tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67427162013827643812024-03-21T22:18:59.032-07:00Elon in IstanbulA first-year honors course on "Inquiry in Istanbul."Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742716201382764381.post-58238676027024800702013-01-25T16:43:00.001-08:002013-01-25T16:43:41.114-08:00We're in Newark . . . Waiting to Fly Back to G'Boro <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tyhy-f8mmfP8CCiQdLPbquGeg0UzMlkro96d5z4djWe6vKDcVupIuJtGAEE1pTbYC6cB2MiIWyBS6tPV_sOUSWXleqvLRNq2OJli5voFFD-Gnr1CItwUey1NBYA4gT7qPR4iCZYZ2WJV/s640/blogger-image-2035076017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tyhy-f8mmfP8CCiQdLPbquGeg0UzMlkro96d5z4djWe6vKDcVupIuJtGAEE1pTbYC6cB2MiIWyBS6tPV_sOUSWXleqvLRNq2OJli5voFFD-Gnr1CItwUey1NBYA4gT7qPR4iCZYZ2WJV/s640/blogger-image-2035076017.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxG_1UuX6q06S6L97yxyxNbbvLawOEkH_Calg5X9yCU0O3rI7W6LYgHvB42ljamRmUq5e1jzKx_rA52qP_KMh7Tc4EdMgg1P45JSEDQ5ZxHeNGAABK-wojcYBnUnE4dZhrheT8by2FOD0/s640/blogger-image--803112471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxG_1UuX6q06S6L97yxyxNbbvLawOEkH_Calg5X9yCU0O3rI7W6LYgHvB42ljamRmUq5e1jzKx_rA52qP_KMh7Tc4EdMgg1P45JSEDQ5ZxHeNGAABK-wojcYBnUnE4dZhrheT8by2FOD0/s640/blogger-image--803112471.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiitKs6Gdky-qbBIYtVYbbHp3vryOKNCqKMWYwkAQiXqzFjzgBOiuE2j0oUKItE3DjpTGHFAqDKOyXtRzUYG-PZV7hlK9vyVeHdrnPeZMWIqY2p4rL3FRAIO5t0qX06RE74ZDPbdPxOSl9/s640/blogger-image--2136870978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiitKs6Gdky-qbBIYtVYbbHp3vryOKNCqKMWYwkAQiXqzFjzgBOiuE2j0oUKItE3DjpTGHFAqDKOyXtRzUYG-PZV7hlK9vyVeHdrnPeZMWIqY2p4rL3FRAIO5t0qX06RE74ZDPbdPxOSl9/s640/blogger-image--2136870978.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742716201382764381.post-68901683548663086542013-01-24T08:45:00.000-08:002013-01-24T08:45:47.674-08:00Modern Art and a Modern MosqueOlivia's Blog Post<br />
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Thanks to Lynn for posting some gorgeous pictures from today's visit to the Sakirin Mosque! The mosque was our first stop today, and a very interesting one. Unlike the other mosques we have visited, the Sakirin Mosque is a modern mosque, created in 2009 by architect William Pye. Perhaps even more unusually, the interior of the mosque was designed by a woman, Zeynep Fadillioglu. Fadillioglu has gained renown through her work on hotels and homes for the wealthy across Europe and Asia. The mosque was unlike any other we had seen. Though the central elements were present, like the mihrab (prayer niche) and minbar (a raised pulpit of sorts), the room had the overall feel of a "fancy hotel lobby," as phrased by our tour guide, Saba. <br />
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The building was beautiful, but even within our group, not everyone was a fan of the design. Some felt that it was too modern to properly serve as a place of worship, and thought the design could potentially be distracting, instead of creating an environment of faith and focus. This discord reflects wider opinions about the mosque, which has sparked much controversy. Some feel that the modern design of the building is a step towards Islamic adaptation to the modern world. Others oppose the heavy involvement of a woman in the mosque's design, reflecting the gender divide that is so prominent in Islam. Others simply don't like it. Just like any piece of modern art, not everyone sees it the same way.<br />
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Speaking of modern art, our second stop today was the Istanbul Modern art museum. The museum, founded as a requisite for Turkey's European Union candidacy, recently won the European Museum of the Year Award. This visit was one of the things I had looked forward to the most on this trip, and I was not disappointed. It would be impossible to discuss the whole museum in this one blog post, but I would like to mention a few pieces that I particularly enjoyed, and which I think reflect some of the themes we have discussed throughout our course. (Photos were not allowed in the museum, so you will have to bear with my textual descriptions.) Two separate pieces, for instance, featured bright neon lights, juxtaposed with tribal-looking wooden statuettes, demonstrating the contrast between the ancient and the modern that has been so prevelant on this trip. <br />
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One painting I saw, by artist Fatma Tülin Öztürk, was entitled "Nude." It showed a naked figure of a woman's body, lying in repose. But what made the painting stand out was the angle taken by the artist. The body was viewed as if sitting at the end of the couch the woman lay upon, with her knees forming the foreground of the picture. It was difficult, at first, to even recognize the figure as human. This unique perspective taken by the artist brought to my mind the unique perspective Turkey has in the world: neither East nor West, yet somehow part of both, Turkey sees the world differently—and perhaps its artists do, too.<br />
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Another piece, part of the exhibit dealing with the idea of modernity, featured an assortment of refrigerators, each painted black and covered in a mosaic of mirrors. Together, they seemed to form a city skyline. The effect was beautiful, yet slightly overwhelming, just like Istanbul itself. I also saw the piece as a statement about Turkey's attempts to westernize. Istanbul has in some ways become nothing but a mirror, reflecting the idea of a western city.<br />
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The piece "1+1=1" consisted of two videos projected into a corner, with one video on each wall, perpendicular to each other and meeting where the walls met. On one screen, a woman discussed her life as a Cypriot on the Greek side of the island; on the other, the same woman discussed living as a Cypriot on the Turkish side. The videos ran simultaneously, creating a sense of chaos intended to reflect the internal divide felt by the woman and others like her. But I noticed another narrative being told as well. One screen had English subtitles, but the other did not. This seems to me an accurate reflection of Turkey's divided feelings about outsiders: on one hand, they want to welcome them, and share the Turkish culture with them. But a part of them also wants a piece of Turkey to keep for themselves—a lingering remnant of "Turkey for the Turks."<br />
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I could go on and on about the museum, but I will stop here. Like everyone else, I have to pack tonight! (And somehow fit all of my purchases into my bag...) Today was a fantastic ending to our amazing journey in Turkey. I think I speak for everyone when I say that we had a phenomenal time learning and traveling here, and none of us really want it to end. But we're excited to return to the comforts of home, including English-language television, ketchup, and potable tap water, as well as to see our friends, family, and pets. (Shout out to my kitties, Carina and Lily!)<br />
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Tesekkur ederim for all the great times, Istanbul, and güle güle!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06266675050597416962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742716201382764381.post-79236931844450139762013-01-24T05:19:00.001-08:002013-01-24T05:23:11.757-08:00Some Shots of Sakirin MosqueWhile Olivia will be posting about today's sites, I just couldn't help but offer a few pics of Sakirin Mosque, which is on the Asian side of Istanbul and opened in 2009.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742716201382764381.post-16218917891459664982013-01-22T12:49:00.002-08:002013-01-22T12:49:42.127-08:00Rumeli Fortress and OrtakoyHi!<br />
So today's original plan was for us to go to Taksim Square and the Taksim Republic Gallery but things changed and we went to the Rumeli Fortress and an area of Istanbul called Ortakoy instead.<br />
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We had walked through Taksim last Tuesday when we had visited the Neve Shalom synagogue so we were able to experience the abundance of art galleries, restaurants and shops that are along the main street. There is also a a small trolley, similar to the ones in San Francisco, that ends at this large square where there is, of course, a large statue of Ataturk. It is the "Monument of the Republic" that stands to remember the formation of the Turkish Republic in 1923.<br />
