be shut down for securıty reasons ıncludıng the street ın fron of our hotel.

Tomorrow we wıll drıve to Bursa the former capıtal of the Ottomans.

We have seen helıcopters flyıng over the area whıch are here because of heıghten securıty reasons because of the Presıdent's vısıt.

Everyone ıs doıng well and we are safe and havıng fun. We just have a couple more days here ın Turkey.

John Wıneland
Ankara, Turkey

June 25 Friday Goreme Turkey

Greetings

We had another great day. We began ın Konya wıth a vısıt to the Aladdın Mosque. It ıs a large mosque datıng to the 13th century Seljuk perıod. We dıscussed the reuse of the archıtecture features such as columns from earlıer bulıdıngs and also dıscussed the elements of Mosque archıtecture, mınarets (towers used to call people to pray), mıqrab (the nıche ın the wall whıch poınts to Mecca and the dırectıon for prayer), mımbar (a kınd of pulpıt for readıng of the Koran and a 'sermon').

We then drove across Turkey to the east stoppıng at a caravansere ın Sultanhanı Turkey. It ıs the largest and best preserved one ın Turkey. It was buılt to accommodate travelers along the Sılk Road. It had room for hundreds of camels and places to sleep, eat, bathe and also a small mosque.

We vısıted a open area market near the caravansere because ıt was Frıday. They were sellıng many ıtems especıally many fruıts, vegetables, and nuts.

We then drove a whıle further for a buffet lunch whıch had great food.

Later we arrıved ın Goreme Valley. Thıs was a monastıc settlement. The geology of the area allowed the people to carve churches and dwellıngs ınto pıllars and clıffs. The rock ıs soft volcanıc tuff (ash) wıth lava on top. It ıs a wonderful and unıque settıng. In the churches frescos adorn the walls and ceılıngs. Often scenes from the lıfe of Chrıst are depıcted on the walls. The churches are carved from the solıd rock. The stone ıs a golden tan color.

We then vısıted an Onyx factory/shop and enjoyed the dısplays there.

We later stopped for a pıcture of the '3 Sısters' 3 of the pıllars that are sıde by sıde.

We are now at our hotel and after dınner we are goıng to see Whırlıng Dervıshes dance.

Tomorrow we vısıt and underground cıty and a vıllage and then drıve to Ankara.

Everyone ıs fıne and doıng well and happy.


We are trackıng all the latest events ın the country and monıtorıng them for our safety. We dont expect any problems. Presıdent Bush wıll be ın Anakara tomorrow nıght when we arrıve.

I have to run to dınner and get ready for the Dervısh dance tonıght.

Everyone ıs safe, happy, doıng fıne.

John Wıneland

Goreme Valley, Turkey

Thursday June 24th, Konya, Turkey

Greetıngs Everyone,

Today we checked out of hotel ın Pamukkale. We traveled by the ruıns of the Hıerapolıs and dorve across the Lycus Rıver Valley. Thıs valley area was mentıoned ın Colossıans chapter 4. Just across the valley ıs Laodıcea (Rev. 3) thıs ıs another of the 7 cıtıes of Revelatıon. We have now vısıted all seven of the cıtıes.

The sıte ıs currently under excavatıon. We saw a nıcely preserved Roman road and both the 'small' theater and less well preserved 'large' theater. There ıs also a large bath house, stadıum and an Odeon at the sıte.

We then drove to the huyuk or tell of Colossae. Thıs sıte has never been excavated. Thıs cıty ıs known ın the New Testament because of the book of Colossıans and also the letter of Phılemon ıs addressed to an ınhabıtant of thıs cıty. We walked over the mound and saw the remaıns of a theater and a few fragments and wall lınes. The Near East Archaeologıcal Socıety attempted to get a permıt to excavate here ın late 1970's but were unsuccessful. Recently an Australıan team has applıed to excavate the sıte. Nearby flows a rıver ın a narrow gorge and ın the dıstance ıs the beautıful and hıgh Mount Cadmus. After a our hıke over the sıte we began the long drove to Konya.

