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Itinerary and Hotels 
Trip to Turkey with Professor David Trobisch (Bangor Theological Seminary, January 5-19, 2003)

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January 5 Sunday

Today we gather at either Bangor [BTS parking lot at 9:45, you can leave your cars there] or Boston Logan Airport [check in, go through security, meet us at the gate] for our flight to New York with a connecting flight to Istanbul. Remember to bring your airline tickets and your U.S. passport which must be valid beyond your stay; foreign nationals must contact the Turkish Consulate and US Government for the proper documentation needed. Make sure that the baggage receipt the airline gives you at check in reads Istanbul or “IST”, as your luggage should be checked through to Istanbul.  Please make sure that the WTS/Raptim Luggage Tags sent to you are placed on your luggage [David will bring the tickets and the nametags for those leaving from Bangor]. This allows the porters in Turkey to determine who is traveling with the group. Dinner and complimentary beverages will be served this evening, followed by breakfast shortly before arrival in Istanbul.

Please refer to your airline tickets for your flight information. Please remember to arrive at the airport at least three hours prior to departure.

January 6 

Welcome to Turkey!  After arrival in Istanbu you will be met by your tour assistant and will connect onto a flight to Adana. Upon arrival in Adana we continue to Antakya. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Antakya.

Antakya          Grand Antakya Hotel    
Ataturk cad no 8  31040 ,  Antakya
Tel : 011.90.326 213 58 60     Fax : 011.90.326  213 58 60.

January 7

After breakfast this morning, drive East to Antioch-on-the-Orontes (Antakya), Daphne and Seleucia Pieria. Antioch is thought to have been founded in 300 BC. Among all the cities in the world of the first century AD, Antioch offered the most ferric ground for new ideas, philosophies and religions. First to preach here was St. Peter followed by St. Paul and Barnabas. Their extensive efforts proved fruitful for Christianity. The actual word, Christians, was first coined in Antioch. The strong and wealthy community of Antioch contributed financially to the Christian community of Jerusalem. Highlights include the museum which houses a superb collection of mosaics from Antioch, Daphne and Seleucia Pieria and St. Peter's Grotto, the cave church came to be known as the meeting place of the early Christians. According to the legend, ancient Daphne was the sacred grove where Apollo tried to rape a nymph named Daphne. Eros struck her with an arrow making her incapable of loving neither a god nor a mortal. Apart from being dedicated to Apollo, Daphne was considered a place of carnal pleasures and any soldier caught in the area was dismissed from service. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Antakya.

January 8

Enjoy breakfast this morning before proceeding to ancient Cilicia. Drive to Tarsus, the birthplace of  St. Paul. During St. Paul's time, Tarsus was a University City surpassing Athens and Alexandria. Cicero was governor here in 51- 50 BC. The famous romantic meeting between Cleopatra and Mark Anthony took place in Tarsus. Highlights here will be St. Paul's well, antique road and Cleopatra's Gate. Drive onto Cappadocia. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Cappadocia   Perissia Hotel                
P.O Box : 068 Urgup  50401   Cappadocia
Tel : 011.90.384 341 29 30     Fax : 011.90.384 341 45 24 

January 9

This morning after breakfast, begin your drive to Kaymakli. This fascinating underground city, carved into soft rocks, resembles a huge labyrinth of tunnels, rooms, kitchens, wine cellars and passageways. A huge chimney ventilates this 8-levelled dwelling used by Christians hiding from there Roman and Byzantine persecutors. The colorful frescoes remain as vibrant as when they were first made. You will feel as if you have been transported to a village out of Grimm’s Fairy Tales. You will see what Turks commonly call "Fairy Chimneys" - jutting pieces of volcanic rocks that have been beaten and shaped by the wind and rain. Highlights will be The Apple Church, Church of the Snake and The Churches of Shod in Göreme. Dinner at hotel and overnight in Cappadocia.

January  10

After breakfast, begin your drive to Konya or ancient Iconium - an important Christian City after St. Paul preached there. A Phyrigia legend says that Konya was the first city to be founded after the flood. St. Paul and Barnabas came here in 47 A.D. and their preaching were accompanied by many miracles. St. Paul made two more stops here on his second and third journeys. Today's Konya is quite new but the center of the city is very old. On the way to Konya, stop by Seljuk Caravanserai and visit Catal Hoyuk. Drive to  Konya to visit the Mevlana Museum. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Konya.