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Since we had already spent a decent amount of time here last week, our professors decided to take us to the fortress instead. We had seen it from the water when we were on the Bosphorus cruise last Monday, and a lot of us showed interest in learning more about it.<br />
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The Rumeli Fortress was built in 1452 at the narrowest part of the Bosphorus strait (it is only half a mile to the other side!) in order to control sea traffic and trade. It was also constructed here so Sultan Mehmed II could conquer Constantinople. Shockingly, it only took 4 months to build! And that is including the 5 main gates, the 4 large towers and the 15 smaller watch towers that connected all the main towers. All the stone that was used was recycled from Roman remains.<br />
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There used to be a small mosque in the fortress but only the minaret remains. The amphitheater that is right next to the minaret was recently reconstructed and is actually used today for concerts. Fun fact: the highest seats in the theater are actually more expensive than the seats that are closer to the stage because the top seats have a beautiful view of the water.<br />
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As we walked and climbed (very carefully!) up and down the fortress walls, we not only got an unbelievable view of the sun reflecting off the water, the bridge, and the rest of the fortress, but we all saw that this was not a castle for a princess. It was a place for soldiers to control the sea; there were cannons, watch towers and dungeons all around.<br />
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This fortress is incredible and not just because of its size and design, but because of its durability. Istanbul has experienced several earthquakes since 1452 that have destroyed many buildings and structures, but this looks untouched. I'm so glad that it was added into our schedule.<br />
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After leaving the fortress, we took the bus to Ortakoy, which is a nice neighborhood area along the water that has small shops and cafes. It is known as an "area of tolerance" because there is a Greek Orthodox Church, a synagogue, and a mosque all within 50 meters of each other. All have been open and practicing for years with no issues. It is a wonderful thing to know that places like this still exist in a world where we see religious differences cause tension.<br />
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For lunch most of us ate "kumpir" which is very popular in Istanbul, but especially in this area. It is a baked potato that you fill with any available topping. What started off as a normal sized potato turned into a mountain of cheese, peas, corn, black and green olives, mushrooms, some meat and, sour cream. And you still had more options to choose from! The fact that it only cost 10 TL was definitely a plus.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07215573413046584209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742716201382764381.post-22589301223490402472013-01-22T12:26:00.002-08:002013-01-22T12:30:57.135-08:00Exploring Rumeli Fortress<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJ_e1P-YKjsxQCu4h5lX2QpW0K5rVu94n-TFHhkJFMtrC0anwsKdIGT1UcUiDIS06wshI2Gz-wkfX4SwTAXQvh_98kKzw9fCrs4u86687Z0HoUa-eS6NEqn7WOJHQABCnkwAgBuakEX1i/s1600/DSCN0614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJ_e1P-YKjsxQCu4h5lX2QpW0K5rVu94n-TFHhkJFMtrC0anwsKdIGT1UcUiDIS06wshI2Gz-wkfX4SwTAXQvh_98kKzw9fCrs4u86687Z0HoUa-eS6NEqn7WOJHQABCnkwAgBuakEX1i/s200/DSCN0614.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We look good at a fortress, no?</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike is eager to talk about castles</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjiB9OYd5zBNYpqn0R8HNodwbJZN-UxSTho36RUt8gHXujZNokGkPHz38LTc_tA6RBdKYu9ASPA9wlxp7gafoSo4TY1gUnT3A9Cnq3_pEBe6enYKYwjyAxKFKdAzaFK3lL97So3jNSZ7jg/s1600/DSCN0622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjiB9OYd5zBNYpqn0R8HNodwbJZN-UxSTho36RUt8gHXujZNokGkPHz38LTc_tA6RBdKYu9ASPA9wlxp7gafoSo4TY1gUnT3A9Cnq3_pEBe6enYKYwjyAxKFKdAzaFK3lL97So3jNSZ7jg/s200/DSCN0622.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanna expresses concern over the timing of this hug!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King of the castle?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIOzWt0r43O9aXnH6SI6FIk9mzfilO6pEIoFaxCh61xqFu6XT9rxJH6RN1VtkhKgt1scSSa_mk6tFsO7dHlIhPf5-gRzpyh3EezPM8vDdScM23mJ5sJdNEkEiJH8Fa219UQztloQhDwtS/s1600/DSCN0628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIOzWt0r43O9aXnH6SI6FIk9mzfilO6pEIoFaxCh61xqFu6XT9rxJH6RN1VtkhKgt1scSSa_mk6tFsO7dHlIhPf5-gRzpyh3EezPM8vDdScM23mJ5sJdNEkEiJH8Fa219UQztloQhDwtS/s200/DSCN0628.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Danielle and Sarah descend carefully</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morgan keeps both feet firmly on terra firma</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael, Jacquie and Olivia explore the fortress</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14600760057912119530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742716201382764381.post-55327605726019864732013-01-22T05:51:00.000-08:002013-01-22T05:51:06.295-08:00Back in IstanbulHello all!<br />
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Yesterday, we wearily checked out of our four-star hotel in downtown Izmir and caught our Turkish Airlines flight back to Istanbul. However, this time around in Istanbul we are not staying in the historic section, only a minute's walk away from both the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. Now we're staying in the Koc (pronounced "coach") University campus in Istinye, a nice neighborhood on the European side of the Bosphorus a bit north of downtown Istanbul.<br />
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After a little nap in our own single rooms, we went to class in one of the lecture rooms that Koc has provided for us. This was one of the first times that we were in what felt like a formal class setting, as most of our previous learning has been done at the historical sites we've been visiting. It felt a bit strange at first, but we quickly jumped into a highly engaged discussion about the nationalism. First we had to figure out what the word "nation" means in order to understand what nationalism truly entails. A common mistake in our language is to interchangeably use the terms "nation" and "state." However, a state is technically defined as a political entity with recognized boarders and a population. A nation is a bit more difficult to define because the essence of a nation is intangible. Members of a nation share a psychological bond between each other which entails a sense of belonging, generally to a specific location. Nations can exist within and between state boarders. This is important because the term "nationalism" actually means allegiance to one's state, not necessarily to one's nation.<br />
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Really, this etymology doesn't make much sense, unless you think about the modern country as a "nation-state," or, a political entity made up of members of a distinct nation. However, states that started off as truly made up of a homogenous nation are few. For many, these feelings of nationalism towards one's state had to be fabricated - and this is where we focused our discussion.<br />
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In order to foster a sense of nationalism, governments must invent a sort of tradition for it's people. Most notably, there is a national education in which republican values are stressed. For instance, in history class in the United States, we surely get a more heroic, valorous view of the American Revolution than do the English. Generally, there is a certain national language that is taught in the primary education also. Next, governments must sponsor national holidays in which the nation-state can be celebrated. Respective independence or founding days are certainly popular throughout the world. Furthermore, governments generally construct monuments immortalizing national heroes or victories. Almost every day since I've been in Turkey, I've seen statues of Ataturk, the Father of the Turks. Lastly, there is a symbol which signifies national unity - generally a flag. Remember in your childhood when you pledged allegiance to ours every Monday thru Friday?<br />