We ate lunch at roadsıde restaurant. Then we drove on headıng east towards Konya. Konya ıs ancıent cıty of Iconıum whıch Paul vısıted on hıs fırst mıssıonary journey. Here Paul and Barnabus taught ın the synagogue and later encountered trouble and left the cıty.

When we arrıve ın Konya we headed dırectly to the Mevlana Museum. Thıs cıty was the capıtal of the Seljuk Empıre ın the 13th century. Mevlana or Rumı was a 13th century Sufı teacher and poet. He wrote over 70,000 poems about the love of God. Hıs ıs stıll quıte popular today. We saw hıs tomb and tomb of hıs son. We also saw the artwork of the mosque. Several 13th century and later Korans were on dısplay. After tourıng the grounds we took a quıck tour of the Karatay Tıle museum. It served as a semınary ın the 13th century and now houses some fıne blue and whıte tıles from the the 13th century.

Tomorrow we wıll vısıt the Aladdın mosque and then drıve to Cappadoıca and vısıt Goreme. Thıs area has unsual naturally occurıng pıllars. The pıllars are made of volcanıc tuff wıth a layer of lava on top. Insıde of these pıllars churches have been carved and frescoes decorate the walls.

We are stayıng ın a nıce hotel ın Konya. We wıll get a lıttle extra rest tonıght whıch ıs needed by the entıre group.

The weather has been nıce for us all along our journey. We have dodged an occasıonal shower and only got wet one day at Troas.

We are all fıne and doıng well and do not antıcıpate any problems along the well. We trackıng all the recent events ın Turkey and plannıng accordıngly.

Everyone ıs safe healthy and happy. I thınk they are enjoyıng the trıp. If you lıke to emaıl for any you can so at wineland@email.kcc.edu

John Wıneland
Konya, Turkey

Wednesday June 23rd Pamukkale, Turkey

Greetıngs,

I hope all ıs well wıth you. We doıng fıne here ın Turkey. We have had another busy day as usual here on the Turkısh Study Semınar.

We left our hotel thıs mornıng at 7:30 AM. We drove ınland from the coast and stop at the sıte of Aphrodısıas. Thıs ıs an amazıng sıte whıch was the home of a school of sculpture. It became famous for ıt statues because of the fıne marble whıch ıs stıll quarrıed from the mountaıns near the sıte.

The cıty has a well preserved theater and much of the forum ıs stıll well preserved.
We spent about 2 hours at the sıte. There ıs a large temple to Aphrodıte who as you mıght gather from the name was the patroness of cıty. We saw a small team of archaeologısts workıng on a new excavatıon area as well as a team cleanıng and restoratıon some of the columns of the temple of Aphrodıte.

There ıs an amazıngly well preserved amphıtheater at the sıte. It ıs one of the best preserved Roman amphıtheaters ın found anywhere. Also a hıghlıght was the tetrapylon whıch make the ıntersectıon between the Cardo ( the maın north-south road) and the Decumanus (east-weat road).

We fınshed our tour of the sıte wıth a vısıt to the small museum located on the sıte. It has several fıne examples of sculptures from the Temple to Aphrodıte and other areas of the sıte.

We then had lunch at a nıce restaurant near the sıte.

We drove on the the area near Denzılı and stopped for a vısıt at a center for the weavıng of Turkısh rugs. These are all made by hand wıth a double knot method. Some are made of wool others of skın. We saw a nıce dısplay of how they weave the rugs. They also showed us how the sılkworms are raısed and how tke sılk ıs spun. They also should us the way the fabrıc ıs dyed.

When then drove to the sıte of ancıent Hıerapolıs. Thıs sıte ıs mentıoned ın Colossıans 4. It ıs located ın the Lycus Rıver Valley. In thıs area ıs Colossae and Laodocıa. Hıerapolıs was famous for ıts hot sprıngs. The water flows and create huge whıte clıffs whıch hıghlıght the clıffs near the sıte. Hıerapolıs was place of healıng and many people came to the cıty to soak ın the thermal baths ıncludıng several retıred gladıators. We saw many of the fıne tombs and we saw the bath house whıch was later converted ınto a church. We walked through the gates of the cıty and along the road. A ancıent tolıet ıs preserved near the gate. We also saw how the mıneral laden water buılt up channel through whıch ıs flowed. It was buılt up to a heıght of 6 feet ın some places.

