Closing the Book

Europe Semester is drawing to a close faster than seems possible. I'll be headed back in California in about 48 hours. I'm not sure I'm ready to leave, but I'm certainly looking forward to seeing my friends and family again. I'm incredibly thankful for Europe Semester and all the new experiences and friendships it has provided. Thanks for following along on this adventure and for taking the time to read about my travels. I can't wait to see you!

Kelsey

Turkey in Photos

Istanbul

View from the Bosphorus


Golden Horn, Istanbul


Cappadocia

Bird Valley, Cappadocia



Cappadocian rock formations containing houses and churches


One of the multiple mosques found in every Turkish neighborhood. This one is under construction.


A Turkish carpet weaver


Traditional Turkish carpets


Ephesus


View of the Aegean Sea from our hotel room balcony.
(Obviously, we're really suffering here.)


Ruins of the Great Library at Ephesus


Ruins of St. John's Basilica

Istanbul and Cappadocia

The past week in Istanbul has been one of the most interesting of the whole trip. We've seen a fifth century church with beautiful mosaics, two Ottoman palaces, two mosques, and the Hagia Sophia. The Hagia Sophia was especially impressive because both its Christian and Muslim histories are very visible, and it's absolutely gorgeous inside and out. Our guide for the duration of our time here in Turkey is an Istanbul local who is able to share lots of insights into Turkey's secularist Islamic culture. On Sunday we got another very interesting perspective when we went to a Christian church service and a discussion afterward with some of the members of the congregation. Turkey is 97 percent Muslim, so it was very interesting to hear what it's like to be part of an extremely tiny religious minority.

The mosaic in the Hagia Sophia

Inside the Blue Mosque in Istanbul

The Bosphorus Fortress in Istanbul

Today we flew to Cappadocia. The terrain here is very different from Istanbul. It's desert-like and much colder. There are also pointy rock formations and cliffs everywhere. This afternoon we saw a pottery workshop where many of the techniques used have stayed more or less the same for the past 4,000 years, since the time of the Hittites. Then we saw a series of ancient churches, houses, and monasteries located inside the pointy rock formations that are everywhere. Originally the churches used the caves to hide from the Roman soldiers when Christianity was illegal in the Roman Empire. Definitely one of the most interesting sites of the trip!

Cappadocian rock formations

A second century church carved into a rock formation

We'll be here in Cappadocia for two nights and then on to Kusadasi for another five days. Finally we're headed back to London for one night before flying home. I can't believe I'll be in California in one week!