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It is amazing to think that such an abstract notion can have such a huge impact on a nation - or should I say state? We furthered our discussion with the nature of nationalism. Is it a good thing or a bad thing? I think most would point to German nationalism during the Third Reich as a horribly destructive example of the power of nationalism. Also, what does nationalism mean in a place like America, where there exist a variety of ethnicities? Does it take a common enemy to unite a state such as ours? I'm sure stocks in American flag manufacturing companies didn't take a hit after 9/11. Our conversation was really interesting, and we all look forward to more discussion on nationalism for our class tomorrow.<br />
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Our second half of class was focused on an entired different topic: Turkish Immigration and Refugees. If you have been following this blog, you might be aware that Danielle mentioned our interest as a class in the Syrian refugee crisis (plans for a fundraising scheme in North Carolina are being constructed and will be put into effect upon our arrival home). Because of this interest, our professors thought that it would be a good idea to get a PhD student from Koc to talk to us about the status of the refugees in Turkey - not just from Syria, but from from around the world. It turns out that Turkey has a - lets call it "unique" - policy when dealing with refugees. First of all, before a refugee is technically a refugee, they are labeled asylum seekers. They only become refugees once they are determined one by the UNHCR and allowed residence in a nation. Turkey is known as a transit point for asylum seekers. To clarify, Turkey only accepts refugees from Europe; people coming from anywhere in Asia or Africa must use Turkey as a waiting room before going to a third country, gerenally in Europe or North America. Understandably, essentially all refugees come from Asia or Africa (generally because of tribal discrimination)and seek refugee status in Turkey, only to discover that it is only a waiting point until another country grants it to them. Unfortunately, the waiting times for the asylum seekers in Turkey can be very long and these people often have limited liberty. For instance, the temporary refugees who are waiting in Turkey have no work permit and no help for housing. Thus, they are forced to work in the informal sector for less and must live in apartements with many others in belittling living conditions. There are currently 20,000 asylum seekers<br />
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The Koc student also showed us a short documentary about three real families who were waiting in Istanbul. It was quite heart wrenching, yet eyeopening. The characters certainly gave a grave face to the numbers and figures that the soon-to-be PhD showed us. The families lived right off Taksim, a place we had all just gone to lunch days earlier. In all, her presentation enlightened us about a misunderstood, unfortunate group of people and encouraged us to work towards assisting the displaced Syrians who have it just as bad - if not worse.Sean Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02251779736851012899noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742716201382764381.post-32115937292141638922013-01-22T05:50:00.006-08:002013-01-22T05:50:51.519-08:00Flying Carpets?Actually, I don't think there will be any carpets flying home with us, although we did enjoy learning about how carpets are made and experiencing some of the luxury inherent in handmade Turkish carpets.<br />
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Michelle learns how to tie the Turkish double knot.</div>
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Learning about the silk worm, Danielle and Helen look on.</div>
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The rug show. And it was quite the show. Some of began to talk seriously about how gendered this experience was, since women make the rugs and men sell the rugs. </div>
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Emma, Michelle, and Sean decide that this is a good place for a nap.</div>
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Olivia enjoys the feel of the silk rugs.</div>
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Sarah deciding which pattern is her favorite.</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742716201382764381.post-62715284019903724032013-01-20T07:33:00.001-08:002013-01-20T07:33:24.300-08:00From Mike's camera (some redundancy with MVP)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Agora of Smyrna</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Downstairs at the Agora</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZMTS5DIC6b4/UPwJyVyBNbI/AAAAAAAAAN4/1LMPTSI9rDc/s1600/izmir-ephesus-laodicea+055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" jea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZMTS5DIC6b4/UPwJyVyBNbI/AAAAAAAAAN4/1LMPTSI9rDc/s200/izmir-ephesus-laodicea+055.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entering Ephesus</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YRRqPUOdP4g/UPwJ08ErmqI/AAAAAAAAAOA/ew8EmLNP7cE/s1600/izmir-ephesus-laodicea+069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" jea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YRRqPUOdP4g/UPwJ08ErmqI/AAAAAAAAAOA/ew8EmLNP7cE/s200/izmir-ephesus-laodicea+069.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michelle before the Temple of Hadrian <br />
(or is it a monument? asks Saba)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9VAtBaZJD4E/UPwJ2bMhMXI/AAAAAAAAAOI/1DJutPVcAxk/s1600/izmir-ephesus-laodicea+074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" jea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9VAtBaZJD4E/UPwJ2bMhMXI/AAAAAAAAAOI/1DJutPVcAxk/s200/izmir-ephesus-laodicea+074.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael has another question for Saba</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zurZ-mvE7Tk/UPwJ5IOs34I/AAAAAAAAAOQ/1ytgXVf04ss/s1600/izmir-ephesus-laodicea+089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" jea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zurZ-mvE7Tk/UPwJ5IOs34I/AAAAAAAAAOQ/1ytgXVf04ss/s200/izmir-ephesus-laodicea+089.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what Morgan looks like when<br />
photographing the auditorium at Ephesus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CxK6vCKqDqA/UPwJ7mINqxI/AAAAAAAAAOY/1J_5V6CttSQ/s1600/izmir-ephesus-laodicea+092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" jea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CxK6vCKqDqA/UPwJ7mINqxI/AAAAAAAAAOY/1J_5V6CttSQ/s200/izmir-ephesus-laodicea+092.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saba knows some great places for lunch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rRgAlPdJYq8/UPwJ_S5K9LI/AAAAAAAAAOg/gJwvAoPf9gY/s1600/izmir-ephesus-laodicea+099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" jea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rRgAlPdJYq8/UPwJ_S5K9LI/AAAAAAAAAOg/gJwvAoPf9gY/s200/izmir-ephesus-laodicea+099.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lynn explains the St John's baptistry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DzTKWmxGKxg/UPwKCF_4I9I/AAAAAAAAAOo/SVuxQesEVPg/s1600/izmir-ephesus-laodicea+106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" jea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DzTKWmxGKxg/UPwKCF_4I9I/AAAAAAAAAOo/SVuxQesEVPg/s200/izmir-ephesus-laodicea+106.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climbing around a Selcuk mosque</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-43erLWSsspU/UPwKEouwD1I/AAAAAAAAAOw/DR0dAUJYR_A/s1600/izmir-ephesus-laodicea+115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" jea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-43erLWSsspU/UPwKEouwD1I/AAAAAAAAAOw/DR0dAUJYR_A/s200/izmir-ephesus-laodicea+115.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michelle's reading from the Book of Revelation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7aqycDUS7h3AC8tr3t3yqSzsaUEvSUUtMaEzWoZIuleaoZOpUF96gbLPUjqA-xduk82xS87vykpAZri9JZC1fJ76CPJL37Hwgs5ty2n1pWSgmqAvO19OsvWVwZ858esOgyDq_w3POpLxx/s1600/izmir-ephesus-laodicea+126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7aqycDUS7h3AC8tr3t3yqSzsaUEvSUUtMaEzWoZIuleaoZOpUF96gbLPUjqA-xduk82xS87vykpAZri9JZC1fJ76CPJL37Hwgs5ty2n1pWSgmqAvO19OsvWVwZ858esOgyDq_w3POpLxx/s200/izmir-ephesus-laodicea+126.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lynn uses her pinkie-finger when<br />