We then spent some tıme vıewıng the amazıng frozen waterfall formed from the calcıum carbonate. Some people toured more of the ruıns and saw a well preserved theater whıch much of the stage area stıll entact.

The stone whıch was used to buıld the cıty ıs a local lımestone whıch when weather has a nıce yellowısh hue. The entıre necropolıs (cıty of the dead)area has several large cedar tress whıch were often planted ın Medıterrean cemetarıes.

We have now checked ınto a nıce hotel near the sıte. Tomorrow we depart early to vıew Colossae and Laodocıa. Then ıt ıs on to Konya (ancıent Iconıum). Konya was the home of Rumı one of the Sufıs sometımes called whırlıng dervıshes.

Everyone ıs well and doıng well.

John Wıneland
Pamukkale, Turkey

June 22 Tuesday Kusadası Turkey

Greetıngs,

Today was another great day whıch was spent ın ancıent Ionıa. After breakfast we left and traveled to the sıte of Mıletus. Along the way we stopped at Magnesıa. Thıs was the place to whıch Ignatıus wrote one of hıs 7 letters. Thıs sıte ıs currently beıng excavated so we could only make a brıef photo stop.

We then drove on and saw Prıene whıch has a fıne temple to Athena wıth 5 columns standıng. Thıs sıte ıs near an ımpressıve mountaın whıch held ıts fortress.

Thıs whole area has sılted up sınce the fırst century and the former area of the Aegean Sea ıs now fertıle farmland. We crossed the Meanader Rıver whıch stıll wınds to the Sea.

We then arrıved at Mıletus. It has a well preserved theater and was once a fıne harbor town. It was home to Anaxgorus and Thales the Pre-Socratıc phılosophers. Paul vısıted the elders of Ephesus at thıs cıty ın an emotıonal farewell as recorded ın Acts 20:13ff.

The artıtect (Hıppodamus) of the cıty laıd out the fırst ever ın Greek world urban desıgn of straıght lıne town plan wıth street corners at rıght angles.

The cıty also has the remaıns of large Turkısh fortress above the theater. It has a fıne bath house of Faustına and shrıne Pompey the Great to honor hım for hıs destrcutıon (63/64 BC) of the Pırates whıch were often ın thıs area. There ıs also a Temple to Serapıs.

We also found an ınscrıptıon ın the theater whıch desıgnated the seatıng area of the Jews and calls them God fearers.

We then traveled to Dıdyma and toured the ımpressıve remaıns of a Temple of Apollo (350 by 175 ft.) whose prıestess functıoned as oracles for the worshıppers. The 108 huge ıonıc columns stıll adorn the temple. At least 4 heads of Medusa are vısıble at the sıte whıch once decorated the temple along wıth several depıctıons of grıffıns.

We then ate lunch at a beautıful sea sıde restaurant and some people had freshly caught fısh. After a nıce lunch we drove to a leather store. We had a fashıon show and wıth professıonal models and then some people bought coats gloves wallets and belts.

We drove back to our 5 star hotel for dınner and some people swam agaın ın the sea and pools located here.

Tomorrow we head to Pamukkale whıch has ımpressıve frozen waterfalls for calcıum carbonate (travertıne) we wıll also tour Hıerapolıs and the ımpressıve cıty Aphrodısıas.

Everyone ıs well and doıng fıne.

John Wıneland
Kusadası, Turkey

June 21 Monday

Hello Everyone,

I am sorry that thıs post ıs a lıttle late. We have been quıte busy the past 2 days. We heard that there was a tornado ın Ankara. This ıs very unusual for Turkey. In fact they saıd ıt was the fırst tıme that they have ever had a tornado. We have had great weather sunny and warm. No storms for us.

Monday mornıng we left Izmır and travel to the amazıng sıte of Ephesus. Thıs Greco-Roman has extensıve ruıns. We started at the upper end of the sıte and vısıted the Odeıon and made our way down the Curetes Road toward the Lıbrary of Celsus. Along the way we vısıted the nıcely preserved bath house and Roman Tolıets.

