2010 Turkey Emulsion for Six of the Most Lucky

      Antalya on the Turkish Riviera   On June 20th we flew to Antalya, the seaside resort capital of the Turkish Mediterranean coast. In Antalya, with its one million people and considered the Turkish Riviera(used mostly by Russians, Germans and Romanians), we visited the Hanedan Carpet Gallery which was very educational. The carpet Master explained all the different kinds of rugs and the values associated with the quality of the rugs. He also gave a lot of treatment suggestions for the care of the rugs. He said that if you ever got a burn on the rug to gently rub it with sandpaper. He also said always wash the rugs with soap and water, never send them to the drycleaners. In the identification of rugs, white tassels on rugs means they are made from wool/cotton. Grey tassels mean wool/wool and white mixed with brown/beige identify the rug as silk. Braided tassels means the weaver was not married while braided tassels tied together mean the weaver was married. Picture...

  Sunday, June 20, 2010   IZMIR We flew into the Izmir airport and went directly to a hosted breakfast of local community leaders at the home of Osman Kanyis. We enjoyed conversation and dined on olives, honey and butter, turkish bagels, cheese and blackberries and many other wonderful foods. As we drove to the town of Izmir, we traveled through the ancient part of the city winding up and up to the very top of the city…higher than two space needles….As you look at the photos you will see a panoramic view toward the Aegean Sea. The city borders the shoreline with a very very large shipping harbor!!! Our luncheon was sponsored by the Pita Restaurant owner. We had the very best Gyro’s ever!! Our hotel, Otel Marla, right next to an Oto Park, was just a few steps from the Aegean bulkhead. We walked down there in the evening taking photos before we went to our host family, Suleyman Karadal, for another fantastic Turkish dinner. The view from their home of the Aegean was so peaceful ...

June 21, 2010   Artremis and 86 degrees. What a terrific education available for the center of the Old World advancing into the New World.       REST and RELAXATION Kusadasi was the winner all around~!! Sun REST and long walks along the beach....an only 4705 steps today. An easy drive to Izmir with our hosts filling us in on the history of the region and what to expect. We did experience a visit to a our first school, The Yamanlar Ozyurt school, founded with Gülen movement principals (a transnational civic organization founded by Fethullah Gulen). We visited with two ESL teachers. One from the private school that works on English up to 8 hours a day. The public school teacher only has eight hours a week!!! Their examination program begins at grade 6, 7, 8 and then 4 years of high school with focus on Science. Recently they are expanding their focus toward the humanities. Most of their time is spent teaching for the examinations. Those who do not pass the examinations...

Thursday, 6.17. and 19 2010 Istanbul Walk! Walk! Walk! Walk!!!! Wednesday we walked 10,526 steps according to Jeanette Rodriquez one of our co-travelers who wore a pedometer!!! Today we continued on by going over to the Karakoy Jewish Museum driving over the Galata Bridge to the Asian side of Istanbul and crossing the Golden Horn. The Museum strongly supports the generosity of the Turks in accepting Jews into Turkey. Following the visit we joined locals in Cay and street dancing!   We continued walking down narrow up hill winding streets of c obblestone with exciting shops on either side.....We arrived at the Galata Tower which was once a lighthouse but now gives wonderful views of the entire city! There was an elevator!!! which took us part way up and then winding winding stairways to the outer view sports. It was built in the year 528 and continued to be a lighthouse until recently where it has become a tourist view spot!! The views were fantastic and we could see both the E...

We're excited to leave tomorrow on our next adventure!  Linda Danforth, Beth Willis and Michelle Merritt  were invited on a cultural tour of Turkey by the Acacia Foundation. The Acacia Foundation's mission is to promote cross–cultural dialogue by emphasizing universal values such as love, truth, faith, brotherhood, solidarity, and sharing; to encourage strong family values, high morals, and ethics among community; and to help establish a society where individuals love, respect, and accept each other as they are. Learn more at: http://www.acaciafoundation.org/web June 15, 2010   We made it to Istanbul! Rick Steves was on our same connecting flight to Germany! Rounding out our group are fellow travelers from Seattle: Kevin Rycka and Jannette Rodriguez from Seattle University and Jessie Dye of Earth Ministry. Our Acacia guide who flew out from Renton, Ali, met us at the airport and helped us get into our hotel and took us to Pirpirim for a traditional Turkish meal. An educat...

      2010 Turkey Here's our expected itinerary: 15 Haziran Sali Istanbul Arrive at Istanbul: 4:55 pm Transfer to Hotel Check in hotel  Dinner at Pirpirim 16 Haziran Carsamba Istanbul Breakfast at Hotel 9:00 Topkapi palace  11:00 Hagia Sofia 13:00 Lunch at Tamara 14:00 Bazalica Cistern  14:45 Turkish & Islamic Art Museum 16:00 Hippodrome & Blue Mosque 17:30 Egyptian Bazaar Dinner at Cankurtaran 17 Haziran Persembe Istanbul Breakfast at Hotel 9:00 Dolmabahce palace 11:00 Karakoy Jewish Museum 13:30 Light Lunch at Tarihi Eminönü balıkçıları 14:30 İDO boat tour from Eminönü (On time) 16:30 Back to Eminönü 17:00 Miniaturk 18:30 Back to hotel 19:30 Dinner at Family House 18 Haziran Cuma Izmir / Kuşadası Flight to Izmir Airport 9:00 Breakfast with local sponsors Ephesus Lunch at Restaurant  Virgin Mary’s house Selcuk museum Check in hotel at Kuşadası Dinner at Kuşadası 20:00 Dinner at Hotel 19 Haziran Cumartesi Izmir  Breakfast at Hotel Enjoy th...