pointing at especially interesting things</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CCZr7srWgCo/UPwKI3KUyCI/AAAAAAAAAPA/m7NwbvYgupo/s1600/izmir-ephesus-laodicea+133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" jea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CCZr7srWgCo/UPwKI3KUyCI/AAAAAAAAAPA/m7NwbvYgupo/s200/izmir-ephesus-laodicea+133.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most-of-group-photo at Laodicea</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MKuaxTvvFcI/UPwKMg1MrEI/AAAAAAAAAPI/ntMp6mP4IZY/s1600/izmir-ephesus-laodicea+149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" jea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MKuaxTvvFcI/UPwKMg1MrEI/AAAAAAAAAPI/ntMp6mP4IZY/s200/izmir-ephesus-laodicea+149.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah thinks she's teaching the <br />
ducks to fly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Mike Carignanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04662748067066915414noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742716201382764381.post-35412765195867013852013-01-19T12:42:00.000-08:002013-01-19T12:42:22.226-08:00Laodicea and HieropolisToday we continued our exploration of ancient cities visiting Laodicea and Hieropolis! Although it was a gray and gloomy day, we were very lucky and avoided the rain during our outdoor adventures. We didn't let the weather get us down! We began the day with a nice relaxing three hour drive to Laodicea.<br />
<br />
Laodicea was an ancient city founded in the 2nd century BCE by the Seleucids as part of the Pergamon Empire. It later fell under Roman control, becoming a very prosperous city. It is located in a valley and was positioned between the two cities of Colossae to the west, and Hieropolis to the south, making Laodicea an important trade city. It was known for producing a very special type of wool which was used to make white garments for the sultans. The city contained the meeting point of the melting waters from Colossae and the snow waters from Hieropolis, creating a mixture that was unsafe for human consumption, but safe for sheep. The wool grown by the sheep that drank this special concoction was used to create these famous garments. They also created a very effective eye salve from this water.<br />
Due to the wealth of Laodicea, the city often had a reputation for being snobby and thinking that they were better than everyone else. Saba, our tour guide, described one instance of this attitude when, in 44 CE, an earthquake rocked the city and its surrounding areas destroying many of the structures. Instead of gladly taking the money that was offered to them by the Roman Emporer Nero, they refused the help saying that they didn't need it.<br />
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As we drove up to the site we could see the remains of what used to be a theater, which was one of the most spectacular sights there. The ruins at Laodicea were beautiful and although not many of the structures had been reconstructed like they had been in Ephesus, it was amazing to see all of the pieces of marble and other rocks that they had unearthed, including a specific piece of marble that contained an etched menorah and cross, showing the clash of two of the major religions of that time. While we were at the site, we were fortunate enough to witness a group of workers rebuilding a column. We felt as if we were a part of the uncovering of Laodicea because it was just recently found and is very much an active archaeological site. We were witnessing the discovery of an ancient city.<br />
<br />
After having a big lunch together, we headed to Hieropolis, "the Sacred/Holy City." The mountain that somewhat hides the ruins of Hieropolis was covered in white. It wasn't snow, but calcium that had been deposited by running water that has flowed over the mountain for over 14,000 years. Unfortunately, due to the rain we weren't able to see the ruins behind the mountain, but I think we were all content with the days excursions! Our full day left us tired but pleased, and we all took nice long naps on the way back to our hotel.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05939461869286631611noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742716201382764381.post-13592154662625238102013-01-19T08:38:00.000-08:002013-01-19T23:43:15.984-08:00Laodicea: Research in action<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqmBhe9UjcsBkwoOc08_5uk8FblQfTFcAlcHVMJhM5Hnvl2DoqbFxtmfUGdQbnO15uLoMsm0feOur9JzxcOhNYku_dU2GKbf9Z8o_VT8qCCFGTTlR0IgLlnj2JTYCGoR9-BOATxlPnz-9j/s1600/DSCN0511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqmBhe9UjcsBkwoOc08_5uk8FblQfTFcAlcHVMJhM5Hnvl2DoqbFxtmfUGdQbnO15uLoMsm0feOur9JzxcOhNYku_dU2GKbf9Z8o_VT8qCCFGTTlR0IgLlnj2JTYCGoR9-BOATxlPnz-9j/s200/DSCN0511.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michelle reads from The Book of Revelation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ur6rJWNtDQWg7BCBIdhm7d4KcShJXk9-wkU3UCdVacvjNC34EKAW5L3MrpdkEhMXs38Khe12qfkBImtIRbI1y7vfxPlbWNMXwxDMpDvV-fxlPJ9SqWSSll_bi5pbJIdQEH5cKOJRlFle/s1600/DSCN0525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ur6rJWNtDQWg7BCBIdhm7d4KcShJXk9-wkU3UCdVacvjNC34EKAW5L3MrpdkEhMXs38Khe12qfkBImtIRbI1y7vfxPlbWNMXwxDMpDvV-fxlPJ9SqWSSll_bi5pbJIdQEH5cKOJRlFle/s200/DSCN0525.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lynn points out the original columns below us</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Treasure Hunt</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tgzsJyzNnxtWX5xbylbF18Q55ILSYlbbOgzrD-VAZHZlEWNtabSA3Hqqrh-R7_SqI4rpmAxFAqJ5BmI3YEBvVxc2wSC447vztL2xSBD0DtEKOpquCaVKmCXvPTyzEOGrH9250pOCW_KI/s1600/DSCN0535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tgzsJyzNnxtWX5xbylbF18Q55ILSYlbbOgzrD-VAZHZlEWNtabSA3Hqqrh-R7_SqI4rpmAxFAqJ5BmI3YEBvVxc2wSC447vztL2xSBD0DtEKOpquCaVKmCXvPTyzEOGrH9250pOCW_KI/s200/DSCN0535.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Restoration in progress - how cool is that?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14600760057912119530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742716201382764381.post-81805795565751887602013-01-19T05:44:00.001-08:002013-01-19T05:44:51.990-08:00At Ephesus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14600760057912119530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742716201382764381.post-20304985579590576802013-01-19T02:19:00.001-08:002013-01-19T12:17:36.410-08:00Laodicea<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWoqe1Ijn07WZHDRfubpbe_jqqrWtRP5EEc7tXMGIR4MPj3uUXiPpOoPuyg-06I_Sy7o8DVsgEtTIfb3U6Lfe5xFWg0Rj4e2EOs6fhhSIjsMbnaj3cqNanJa4KbJfMbsy6Tn6sudR8fPN/s640/blogger-image-1714899312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWoqe1Ijn07WZHDRfubpbe_jqqrWtRP5EEc7tXMGIR4MPj3uUXiPpOoPuyg-06I_Sy7o8DVsgEtTIfb3U6Lfe5xFWg0Rj4e2EOs6fhhSIjsMbnaj3cqNanJa4KbJfMbsy6Tn6sudR8fPN/s400/blogger-image-1714899312.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742716201382764381.post-57350910532945894492013-01-18T12:04:00.000-08:002013-01-18T12:04:14.178-08:00The Dolmabahçe Palace and the Whırlıng DervishesLast Saturday we visited the Topkapı Palace, where the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire lived and ruled for 400 years, before times began to change through "Westernization." In the 1800s, the rulers of the Ottoman Empire realized that the Topkapı was outdated, both in modern comforts and the style that the Western world favored. Therefore, the Empire's 31st Sultan, Abdülmecid I, ordered that a new palace in the European style be built along the Bosphorus. <br />