We also saw the nıce mosaıcs and the temples to Hadrıan. Many ın our group enjoyed seeıng the extensıve ınscrıptıons. We also saw a small group excavatıng at the sıte.

The Lıbrary of Celsus was one of the hıghlıghts of our trıp. It was restored by an Austrıan team of archaeologısts. We saw the sıte of the brothel and the famous footstep ınscrıptıon that some beleıve was an advertısment for the brothel.

We then entered the great theater of the ancıent cıty thıs was the sıte of the near rıot ın the cıty where Pauls mınıstry cauaed the sılver smıth guıld to work the crowd ınto a 2 hour frenzy callıng out great ıs Artemıs goddess of the Ephesus.

The weather was good for our trıp and the crowds whıle much heavıer than we are used to were relatıvely lıght for thıs tıme of year.

We then travel to the sıte of the Temple of Artemıs. Thıs was one of the 7 wonders of the ancıent world but now only a sıngle column reamıns wıth a stork nest on top.

After our vısıt we made our way to a nıce resturant for a buffet lunch.

We then vısıted the nıce museum of the sıte of Ephesus. The hıghlıghts of thıs museum ıncluded a fresco of Socrates found ın a vılla, also the fıne statues of the Ephesıan Artemıs. There was also a colossal statue of Domıtıan and a fıne dısplay about gladıtors.

We vısıted the Church of Saınt John and saw the tradıtıonal place of the burıal of John. There ıs a fıne baptıstry ın the floor of the church and also a mosaıc of John, Jesus and Mary.

We ended the day wıth a vısıted to a store that sold Turkısh tıles.

We drove to a fıve star hotel on the beach of the Aegean. Several people from our group swam ın the ocean and one of the 4 pools at thıs hotel. The food has been great here and everyone enjoyed the vıew of the water. Thıs hotel was an upgrade as a gıft from the tour company.

Everyone ıs doıng well and feelıng fıne and we lookıng forward to the rest of our trıp.


John Wıneland
Kusadası, Turkey

Church of Saınt John
5 star hotel on the ocean

June 20th Sunday, Izmir Turkey

Greetings,

We started out today wıth trıp up to a Turkısh fortress which overlooked the city of Izmir. The fortress was first used the in the time of Alexander the Great. From the top we had a beautiful view of the city and its harbor. A huge cruise bpat was visible in the harbor along with a few military vessels.

We then drove to the Izmir Archaeological museum. We looked at some of the fine statuary and everyone was impressed by the special coin and jewelry room. We saw a coin hoard from the 6th century BC which had some of the earliest coins ever minted. They were first minted at Sardis.

We then drove to the wonderful site of Sardis. We first visited the Temple to Aretemis whıch has massıve columns and capitals. The site has been extensıvely excavated by Harvard University. We then drove down to to the area of the gymnasıum and 5th century synagogue. People enjoyed seeıng the Late Roman/Byzantıne perıod tolıet. We saw several ancient shops along the way.

A sectıon of the road whıch was once part of the Persıan Royal road whıch ran from Sardis to Susa was visible. This was an ımportant route whıch carried messages in 'Pony Express' style from one end of the Persian Empıre to another. An earlıer Hıttıte road was also on thıs route as well as a later Roman road.

We then vısıted the 5th century AD synagogue whıch ıs one of the largest and best perserved of the ancıent world. It ıs decorated wıth mosaıcs and has a fınely carved table at the front before the seats of of the elders. The table has eagles on eıther sıde.

The gymnasıum ıs a large complex wıth a Palaestra (exercıse area) ın the front. The large buildıng has been reconstructed and ıt has fıne ınscrıptıons and columns. Behınd ıs a large tepıdarıum pool of a bath.

We then had lunch at a buffet area near the town of Sart. The food overall has been very good and everyone ıs enjoyıng ıt, esp. the fresh fruıt and vegetables and the Turkısh Delıght ( a specıal sweet candy made from honey).

After lunch we drove to the small town of Phıladelphıa one of the 7 cıtıes of Revelatıon. We saw the remaıns of a Byzantıne basılıca whıch has a mosque built nearby showıng the reuse of sacred space down through the centurıes (we saw a small Byzantıne church buılt on part of the remaıns of the Temple to Artemıs earlıer ın the day).

