Category - Turkey

GREAT THEATER OF EPHESUS

The Great Theater at Ephesus is one of the best preserved constructions in Ephesus.  It’s reconstruction was begun by Nero in the first century AD.  The last building alterations were made by Emperor Trajanus in 117 AD.  The theater had a capacity of 25,000.  There were 22 flights of stairs.  We climbed all of them and it is along way to the top.  It sure seemed like more than 22.

The Great Theater is located at the eastern end of Harbor Street.   The first theater was constructed during Hellenistic times.  This theater was reconstructed by the Romans between the period of 41-117 AD.  Paul’s run in with the Demetrius and the Silversmiths took place in this theater while it was under reconstruction.

Our guide, Mehmet Koc was exceptionally knowledgable about the city of Ephesus.  He went into great detail about the theater, events in ancient times that took place there and updated us on the current uses of the stadium.  This is a majestic stadium.  The pictures do not do it or the setting justice.

We took group shots all over Turkey.  This was one of the better group pictures that we took.  All of those in the picture know who you are.

Don was walking down from the top.  We actually spent time going from top to bottom and side to side.  The stage is impressive.  It was expanded by the Romans from Hellenistic times.  When you stand at the top, the connection with the stage is still good.  Remember that they didn’t have sound equipment in Roman times and everyone still heard what was going on on the stage.  Impressive!

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Sardis

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A Cruise on the Bosphorus

We had already spent all morning walking and looking.  Now we were driving from Istanbul to near where the Black Sea and the Bosphorus Straits meet.   The traffic was unbelievable.  A two lane road through a multiplicity of picturesque small villages filled with traffic both ways.

We crossed a small square near the restaurant where we would have lunch.

The Captain’s Terrace Restaurant was our destination.  We were by a window upstairs.  We could see the Bosphorus traffic and the local harbor activity.   The food was good.  We had grilled brim.  A friend of mine in Jackson, MS would have enjoyed the meal.  I had no trouble with the fish since many years ago he had shown me how to eat brim.  Thanks.

The cruise on the Bosphorus was relaxing and beautiful.  It was gorgeous!

The trip was chilly but we fought the cold with hot apple tea and coffee.   Wow is that memorable.

Extremely beautiful houses on the European side coast line.

When you go to Istanbul, be sure you take a cruise on the Bosphorus.

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Evening buffet

Sultanahmet Square, Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque, Spice Market, and Grand Bazaar

Istanbul is a delightful mix of the Middle East and Europe.  I like both places and in Istanbul you get both.  The public transportation system is growing.  The light rail system below is going thru Sultanahmet Square.  It looks nice and seems to operate efficiently.

We saw fish in the Basilica Cistern.  The Basilica Cistern was originally developed by Justinian in 532 AD.  We walked to the sounds of classical music dripping water.

We walked up the street from the Basilica Cistern to the Blue Mosque.   The Blue Mosque was built during the period of 1609-1616 by the Imperial Architect Mehmet Aga.  It caused quite a stir because of its six minarets which rivaled the architecture of Mecca.  The building is absolutely beautiful.  It is named for the blue Isnik tilework decorating its interior.

Not far from the Blue Mosque is the Egyptian obelisk (above and below).   It was built in 1500 BC and stood outside Luxor, Egypt until Constantin had it brought to Istanbul.  The base it sits on was made in the 4th century AD.

Now for our shopping experience.  If you have never shopped in a Middle Eastern mall, you are in for some real excitement.  We stopped first at the Spice Market.

The we left the Spice Market and went a short way to the Grand Bazaar.   It is a labyrinth of streets covered by painted vaults and lined by boothlike shops.  Mehmet II established the Grand Bazaar in 1453 AD.

We left the Asian part of Istanbul at noon and traveled back across the Golden Horn to the European side of the city and then headed to the beginning of the Bosphorus Straits near the Black Sea.

Crossing the Golden Horn with the Asian side of Istanbul behind us.

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Topkapi Palace Area

The Topkapi Palace is the oldest and largest of the remaining palaces in the world.  It was converted to a museum in 1924.  The palace is located on the acropolis of Byzantium.  It is overlooking the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara.  The palace walls are about 3 miles in circumference. 

           It’s  a long walk from the Imperial Gate to the entrance to the palace area.

         Entrance to the Topkapi Palace.

COMMENTS ON OUR PILGRIMAGE TO TURKEY – NOV 2000

There were 21 of us on this first trip to Turkey, November 17-25, 2000.  We were visiting Istanbul and the Seven Churches of the Revelation.  Quite frankly we didn’t know exactly what it would be like.  With much misinformation in our minds we were ready to rough it if the need arose.  This trip was to be an important addition to  my own personal experiences in relating the lands of the Bible to the Bible.  I wanted to adjust my filter through which I understood and interpreted the Word of God.  THIS WAS A GREAT TRIP.

Turkey was a great joy.  Istanbul is charming and delightful and much more western-oriented that we thought.   We found the Turkish people to be very warm and kind.  Our guide, Mehmet and our bus driver were outstanding.  Mehmet was especially skilled in communicating the inter-relationships of the history of Turkey and her neighbors.  The land is beautiful, accommodations were more than adequate, and the sights were stunning.

The land of Turkey is called Anatolia.  Catal Hoyuk, the world’s oldest city, dating back to 7,500 BC is located near Konya.  The Ottoman Turkish Empire ruled from here for six centuries.  The nation has a secular government which came to power in 1923.  Their religion is Islamic.

We stayed at the Marmara Hotel which is an older 5-star hotel in Istanbul.   It is located in the Taksim District on the European side of Istanbul.  They have a good restaurant.  The coffee shop downstairs rivals any I have ever patronized and we did patronize it many times the short time we were there.  We opted for French press coffee and every cup was excellent.

The first day was kind of a blur.  The senses were overwhelmed by the beauty of Istanbul.  The weather for the entire trip was perfect.  I remember thinking how much more fun it was than what I thought it would be.  The following pages will be pictures from our time in Istanbul, the Seven Churches of the Revelation and even some of ancient Troy.  It was a joyful journey.

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