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Throughout our time here in Istanbul, we have been talking about how this city (and Turkey as a whole) is a crossroads between East and West. Seeing the vast differences between between the two palaces solidified this idea for us further. Although both have their own type of beauty and splendor, the Dolmabahçe was endless stone, countless crystal chandeliers, high-ceilinged rooms, and expensive European furniture compared to the Topkapı's sprawling buildings, shining tiles, and stunning courtyards. <br />
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On Monday, we had a splendid view of this new palace from our boat as we took a cruise on the Bosphorus. Getting to explore the inside of the palace, however, was mind-boggling. The palace has a strict security however; only 3500 people are allowed in by appointment each day, they have to follow a red carpet path through the palace, no large backpacks are allowed, and, unfortunately, no photography is allowed either. This is all to ensure the safety of the original furniture and decor on display throughout the rooms. <br />
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The palace was built between 1843 and 1856 - it took thirteen years to build because at this time the Ottoman Empire was in a period of financial hardship. Construction had to be stopped several times, and taxes had to be raised more than once as well, making public opinion of the palace less than favorable. <br />
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We, however, were more impressed than the public at that time. Although we only saw about 2/3 of it, the palace has a remarkable 286 rooms, 600 paintings, 6 ballrooms, and the world's largest collection of Bohemian crystal chandeliers. There was an audible "woowwwwww!" from our group (okay, maybe it was just me) as we stepped into the largest ballroom, with its huge dome high above us, its chandelier weighing six tons, and its intricately designed columns and walls. One of the most interesting parts of our tour was when we walked through the passageway to the harem, which was up above this ballroom. We got to look down into the ballroom through semi-circle grates just as the concubines would have done when the Sultan hosted parties. <br />
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After leaving the palace, we had the opportunity to explore the beautiful gardens a little, and then we returned to the hotel to eat and pack for our travel to Izmir tomorrow. This evening, we reconvened to attend a Mevlevi Sema Ceremony, more commonly known as the Whirling Dervishes. We learned about this ritual and Sufism when we visited the Sufi lodge yesterday, so it was incredible to be able to experience it in person tonight. A common misconception about the Whirling Dervishes is the belief that they are dancing. In fact, this "is a ritual, a spiritual journey which the soul makes to God as it becomes mature and attains unity." The ceremony was accompanied by four traditional instruments and three chanters. <br />
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At the beginning of ceremony, the dervishes wear a black coat that represents a tomb, a tall fez (sikke) which represents a tombstone, and a long white garment (tennure) that represents a burial shroud. The death images in the costume symbolize the death of the ego, and taking off the black coat represents leaving this world. <br />
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As they begin to rotate, both arms are extended, but one hand faces upward, and the other downward, which symbolizes a transfer of love from God to man. The dervishes spun in this ceremony for over thirty minutes, going into a trance-like state. It was an entrancing experience, unlike anything we've ever seen before. <br />
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After an incredible day, we are getting up bright and early to hop over to Izmir. We'll be officially blogging again from Asia! <br />
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Hanna Elmgrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07497667815877116531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742716201382764381.post-76287895799661554582013-01-18T11:17:00.001-08:002013-01-18T11:17:44.599-08:00Ephesus: Reconstructing History<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>(Above: A panoramic view of the theater at Ephesus.)</i> Out of all the incredible sights to see and sites to visit in Turkey, the one for which I was the most excited was Ephesus. This city has been around for over two thousand years, although it spent most of the past millenium underneath several yards of dirt, rocks, and the erosion and time. Even today, after over a century of excavations, only about ten percent of the city has been unearthed. Imagine the priceless knowledge awaiting this and future generations of archaeologists and lovers of history, just under the surface.<br />
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<i>(Above: A major Ephesian street.)</i> I was fascinated to discover that the rows of columns lining the ancient streets were not discovered like that at all. Archaeologists found the columns, broken and buried in the ground, and reset them in their original positions. As much effort is put into reconstructing these historic sites as there is into discovering them.<br />
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<i>(Above: The Library of Celsus.)</i> And these sites were incredible. There was a huge theater, used for performances and public events, that could hold twenty-four thousand people and stood for a thousand years. The hyrdreion, a fountain, was used in conjunction with the ingenius underground sewer system as both a source of water and a street cleaner for special occasions. We saw the odeon, a small concert hall; the Roman baths; the gorgeous Library of Celsus; and so many other beautiful remains.<br />
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<i>(Above: The theater.)</i> The stories behind these places truly made Ephesus come alive for me. I stood in a spot where, almost two thousand years ago, thousands upon thousands of Ephesians rioted over the actions of the apostle Paul. This city is rich in Biblical history, as well as other interesting tidbits of information. I learned that at certain hours of the day, the public toilets would have musicians playing inside - one gig that I, as a musician, would almost certainly turn down.<br />
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<i>(Above: The temple of Hadrian, which was actually just the facade of a temple.)</i> I don't have the time or the energy after such an exhilarating day to write about everything I saw or experienced. But I can say that walking down the great streets of Ephesus is like walking through the fabric of time itself. This is one visit that I will certainly never forget.<br />
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<i>(Above: Sean is the Greek god of making the rain stop.)</i><br />
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<i>(Above: The symbol for a hospital in ancient Rome, along with our guide Saba and one of the many stray cats roaming around Turkey.)</i><br />
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Thanks for reading, and keep checking back for more awesome posts by the other students on this trip!<br />
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Addison HornerAddisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12344610800694178165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742716201382764381.post-56607191421957241512013-01-18T09:06:00.002-08:002013-01-18T09:06:59.639-08:00St. John's basilica, Isabey mosque, and a nice country homeMerhaba from Izmir! We're mostly settled in here after a quick flight yesterday, and I don't think anybody has any complaints about the amazing Susuzlu Hotel (the first thing people noticed seemed to be the fact that the mirrors in the rooms are also flat-screen TV's). We're all moving in, actually. My blog post is just breaking the news to all of the families trapped in America.<br />
Anyways, Addison will be on here later to tell you about Ephesus, our first and largest activity today, but I'm going to share information about the other sites we visited during the afternoon. Unfortunately my camera is dead because I took so many pictures (therefore I dot have any to share) but that should just make you even more thrilled to read this post, because that just means we saw a lot of amazing things today.<br />