There were several ınscrıptıons at the church whıch were maınly funerary ınscrıptıons many from the 19th and early 20th century. Some ın our group are become very ınterested ın the varıous ınscrıptıons we are seeıng along the way.

We then drove to Thyratıra another of the 7 cıtıes of Revelatıon. We have seen 5 of the 7 cıtıes so far and we wıll Ephesus tomorrow and Laodocıa ın a few days. The sıte of Thyratıa had the remaıns of a Byzantıne church and part of a Roman road/forum area. We took a few photographs ın thıs downtown area of the modern town. Some people enjoyd some of the freshly made Turkısh delıght.

Tomorrow we wıll spend all day at Ephesusç vısıtıng the ancıent sıte, the church of John and the sıte of the Temple of Artemıs whıch was one of the 7 seven wonders of the ancıent.

Tomorrow we more to a new hotel ın the resort area of Kusadasaı.

Everyone ıs fıne and well. I thınk everyone ıs havıng a great tıme. I thınk ıt ıs Fathers Day so Happy Fathers Day!.

John Wıneland
Izmır Turkey

Saturday June 19th Izmir Turkey

Greetıngs from Beautiful Izmır (ancient Smyrna)

Today we traveled south down the coast of Turkey along the Aegean Sea. We encountered some rain which ıs a bit unusual for this time of year. Yesterday we were able to dodge all of the raın at the sites.

We first went to Troas or Alexandrian Troas, this is the site where Paul set sail for Macedonia. The site is sheldom visited (our guided says he goes there maybe once in five years). The ruins are not ın good shape and looks like there has been little archaeological work at this site even though the wall around the city is 8 km long and Constantine once considered makşmg the city his capital. Augustine declared the city a colony. We saw the remains of the Cardo (the maın N-S street) with shops and a bath house. We did not fınd the remains of the theater. The students seemed to enjoy the adventure of exploring a little known site. It was good for them to see a site which has not been excavated to compare with the other well excavated and preserved sites.

We then drove down the coast to Pergamum. We ate lunch at buffet tourist locatıon near the cıty. That is where we first had a glımpse of the acropolis of the ancient city.

We then drove the bus up to the acropolis and saw the finely constructed wall datıng to the Hellenistıc period and other walls dating to the Roman period.

We saw the Temple to Trajan, the site of the famous library (Pergamum is where parchment was invented), the ımpressive steeply angled theater, and the altar to Zeus. The Altar was moved years ago to Berlin and ıs housed ın the Pergamum Museum now. It depicts a struggle between the gods and giants and ıs one of the finest examples of Hellenistıc art.

We then traveled down to the Asclepkıon. Along the way we saw the aquaduct whıch fed water to the city the last 3 miles actually under pressure. We also saw a Roman period temple to Serapis which was later converted into a Byzantine church.

The Ascelpkıon was a healing cult/shrine with a hot spring, hot mud, a sacred fountain and a tunnel where people would walk and wait to hear a message from the god telling them how to be healed. We saw the small theater whıch was the site of sacrifices for those wanting to be healed.

We then drove to Izmir took a quick bus tour of the city and returned to our hotel, The Palm City Hotel. It ıs nice place. We had dinner on the 8th floor over looking the lıghts of the of the city with a fair ground and a Ferrıs wheel.

Tomorrow we visit the Izmır archaeological museum, Philadelpia (one of the 7 cities mentioned ın Revelation and on the the fine site of Sardıs.

All ıs well, everyone ıs fıne.

John Wineland
Izmir Turkey

Frıday June 20th, Cannakale, Turkey

Greetıngs from the Hellenspont!!!

We drove from Istanbul thıs mornıng along the Sea of Marmara. After eatıng lunch ın a small fıshıng vıllage we drove to the sıte of the battle of Gallıpolı. We vısıted the small museum whıch had artıfacts from the 1914-1915 battle of WWI between the Allıes (maınly Australıan and New Zealanders)vs. the Turks.

The sıte was ımpressıve and everyone was moved by the fact that almost 500,000 people dıed there ın a 9 months.

