A Turkish Delight

We've all been on that ride.  It goes by different names, but it's the same everywhere and there is something like it in nearly every amusement park in existence.  I like to refer to it simply as the Log Ride.

I have mixed feelings about the log ride.  As a little youngster the idea that I could get my close soaking wet and not get into trouble gave the ride a sort of magical aura, but adulthood has caused such enchantments to fade.  What can I say, subjecting myself to walking around a bustling amusement park wet through doesn't sound so enjoyable to me anymore.  But perhaps that's the reason why so many people enjoy the ride.  Floating down an artificial river in a plastic log isn't exactly thrilling.  And that big moment when you're speeding down the hill to your inevitable drenching lasts only a few seconds.  That leaves only one explanation.  The anticipation is the ride.  Having to sit still, trapped under a metal bar that's locked in place, just waiting for that split second of exhilaration, that is the real ride.  That is why it has such a pull.

Last week in Turkey was like the log ride.  I spent the entire semester in  feverish anticipation for the trip.  Hardly believing that I would get to go and imagining how incredible all the sites would be.  Whenever I'd get discouraged that the semester seemed to be going by so fast I would remind myself, "we still have Turkey."  Then it came... and was over.

I don't mean to sound as though the trip was a let down.  On the contrary, it was quite a success.  Didn't you see my last post?  Every moment of Turkey week was jam-packed with amazing sites, delicious food, and wonderful people.  But just like those three seconds of the log ride when you are speeding down the hill with your eyes bugging out of your head, it was over before it even began.

We flew out Sunday on a four hour flight from Tel-Aviv to Istanbul using the oh so fabulous Turkish Airlines.   Even though I've only been in and out of the Ben Gurion airport three times now, I know how to get around the place fairly well.  It could be that every time I see Brad Pitt's face blown up on the wall all of my fears and worries fly out the window and I instantly feel at home.

So we land in Istanbul, meet our tour guide, I try my first bite of Trukish Delight,  I like it, we eat dinner, baklava for desert, go to our hotel, and that's the day.  Nothing much.

Inside the beautiful Blue Mosque

Monday 

We jumped out of bed running.  Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, gardens, relics, treasures, Basilica Cistern, and the Grand Bazaar.  And all before dinner! Pictures do no justice.  Everything my eyes landed on was magnificent.  A sweet moment and memory to cherish. Even when standing in the midst of everything it was hard to believe that I was actually there.  I might have known from a very young age that I was going to the Jerusalem Center, but never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would be in Turkey.
Gobble Gobble

The incredible Basilica Cistern

Outside the Blue Mosque

Shopping @ the Grand Bazaar

One of my favorite parts of the day was our boat ride on the Bosphorus.  Much like how I love everything else life has to offer, I love being on the water.  Something about being able to glide across shimmering water free's a person from all wants and cares.

We floated in between the Asian and Europe parts of Istanbul, seeing old buildings seamlessly mixed in with the new.  The colors were vibrant, the breeze gave new life, and the sunset was a spectacularly sweet reminder of the beautiful and incredible world we live in.  Once again, for it has happened many times throughout these past three months, I floated in pure blissful happiness.

Tuesday 

We got a little break to rest our feet.  We had a lot of ground to cover and many hours of traveling on a bus to rest.  So we left Istanbul and headed out to the Galipoli Battlefield Memorial.  We didn't have much time before we were rushed back onto the bus so that we could make it to our ferry ride in time.

We did, and in thirty minuets had crossed the Dardanelles and continued onto Troy.  I had waited all day for my Trojan Horse picture and of all the rotten luck we arrive to it covered in a giant black tarp.  The least they could have done is get a horse printed tarp instead.  Inconsiderate!

Picture with the Trojan Horse = Epic Fail

After the dissapointment of a tarp covered horse, we were ready to call it a day.  Our "hotel" for the night was actually a handful of beach houses/apartments call it what you will.  Since we were there in the off season, we got to stay there for cheap and there was no one else around.  That is my cup of tea (not that I drink tea... I'm more of an apple cider kinda gal).  And I shan't forget to mention that the beach was just a few steps out the front door.  Sadly, we could not actually go swimming in the sea because there was not lifeguard and we mormons obey the law of the land (see Article of Faith 12)... or we try as best as we can.

You see, all of us rambunctious youth hadn't been near any body of water in what felt like many moons (even though it had only been a few weeks since Tel-Aviv).  So after tossing our luggage into our rooms we ran towards the foamy waters.  A dock stretched out into the sunset and a handful of us congregated there while others chose to stroll along the coast or play frisbee.  It was so scenic and beautiful. Life was complete... almost too go to be true.

Innocent as can be we sat there on the dock.  And then I saw it happen.  A hotel key fell through the cracks and into the depths of the blue waters below.   Time began to move slow and fast at the same time as people rushed about and struggled to reach the keys.  Soon, in attempt to save one lost item, others objects started to float away.  Mass chaos erupted as individuals began to disregard the "no swimming" rule and jump into the sea to either save a floating flip-flop or dive for the keys.

During this time I saw a photo op.  I handed my phone off to my designated photographer and stepped out into posing position.  To clarify, there is a main portion of the dock, and then there was a part that went further off, with no handrails, and just below the water's surface.  This is what I stepped onto for my picture.  Everything went smoothly, the picture was taken, and using my balancing skills from the gymnastics class I took when I was five, I was on my way back to safer ground.  But the wood was slippery from the water and algae and the inevitable happened.  My foot began to slip!  Then an adrenalin rush hit me and with energy I didn't know I had, I pushed off with my other foot, grabbed onto the more firm end of the dock, flipped my legs over my head and into a backbend till my feet hit the dock.  Standing up, my classmates looked at me flabbergasted.  I don't blame them, I could hardly believe I did it myself.  I guess practicing all those backflips on the trampoline in Arkansas had purpose after all......