After lunch, we went to St. John's Basilica, a 6th century church (churches couldn't be created here until after the 4th century) built by Justinian, whose work we've seen a fair amount of since our arrival. The basilica was built on top of St. John's tomb, and if it was in its original condition even today, it would be one of the biggest churches in the world. It was converted into a mosque in the 1300's and in 1402 it was pillaged for building materials and eventually destroyed. Perhaps one of the most interesting things thy has been unearthed in the restoration of this magnificent basilica is a large baptistery set in the marble in the shape of a cross. The baptisms which occurred during the church's operation would have been more private than most are today, and a great deal would have happened on Easter Eve. The fact that the baptistery is shaped like a cross is significant not just as a symbol of Christianity, but to remind those being baptized that they are passing through death (the old life) and entering into a new life (with Christ) as Jesus himself was crucified by the sins of the world and later resurrected.<br />
A short walk away from the basilica is the Isabey Mosque. It is the oldest known mosque with a courtyard. Though the weathered walls and cracked facade may suggest otherwise, it's still an operating mosque and it has been since its restoration in the early 1900's. The original building was constructed in 1375 out of ruins from Ephesus and even the basilica (I mentioned just a few lines above this one that the basilica declined in importance and was ransacked in its last days) so you can actually see the columns holding up the mosque are marble and have some Greek lettering on them. Yet another resourceful use of ruins! The man responsible for this mosque was actually named after Jesus, so if you Google "Jesus mosque Ephesus" (like I just did to make sure I spelled Isabey right) it's the first thing that comes up.<br />
The last stop we made was an old house tucked away in the hills of Ephesus. The owner hasn't been there in awhile, but people still come to visit her every day. Her name was Mary, but you may know her better as the woman who immaculately conceived, gave birth to, and raised Jesus Christ according to many different religious traditions. There wasn't much to see other than the small, single room dwelling where it's said John placed her so she would be safe in the last years of her life, but naturally it's become a pilgrimage place for Christians and Muslims alike who come on August 15th every year to celebrate the date of Mary's ascension.<br />
That's it! That's my blog. You should be waiting with bated breath for Addison's post, because we did even more in the incredible ruins of Ephesus. It's actually storming pretty bad here - out mirror TV keeps losing signal. What else are we supposed to do here?! All I see is a big X on the screen with the sound of broken Turkish commercials about Fiats. It's like being in a third world country! Save us!<br />
Xoxo Danae, room 208 (so you know where to rescue us from).<br />
<br />Danaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17867522094197932325noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742716201382764381.post-75111846838540321572013-01-17T03:17:00.001-08:002013-01-17T03:17:32.035-08:00Atatürk!Turkey's Mount Rushmore: Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, looking down on the city of İzmir! <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPdCOc1YwQwQsilntt3uFfQCMR36mFSnAIOhFz1sswXpI4GmosJqrbxfxWeD4uGAYGCf6GYrZDJldH7x4ARYeGgVWPsBkqObHLJvEMRPGybBmqiR07DCE64To9sfaQGFwnD_gOVtUfkkE9/s640/blogger-image--432403313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPdCOc1YwQwQsilntt3uFfQCMR36mFSnAIOhFz1sswXpI4GmosJqrbxfxWeD4uGAYGCf6GYrZDJldH7x4ARYeGgVWPsBkqObHLJvEMRPGybBmqiR07DCE64To9sfaQGFwnD_gOVtUfkkE9/s640/blogger-image--432403313.jpg" /></a></div>Hanna Elmgrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07497667815877116531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742716201382764381.post-87913334774194901012013-01-15T08:35:00.003-08:002013-01-15T08:37:32.493-08:00Istanbul as Religious Crossroads<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Birthday Danae!</td></tr>
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Michael's post highlights our explorations today. Here are just a few photos:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cTzZBkj2JJ7sv5rl8w9sckCoQckpzuofIr3dGPxggVxCbP4zn41-d7zrfbksJllOuJxHhMG7rDCvg4ZZMozHBeVRcR7c0F4OsuVQ8C9dC9b92J5oPBmDBbKQegw1a9PGJs9HEB2lP4NP/s1600/DSCN0347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cTzZBkj2JJ7sv5rl8w9sckCoQckpzuofIr3dGPxggVxCbP4zn41-d7zrfbksJllOuJxHhMG7rDCvg4ZZMozHBeVRcR7c0F4OsuVQ8C9dC9b92J5oPBmDBbKQegw1a9PGJs9HEB2lP4NP/s200/DSCN0347.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hidden synagogue in Balat</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLuLJjvOUK8fpIG5eCtSPzV8MyT5rXyBdPDyFYUGY90H7IO1yOy6mjNHZLj30DUDAhITtYP7RmUbvJrrluOAGTYnx5sEJOycJAZ61qrRXiCZrwdQu4aOgWQfnGHuSldcEa2hpbk9UAHyeq/s1600/DSCN0360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLuLJjvOUK8fpIG5eCtSPzV8MyT5rXyBdPDyFYUGY90H7IO1yOy6mjNHZLj30DUDAhITtYP7RmUbvJrrluOAGTYnx5sEJOycJAZ61qrRXiCZrwdQu4aOgWQfnGHuSldcEa2hpbk9UAHyeq/s200/DSCN0360.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Galata Mevlevi Lodge (Museum)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJx6YjA1klGc2ukLOx1aoifi4-_yqVxsq3wds9U27EXNfUfm0SES5aP9OoEENV5-lLyqG_tsIybQbLGpRCKZHQlFLpjaPOFdhmFKq3GY8NnQszjRxwb-7b4vhYwQpXEeVC9kCK1SmOFtf/s1600/DSCN0363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJx6YjA1klGc2ukLOx1aoifi4-_yqVxsq3wds9U27EXNfUfm0SES5aP9OoEENV5-lLyqG_tsIybQbLGpRCKZHQlFLpjaPOFdhmFKq3GY8NnQszjRxwb-7b4vhYwQpXEeVC9kCK1SmOFtf/s200/DSCN0363.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cemetery at Galata Mevlevi Lodge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wBwjzDetCOa72OhdM2oF_SpqCz_7lEd7Igqs0dFShTJNqnoxS46-1ioGC27igaOL4rq8OorNa9LZMOSpfb0ZfVglqz-po3TPrS4O2qF3fDN3yCGzPlF8biiT3RG3RxKjKwcxNZeEai1U/s1600/DSCN0371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wBwjzDetCOa72OhdM2oF_SpqCz_7lEd7Igqs0dFShTJNqnoxS46-1ioGC27igaOL4rq8OorNa9LZMOSpfb0ZfVglqz-po3TPrS4O2qF3fDN3yCGzPlF8biiT3RG3RxKjKwcxNZeEai1U/s200/DSCN0371.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The names of those killed in bombings of the Neve Shalom Synagogue</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14600760057912119530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742716201382764381.post-70508708442294337072013-01-15T08:08:00.001-08:002013-01-15T08:08:50.518-08:00Religious History in IstanbulHello, world, this is Michael Nedvin reporting from Istanbul! Blogger seems to have mislaid my authorship permissions, so I'm using Lynn's account to summarize the day.<br />
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This day started with an excursion to Balat, which had been the old Jewish quarter in the time of the Ottoman Empire. In fact, Balat was the area where the poorer Jews lived, along with the Greek Orthodox Christians, and it's still not a wealthy area today. Walking through the narrow streets, it was as if we were in a completely different city from the Istanbul we've seen for the past week. There was no English on any of the signs, and we were not invited to look at anyone's shop or restaurant. The aggressive salesmen who seem to line every other street in the city were nowhere to be found.<br />
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Our first stop in Balat was outside of the Yanbol Synagogue. I would not have recognized it as a synagogue unless our guide had pointed it out to me, as all we can see from the street is a plain metal door, squeezed into the tiny space between a telephone office and a bank. So few Jews are part of Yanbol's congregation that it is only open on the High Holidays--which means that there was no access for us today.<br />
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The next stop was outside of the Ahrida Synagogue. Here, there is a sign of Judaism--a Hebrew inscription above the gate. The gate opens into a courtyard which is surrounded by a high wall. Our group had originally planned to visit Ahrida, but it was only upon reaching Istanbul that we learned that due to the threat of terrorist attack, Ahrida is not open to tourists. The general public enters only on holidays and the Sabbath.<br />