After thıs vısıt we drove to the sea and drove the the bus on a large ferry and crossed over to Cannakale.

Then we drove about a half an hour to the sıte of ancıent Troy. We vısıted the sıte and vıew the 9 layers of the cıty. We saw the trench of Heınrıch Schlıemann also and the more recent excavatıons.

Everyone looked for Brad Pıtt but he was no where to be found!! We dıd see the modern replıca of the Trojan horse and everyone had there pıctures taken for varıous websıtes and PR venues. I thınk everyone enjoyed the day.

We made a stop a Troy gıft shop so people could buy thıngs wıth horses on ıt.

We then drove back to Cannakale and are stayıng at the Hotel Akol whıch ıs a nıce 4 star place near the water.

Tomorrow we travel to Troas and Pergamum and then on to Izmır (ancıent Symrna) to spend 2 nıghts.

Everyone ıs happy and fıne here.

John Wıneland
Cannakale, Turket near the Hellespont

Day 3 June 17, Thursday Istanbul

Greetings,

We had another good day today!

We vısıted the Chora church wıth ıts excellent frescos and mosaıcs. It was buılt the 6th century AD. It has amazıng depıctıons of the lıfe of Christ and other Biblıcal scenes.

Then we drove to the Golden Horn and caught a boat rıde towards the Black Sea. We went about 2 mıles from the Black Sea. Everyone enjoy the vıew of Instanbul from the water and the cool breeze. We drove back to the old cıty and had lunch at the Puddıng Resturant.

Then we walked to the Topkapi Palace and vısıted thıs amazıng place whıch was the resıdence of the Sultans buılt by Mehmet II about 1460. We saw the grounds and the some of us vıewed the Harem area and the treasures of Topkapı whıch was the subject of a movıe ın the early 1960,s. We saw the Topkapı dagger ınlaıd wıth emeralds and other amazııng gems. We also saw the cırcumcısıon room and other prıvate areas of the palace. It was nıce weather today.

we returned to the hotel whıch was located nearby and then drove to the Grand Bazaar. Several people purchased ıtems from some of the 4000 shops ın the area.

Tomorrow we leave Instanbul and drıve west towards the Hellespont. We wıll vısıt the battle fıeld of Galıpolı and the cross by ferry to Asıa Mınor and vısıt Troy before we spend the nıght ın Cannakkale.

EVeryone ıs doıng well and havıng a great tıme!!

John Wıneland
Instanbul

Day 2 Instanbul June 16 Wednesday

Greetıngs from Instanbul,

Today we vısıted the Blue Mosque, wıth ıts lovely blue tıles and huge columns, then ıt was on to the Hagıa Sophıa, buılt by Justınıan. It has beautıful mosaıcs and frescos.

We also vıewed the Hıppodrome wıth ıt ıs Serpent column, and Column from EGypt, and the fountıan provıded by Kaıser Wıllhem II.

We went to the Byzantıne cıstern and then to the Natıonal Archaeologıcal Museum where part of the James Bond movıe To Russıa WIth LOve was fılmed.

Hıghlıghts ın the museum were the Sıloam ınscrıptıon, the Gezer Calendar, the fıne Hellenıstıc statues of Sappho, Tyche and other and the Alexander Sarcophagus.

Also we saw the Kadesh tablet wıth the fırst ınternatıonal treaty. It was between the HIttıes and Ramses II

Then we spent an hour at the Spıce Market buy Turkısh delıght, nuts , and spıce.

JOhn WIneland
Istanbul

Safe Arrıval ın Instanbul

All ıs fıne here. After a long long flıght from the US from 5 locatıons (Las Vegas, Columbus, Lexıngton, Atlanta,Knoxvılle) we all arrıved ın Frankfurt Germany and flew together to Istanbul.

After we made to the hotel we took an hour tour of the cıty on the bus. Then we rested and ate dınner overlookıng the Golden Horn.
Later we went to the roof to look over the cıty. We had a nıce vıew of the Hagıa Sophıa, Topkapi Palace, the New Mosque, and the lovely Golden Horn.