And here we have Eden sporting a
cutting-edgelook from her new
 Viva la Tacky clothing line 

Yeah, that didn't really happen... but wouldn't that have been awesome if it did?!  Sadly it didn't, instead, my foot slipped and I fell into the Aegean Sea.  I was able to use some cat-like reflexes and grip the board between my legs before I fell completely in... so I saved my head.  Whew!

What I sight it must have been, crazed students fishing for keys and flip-flops on one side of the dock, and others pulling out a soaking wet Eden from the other.  Here's the kicker.  They had another rule for the beach, and that was that we had to always wear shoes.  Since it wasn't "beach season" they don't bother to keep it clean and in years past people have been injured from stepping on something with their bare feet.  However, if I had been barefoot instead of wearing slippery sandals I know I would have been able to accomplish my balancing act.  Instead, I break one rule while trying to follow another.  Typical Eden.

After changing into dry clothes, the rest of the night was great! The sky was clear of clouds and I have never seen the stars so bright!  It was a magnificent peak into the heavens.  Not to mention that after my Astronomy class last semester, I was pretty beast at picking out all of the constellations.

Wednesday

After taking a blowdryer to my wet clothes, we packed up once more and headed out for Assos, the Pergamon acropolis, and a lot of sleeping on the buss.  Both of these sights are mentioned in the bible as part of Paul's mission and ministry.  Assos has a stunning view and Pergamon has some a-MAZE-ing ruins.  Several of which I have studied previously for art history courses, making them even more awesome.  And I can't forget that the steepest theater in the world is there.  Finally, a theater worthy of my performance.

Tim-Tebowed it @ Assos

That night we stayed at a SWEET hotel that had everything, including a POOL!!!!  I feel sorry for any other residents who wanted to swim because 81 students were hogging the pool and sauna. 

P.S. in dawning my swimsuit I discovered that my slip up the night before had given me what was possibly the most disgustingly epic bruise on my left leg.  And when I say left leg, I mean my entire left leg.  It surprisingly wasn't painful for how sick it looked.  I wouldn't be surprised if those who saw it at the pool thought I had leprosy or some other skin disorder.  It was pretty nasty, but really cool at the same time.

In front of the Library of Athena @ Ephesus.
a.k.a. Life of a Book Worm

Thursday

Church of St. John, overlook of the Temple of Artemis, Ephesus, and Prienne comprised our day.  Each sight incredible in it's own way.  The Temple of Artemis was one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world, but now all that is left is one tiny pillar made of left over bits of column with a stork's nest on top.  Wow, it makes you wonder what's going to be left of us in a few hundred years.  The Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty, Disney World (yeah, it's that important).  Will any of it last?  Will I ever be able to create anything that stands the test of mortal time?  How's that for adding a little dash of perspective to your day?

Is this not blowing your minds!?!

Ephesus was simply grand.  Once again I was able to see up close architecture I had studied for classes within the past year.  And the spiritual aspect behind it all was also a nice touch.  Paul was in Ephesus during his ministry and we got to sit in the very theater mentioned Acts.  So you guys could have a better idea of what it looked like, I snagged a quick pic.... with one in the back of the Bible.  How awesome is that!!!  A certain quote kept running through my head, "Are you not entertained?!" (10 gold stars to whoever can name that movie). Prienne was a jungle gym of artifacts.  Old temple pillars were strewn about all over the place and would have made for an excellent hide-and-seek game.

Friday

I was wet and I was cold.  That's really all I can say in reference to Friday.  We visited some potentially amazing sites, but it would not stop raining and every time we unloaded from the buss, all I wanted to do was jump back on.  We went to Sardis, Thyatira, the Grand Mosque in Bursa, and the Bursa bazaars and silk market.

Saturday

On our last day in Turkey we visited ancient Nicaea (modern day Iznik) before we rode the ferry back to the Asian side of Istanbul.  Due to traffic, we barely made it in time to go inside the incredible Hagia Sophia.  Words cannot express the beauty of that building.  We only had an hour to explore and it was not nearly enough.  The golden mosaics were stunning, the architecture was phenomenal, and don't get me started on the stain-glass windows.  But my favorite thing to look at were the light fixtures.  I don't know if chandeliers are a more appropriate term, regardless, in the dark building they looked as though they were floating rings of fire.  In accordance with the architectural style, it was impossible to have large windows and still give the high ceilings enough support.  So instead they had to have smaller windows and, therefore, less natural light.  But I don't mind a bit.  The color from the stained glass combined with the ominous glow created by the chandeliers was eerie but beautiful.  It created a very natural feeling of awe inspired reverence.

After Hagia Sophia we had some free time to finish our Turkey shopping and then headed off to dinner where we had fish... the head included.  I am now a pro at de-boneing fish.  While eating some local gypsies came and sung for us while rockin' out on violins, clarinets, and some other instrument that I never saw before.  

After saying goodbye to our wonderful tour guide we got on a red-eye flight back to Tel-Aviv where we then had another hour-long drive back the the JC.  I now have a new appreciation for all my guy friends shoulders.  They make excellent pillows and without them, I would have had a much less enjoyable trip.

Well that's it!  Turkey in a week and I loved it all.  If I had one regret it would be that we weren't given enough time at each location to sit and ponder the events that happened there.  Instead we were pushed through each site as fast as possible.  Although the log ride was incredible, amazing, breathtaking, and thrilling, those three seconds weren't enough.  I might just have to buy another ticket and ride again...

Keep swimming my friends.  Just keep swimming.