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Leaving Balat through a small fruit market (the first fruit market where no one tried to stop us and sell us fruit), we returned to the bus and crossed the <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Hali<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;">ç to the Pera district. This was the area where the wealthier Jews had gathered in Ottoman times, and we set off to find a Mevlevi lodge that had been converted into a museum.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;">The lodge had once been a gathering place for practioners of Sufism, a mystical spiritual practiced derived from the teachings of the scholar known to the west as Rumi. </span><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; line-height: 16.893939971923828px; text-align: center;">Jalal ad-Dīn Muhammad Rumi</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;"> was a teacher in the great schools of the Seljuk Empire, and his subject was philosophy. He taught a method of thinking through which one could come to love everything, and thus be closer to the Divine. The Galata Mevlevi lodge contains many artifacts of the Sufi practice, and is an extremely peaceful place even though it is at the end of one of the busiest streets in the district.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;">After leaving the lodge, we trekked towards the Neve Shalom synagogue, which we had chosen to visit instead of Ahrida. "Neve Shalom" means "Oasis of Peace", and it is the largest synagogue in Istanbul. That doesn't mean that security is relaxed, though; Neve Shalom has been attacked multiple times, and as a result, tourist entry is very controlled. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;">We arrived at 12:40, but were told to come back at 1:00, our appointment time. After waiting in the shade of the Galata Tower, we returned to the synagogue, and the gate guards unlocked the door. We passed through several security checkpoints, and once everyone was through, we proceeded to the sanctuary. It is a beautiful room, with an ornate scroll cabinet and a floral arch at the entrance--the latter was due to the fact that Neve Shalom is used for weddings extremely frequently.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.183332443237305px;">There were some things that we found strange, of course. The most memorable was the list of names above the main door to the sanctuary, which served as a tribute to those who died in the terrorist strikes on Neve Shalom. The most unexpected would have to be the hard hats kept under each seat. With these helmets--emergency protection for congregants in the event of a terrorist attack--we could see how a history of violence continues to affect the area today.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742716201382764381.post-83755331142880123412013-01-14T10:46:00.000-08:002013-01-14T10:47:22.215-08:00Honors Fellows Cruise the Bosphorous<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibATSYyeIbdPwSeM1Z1RD0cg0Mgzuo6X2FEHEiVf7axUwgsMoQdUdzI6p9_isY7ktqRzMjD9aruy-nCGF-zT1AuQK1GlSyn0c2Wc7pNppbTWnU3aixmM6gfEeRu_zLgxq0SO2pI7tvuLcn/s1600/DSCN0245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibATSYyeIbdPwSeM1Z1RD0cg0Mgzuo6X2FEHEiVf7axUwgsMoQdUdzI6p9_isY7ktqRzMjD9aruy-nCGF-zT1AuQK1GlSyn0c2Wc7pNppbTWnU3aixmM6gfEeRu_zLgxq0SO2pI7tvuLcn/s200/DSCN0245.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sean can't resist a Titanic image.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZsOClImF3rrSnUoRyiJlCTfZ5t9IQJS5xTNUKBm8bX8Yskpd8goUufZXjqFd7Xiqv2CJxeYo_PAIvrnP1siC0_CuP9bc9FpI88PgyV-jtrRsjp7fmnPzYMlN-7KvMLWcneyfetvabKNl/s1600/DSCN0300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZsOClImF3rrSnUoRyiJlCTfZ5t9IQJS5xTNUKBm8bX8Yskpd8goUufZXjqFd7Xiqv2CJxeYo_PAIvrnP1siC0_CuP9bc9FpI88PgyV-jtrRsjp7fmnPzYMlN-7KvMLWcneyfetvabKNl/s200/DSCN0300.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jacquie takes notes for the blog.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not sure about this cruising in January, Addison?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNpkQG-L9WMEPgP9M-q3efbSoyl_NaEvgUUl7mZusr4Oizc8XAv096FT10jAMA2IMWj3ByzEgVgnFfNZeSB5dvJ_mzksrUBlAUrMfVUx8Cg0rOg_iXpkEALmlZbZ1z4NMeoWQBzeKCk8I/s1600/DSCN0276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNpkQG-L9WMEPgP9M-q3efbSoyl_NaEvgUUl7mZusr4Oizc8XAv096FT10jAMA2IMWj3ByzEgVgnFfNZeSB5dvJ_mzksrUBlAUrMfVUx8Cg0rOg_iXpkEALmlZbZ1z4NMeoWQBzeKCk8I/s200/DSCN0276.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turkish tea, and perfectly timed service</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sean holds court.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrxWtrOUqTl3zhVgBk2Iqp4A6Y1_i7TICDYgNoiXv-ftZzVJMyLXHNFfD8u_LWxg0KKtkMwSNNyfNY7IUTW896Cuyph-f3qgqkdPhlg2DbzP71L_pvi1aA7B1v9YAielx03YFer1MnTaC/s1600/DSCN0305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrxWtrOUqTl3zhVgBk2Iqp4A6Y1_i7TICDYgNoiXv-ftZzVJMyLXHNFfD8u_LWxg0KKtkMwSNNyfNY7IUTW896Cuyph-f3qgqkdPhlg2DbzP71L_pvi1aA7B1v9YAielx03YFer1MnTaC/s200/DSCN0305.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helen, Jacquie and Olivia</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLdUwRe8vCjb6VF7YlQVcsceN6Yj8gZDgM50N6YhQj1LHZTMtNNIXFAU0tKLZ0txsSgZdJjqwtC8igXEOXkw_kE89ZqYAYOzhrlAF9t2zLIT0a0EqTv4kYdlTIarzFF73y606BGnPc4UT/s1600/DSCN0306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLdUwRe8vCjb6VF7YlQVcsceN6Yj8gZDgM50N6YhQj1LHZTMtNNIXFAU0tKLZ0txsSgZdJjqwtC8igXEOXkw_kE89ZqYAYOzhrlAF9t2zLIT0a0EqTv4kYdlTIarzFF73y606BGnPc4UT/s200/DSCN0306.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah soaks up some sun.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6hNxPMe4vS-9MWb9AJ8jTfvO7xbxhAzLmdP6pol91sNh9BhmMuBl7nzJlW593ZhUmtW59oI8f024Aipu_29AXK0vSnj-s4058y8UX7tqCPqAjjf3eHmQvlB5gH1pS9K6-H2fPu8daMFc/s1600/DSCN0308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6hNxPMe4vS-9MWb9AJ8jTfvO7xbxhAzLmdP6pol91sNh9BhmMuBl7nzJlW593ZhUmtW59oI8f024Aipu_29AXK0vSnj-s4058y8UX7tqCPqAjjf3eHmQvlB5gH1pS9K6-H2fPu8daMFc/s200/DSCN0308.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael enjoys the view.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blinding sun better than snow?</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14600760057912119530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742716201382764381.post-90119704792145956012013-01-14T10:07:00.002-08:002013-01-14T10:07:28.006-08:00Turkish breakfast<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
If you're wondering how the students are starting their days in
Istanbul, here's a glimpse of the view from breakfast room and a few
choices from the breakfast bar. As you can tell, we get an early start most days!<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1OtvtKsxrmk3eS5ZNtiZIKe_twqMNwLxMMUfN3mBCpPShDMJMHrn99IVDLgrlFS4NeZH7GOZY7oV9VE8pCRME1oLC3yN54zSlimk5LIn4Oloe9kI_uKtTYqsDQAqiUuovXI7l5mVrEL1/s320/DSCN0236.JPG" width="320" /></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14600760057912119530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742716201382764381.post-87190905644818872662013-01-14T09:29:00.001-08:002013-01-14T09:29:52.536-08:00Investigating Ottoman Istanbul
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whole gang plus tour-guide at Topkapi Palace</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morgan contemplates life as a Sultan</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helen, Jacquelyn, Melina, and Danae<br />
are workin' their pashminas at the <br />
Blue Mosque</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks Danae</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saba explains the principles of Sinanian <br />
architecture at the Suleymaniye</td></tr>