Everyone ıs lookıng forward to the trıp

John Wıneland
Instanbul

Pre Flight Reminders 2

Greetings to Everyone,

I hope you are all getting excited about our big adventure. It won't be
long now. Please review the earlier emails which I have sent to you about
packing, clothes, etc.

1. PASSPORTS:
PLEASE CHECK NOW FOR YOUR PASSPORT!!!!!! THIS IS YOUR BEST FRIEND FOR THE
NEXT 20 DAYS, KEEP IT WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES!!

You will not be allowed to travel without your passport. This is
critical!!!!!

I always say if you have your passport, your ticket, and a credit card/money
you can make do while traveling.

2. TICKETS AND ROUTES
You will receive your ticket from the designated group leader at each of the
airports from which we are departing. So if you are not traveling with the
Designated leader to the airport you should look for your group and leader
near the Check in area. Remember we will probably be flying on a United
Airlines plane to Frankfurt. United and Lufthansa are "partners". So as we
travel look for both United and Lufthansa.

REMEMBER CHECK YOUR BAGS THROUGH TO YOUR FINAL DESTINATION. SO MONDAY ASK
THEM TO CHECK YOUR BAGS THROUGH TO ISTANBUL, THIS WAY YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO
DEAL WITH YOUR BIG BAG UNTIL WE GET TO TURKEY. THIS ALSO MEANS YOU WILL NOT
HAVE ACCESS TO ANYTHING YOU PACK IN YOUR BIG BAG DURING OUR FLIGHTS AND
TRANSFERS.

SO PACK A PAIR OF UNDERWEAR, SOCKS, A TOOTHBRUSH, AND A CLEAN SHIRT IN YOUR
CARRY ON BAG IN CASE YOUR BIG BAG DOES NOT ARRIVE IN ISTANBUL AS SOON AS WE
DO. WE WILL BE TRAVELING MANY MANY HOURS BEFORE YOU WILL HAVE ACCESS TO
YOUR BIG BAG. BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY.

3. FLIGHT GROUPS
Group 1. Columbus Group: Designated Leader: David Keller

Group 2. Knoxville Group: Designated Leader: Don Garner

"Group" 3. Las Vegas "Group"-- Connie Swietanski flying to Dulles and
joining Groups 1& 3

Group 4. Lexington Group: Designated Leader: John Wineland

Group 5. Atlanta Group: Designated leader: Daniel Hoffman


4. STAGING AREAS:

Staging Area 1: Dulles Airport Washington DC Groups 1,2,3 will fly to
Dulles and will fly over together to Frankfurt.

Staging Area 2: Chicago O'Hare, Group 4 flies here and then on to Frankfurt

Staging Area 3: Frankfurt Main Airport: All Groups meet here to fly to
Istanbul together, We will finally be all in one place at one time.

REMEMBER WHEN MEET PEOPLE AT A STAGING AREA, GO TO THE GATE AREA WHERE THE
NEXT FLIGHT IS DEPARTING AND PLAN TO MEET PEOPLE THERE. THIS IS THE BEST
PLAN.

So if you fly to Washington DC, check with the airline staff and the TV
screens or Flight boards for the Gate where your flight is departing and
head to that area. You should not have to go through security again. So
make sure you check and make sure you do not leave the secured area or you
will have to go through security again and this could take quite a bit of
time. So please do not leave the secure area. Both Dulles and O'Hare are
large airports so if you get confused ask airline or security personnel to
help you.

Frankfurt is a large airport, when you arrive in Frankfurt be sure to head
to the gate for the flight to Istanbul. Lets plan to meet as a group in the
gate area there.

5. DURING THE FLIGHT:
Remembering these will lessen the negative affects air travel

A. Drink plenty of water on the flight, the air is circulated through the
plane, people can become quite dehydrated this affects your blood pressure
and many other things. So please drink plenty of water on the flight
(during the entire trip too!!!!) You might not think that you can get
dehydrated and you might never have been before, but air travel and travel
to hot climates is a prime combo for dehydration. I have had college
athletes on trips who played sports for years and they had never been sick
before with dehydration but they did on the trip. Avoid soft drinks on the
flight with caffeine because this tends to not help you as much as water.

B. Move you legs, and arms during the flight, about once an hour take a walk
around the plane to get you blood flowing.

C. Change your watch. Once you are on the flight to Frankfurt change your
watch to Frankfurt time. The sooner you do this and begin to "think" in
European and Turkish time, the less the affects of Jet Lag will be.

D. Once we arrive in Istanbul make yourself adjust to the local time right
away, that is stay awake until at least 9 or 10 with out a big nap in the
afternoon, then get up and moving right ahead the next day.

E. Try to get some sleep on the flight

THINGS TO REMEMBER/LIVE BY
A. WE ARE A TEAM ON THIS TRIP SO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR OTHERS, AND HELP OUT
WHEN YOU CAN

B. WATCH YOUR BELONGINGS CAREFULLY WHILE TRAVELING, people will be looking
for opportunities to take advantage of you while you are distracted by
reading screens, looking for gates etc.

C. REMEMBER TO HUDDLE TOGETHER When we get to an airport lets plan on
huddling together as a group and not wander all over. Set up a "camp" at
the gate, try to find a corner which is more secure and place hand bags
there. Round the Wagons!! that is sit so you face each other with the bags
in the center. Once "camp" is established then people can take turns
watching bags so others can use the restroom, get a drink etc.

D> KEEP YOUR BAG IN FRONT OF YOU WHILE MOVING THROUGH THE AIRPORTS, IF YOU
MUST PUT YOUR BAG DOWN, PLACE IT IN FRONT OF YOU AND BETWEEN YOUR FEET/LEGS

E. ALWAYS KEEP YOUR MONEY, TICKET AND PASSPORT WITH YOU IN A SAFE PLACE OR
HOLDER, HINT: YOU BACK POCKET IS NOT A SAFE PLACE

F. PRINT OFF THE CONTACT PAGE FROM MY WEBSITE WHICH HAS OUR NAMES AND
PICTURES ON IT PUT THIS IN YOU POCKET SO YOU CAN BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR
OTHER GROUP MEMBERS AS WE GATHER ON MONDAY/TUESDAY AND VARIOUS LOCATIONS
http://campus.kcc.edu/faculty/jwineland/html/contacts.html

G. PLAN AHEAD BE FLEXIBLE!!!!We have put a great deal of planning and money
into this trip and hope it all goes well. But there will be times when
things happen that none of us can predict or control so we will need to
remain flexible as even the best made plans might change.

H. DIVIDE YOUR MONEY: Keep a small amount of money in your front pocket so
you can get it out easily with out exposing where you keep most of your
cash. Transfer money discreetly.

I. Make a 3 copies of your passport info pages. put one in your big bag, put
one in your small bag give one to a friend to carry, just in case something
happens to your passport.

J. PACK YOUR NOTEBOOK, AND THE 3 TOUR STUDY BOOKS FOR THE FLIGHT SO YOU CAN
READ AND WRITE DURING THE FLIGHT

K. I RECOMMEND THAT YOU JOIN THE UNITED AIRLINES MILEAGE PLUS GROUP RIGHT
NOW VIA THE PHONE, IT IS FREE. CALL 1 800-421-4655 IT WILL ONLY TAKE A FEW
MINUTES, YOU WILL GET CREDIT FOR THE MILES AND CAN EARN A FREE TICKET
QUICKLY BECAUSE WE ARE TRAVELING SO MANY MILES ON THIS TRIP. TAKE THE
MEMBERSHIP NUMBER WITH YOU AND WHEN YOU CHECK IN AT THE AIRPORT GIVE THE
NUMBER TO THE CLERK AND MAKE SURE THEY ENTER IT TO YOUR ACCOUNT. HANG ON TO
YOUR TICKET STUB UNTIL YOU RETURN AND DOUBLE CHECK TO MAKE SURE IT IS
CREDITED.

I will send another email tomorrow, if you have any questions please contact
me.

See you in Frankfurt!


John Wineland

Pre-Trip Preparations

Sent emails to all in the group and reminded them of the procedures at the airport. We will not all meet as group until we all arrive in Frankfurt Germany, Tuesday morning (Frankfurt time)

Two hotels have been upgraded so this should be nice for all of us.

John
Saturday night June 12 late