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Mike Carignanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04662748067066915414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742716201382764381.post-32831155004542507932013-01-14T09:28:00.002-08:002013-01-14T09:28:20.984-08:00Blustry winds, beautiful sights and breathtaking smells Our day began with the Bosphorus cruise that took our group along the European side of Istanbul then down the Asian side. While on the boat, we sat on the top deck and got to see the beautiful sights while our tour guide explained the history of some of the buildings.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1C61hJY7LHXvZvxJZwztO9xT3RnxTZpJHqc45obGWfXwilImD2Bf6VABbcqnmFEhfipj7WxWXlSfpC7qfl3u-ZH5BcvdCzzstSbA2q8ErXjyKZd6ChPI9MvPViGhUgvwaAZvj4hLb-oZc/s1600/IMG_1537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1C61hJY7LHXvZvxJZwztO9xT3RnxTZpJHqc45obGWfXwilImD2Bf6VABbcqnmFEhfipj7WxWXlSfpC7qfl3u-ZH5BcvdCzzstSbA2q8ErXjyKZd6ChPI9MvPViGhUgvwaAZvj4hLb-oZc/s200/IMG_1537.JPG" width="200" /></a> But first about the Bosphorus. It is about 400 feet deep and anywhere from half a mile to two miles wide. Two bridges that span the two continents of Asia and Europe sit on the more narrow part of the strait. The sixteen mile long strait from the Black Sea to the Marmara Sea plays a crucial role in Turkish economy, as many trading ships use this passage. Additionally, each boat passing throught must have a pilot captain to help with navigation on the strait. These pilot captains must be paid and are often very expensive.<br />
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We started the cruise near the Golden Horn, which is the body of water that cuts into the European side of Istanbul. From the deck, we could observe the buildings and bridges around us. Although it was windy out on the water, the sights were fantastic. Some highlights included the Queen Mother's Mosque, the New Galata bridge and the Dolmabahçe Palace.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Rumeli Hisari</span></td></tr>
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Turning onto the Bosphorus and moving between the European and Asian sides of the city, we passed the fortress constructed by the Ottomans in 1452 called the Rumeli Hisari. The location, now within the Istanbul city limits, once sat outside the Theodosian walls that surrounded the city before the Ottomans took control. It was built by Sultan Mehmed the Conquerer as part of his efforts to conquer Constantinople.<div>
<br /> After returning to dry land, the group proceeded to the spice market. Here, our senses were bombarded with aromas and sounds of people calling to us in many languages. The shop keepers are anxious to have customers and it is customary for them to ask where you are from and offer you tea or Turkish Delights while they show you the many treasures within their stores.<br />
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Orginally built to support the building of the nearby mosque, the spice bazaar traditionally contained spices from Egypt, though now the spices come from all over the world. Today, local people shop in this bazaar, so haggling is not as prevalent because prices are not as inflated. Overall, today presented a great opportunity to oberve the growth and changes in Istanbul over the years.</div>
Jacquelyn Lanphearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03085380104153142319noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742716201382764381.post-55453546755618303212013-01-13T09:57:00.001-08:002013-01-13T09:57:22.082-08:00Touring and tea<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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We visited two mosques, walked through new parts of the city, and then had class in a favorite local restaurant with apple tea and baklava. Not a bad way to spend the day in Istanbul.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14600760057912119530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742716201382764381.post-68937666940834109712013-01-13T09:35:00.001-08:002013-01-13T09:35:14.121-08:00Taking Notes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When you study abroad, you have to be resourceful when taking notes for the course blog. Thanks Sara!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742716201382764381.post-60106995052521760732013-01-13T07:35:00.000-08:002013-01-13T07:35:44.269-08:00The Blue Mosque and the Suleymaniye MosqueToday was full of fascinating information about mosques, stories about the architect Sinan and the Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent, and a whole lot of walking! We started the day by taking a short walk to the Blue Mosque. The Blue Mosque was constructed for Sultan Ahmed, the sixth sultan of the Ottoman Empire. In fact, the Blue Mosque is characterized by six minarets-representing the fact that Ahmed was the sixth sultan. The mosque was built from 1609 to 1616 in an effort to give the city something by which to remember the young sultan. The mosque is very large, but it is not the biggest one in Turkey or even in Istanbul! From the floor to the tip of the dome, the mosque stands about 130 feet tall, and is about 70 feet wide.<br />
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When we walked in we were immediately surrounded by thousands of beautiful blue tiles: 21,043 of them, to be exact. These tiles are called Iznik tiles, after the city in which they were made. The tiles, when they were in production, were only made for the sultans, and no one else was allowed to own one. This makes the Blue Mosque special, because it is covered in Iznik tiles dedicated to Sultan Ahmed. Because of the special way that the tiles were made, they still gleam in the light and appear as though they were only recently painted.<br />
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We also learned that the Blue Mosque intentionally competed with the Hagia Sofia, which is right across from the Blue Mosque. While the Roman-constructed Hagia Sofia had mosaics when it functioned as a church, the Ottoman-constructed Blue Mosque is covered in blue tiles (blue being a color used to connect the east and the west). The Ottomans wanted to be able to prove that they were able to build their own grand structures instead of always converting Roman churches into mosques for Ottoman purposes. I think we all agree that the Ottomans accomplished this goal--the Blue Mosque is simply fascinating!<br />
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We then took a 40 minute walk across town. The walk was well worth it, though, because it led us to the Suleymaniye Mosque, the largest mosque in Istanbul. Standing at about 150 feet from floor to dome and about 80 feet wide, it is truly amazing. The mosque is dedicated to Suleyman the Magnificent, one of the most powerful sultans of the Ottoman Empire. It was built by Sinan, an architect who built 300 mosques during his career, from 1550 to 1557. The mosque is in an area called a kulliye, which is an area with a mosque, hospital, school, bazaar, and Turkish bath. The area supports the mosque financially, since the state does not contribute money to mosques. <br />
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The inside of the Suleymaniye Mosque had a different feel than that of the Blue Mosque. It was much more peaceful and serene, probably in part because there were not Iznik tiles covering the walls. While there were a few tiles, the Suleymaniye Mosque was much simpler in decor. One important feature in this mosque is that its "elephant feet," which are huge pillars used to support the dome, were blended well with the walls. This is good because it gives the impression that there is only one room, which symbolizes the belief that there is one God. Symmetry is also important in the Suleymaniye Mosque because it creates a harmonious environment in which one can pray. <br />
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We quickly realized that the architect, Sinan, was a genius. In the Suleymaniye Mosque (as in other mosques), oil lamps were used to illuminate the room before light bulbs. Sinan took advantage of the air circulation in the room and collected the smoke from the lamps in an area called the smoke room. Because the smoke was collected here, he could recycle it and use it to make the black paint used in some of the calligraphy in the mosque. It was so incredible learning about his architectural techniques!<br />
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Our visit to the mosques today was a wonderful experience in which we not only got to feel and absorb the atmosphere of mosques, but also got to see the connections between the east and the west and the history and importance behind these buildings.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07462990807564822519noreply@blogger.com2