Konya              Dundar Hotel
Feritpasa Mah. Kerkuk Cad. no 34 , Konya
Tel : 011.90.332 236 10 55    Fax : 011.90.332 235 91 30

January 11 

After an early breakfast, depart from the hotel.  Drive to Hierapolis stopping at  Laodicea and  Colossae.  Visit two Theaters, a large Stadium, a Water Tower and an Odeon. The city is supposed to have been named by Antiochus II in honor of his wife, Laodicea. Here, St. Paul wrote a letter to the church (Acts  4:16). Arrive in Hierapolis, founded by the Pergamon king Telephos and named after his wife Hiera. It is believed that the very large Jewish element in this city was an important factor in the rapid expansion of Christianity. During the Byzantine period, the city became the seat of diocese with a large Christian Church dedicated to St. Philip who was martyred there in 80 A.D. Highlights include Necropolis, the Temple of Apollo and the Theater. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight at Pamukkale.

Pamukkale     Lycus River Hotel            
Karahayit - Pamukkale - Denizli
Tel : 011.90.258 271 43 41    Fax: 011.90.258272 43 51

January 12 Sunday

Breakfast is at your leisure this morning.  A full free day to enjoy the thermal pool in Pamukkale.  Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Pamukkale. 

Before  and  After
Pamukkale Legend: The story of the Woodcutter's daughter has been told for ages. Many years ago there was a poor woodcutter family who were living on the slopes of Cokelez Mountain. They had a daughter who was so ugly that the mothers who had sons turned away if they saw her. She didn't care so much about her poverty, but her ugliness made her very upset. One day she fell off the top of the hill into a cavity. She had fallen into the travertine pool that was full of thermal water and mud. She lied in the thermal water unconscious for a long time. During that time the water made her very beautiful. The son of the Denizli Governor saw this beautiful girl lying hurt in the water. He decided to take her to his house by horse. He loved her and they got married. Women began to come to the hot spring to become more beautiful after that time.

 January 13

After an early breakfast, we depart for Kusadasi with stops along the way. Hierapolis is the beautiful ancient site of Aphrodisias. This ancient city of learning, fine arts and sculpture has provided us with exquisite pieces of work that are displayed at the site. Its Stadium is among the best preserved in the world. The "Bishops Palace", Odeon and the Theater will be the highlights visited. Next on our itinerary is Priene with its well-planned streets and graceful buildings and temples. Highlights will be the Agora, the Ecclesiasterium and the Temple of Athena Polias.  Continue to Miletus where the Philosopher Thales was born. He coined the phrase "Know Thyself". We will inspect the Delphinion, Baths of Faustina and the Council Chamber. Continue to Kusadasi for dinner at the hotel and overnight.

Kusadasi        Viking Hotel
Riza Sarac Cad. Yat Limani Karsisi 09400
Kusada si - Aydin
Phone : 011.90.256 612 7051
Fax : 011. 90.256 612 5460 

January 14 

After breakfast, begin the drive to Izmir to visit the famous city of Ephesus. Our tour will begin with the Basilica of St. John "the Evangelist" who came here with the Virgin Mary and wrote his Gospel in Ephesus. The Temple of Artemis, considered as on the Seven Wonders of the World, was located here. Ephesus is the most well preserved ancient city in the world.  This ancient city was a wealthy cultural and commercial center in the ancient world. St. Paul's preaching resulted in the uproar of the Guild of Silversmiths and eventually, the whole population of Ephesus. Highlights include the Library of Celcius, the Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Trajan, the Brothel and the Theater. We will also stop by the House of Virgin Mary where she is reputed to have spent her last years and died. You will be able to collect some holy water from the Sacred Spring. Dinner  at the hotel and overnight in Izmir.

Izmir                Kaya Prestige Hotel        
Sair Esref Bulvari 1371 Sok. no 7 , Izmir
Tel : 011.90.232 483 03 23    Fax : 011.90.232 489

 January 15

This morning after breakfast, drive to Sardis whose history dates back to l2th cent. B.C. Sardis felt the influence of Christianity very early and was included in the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse. During the Byzantine times, it was the seat of a bishopric. Highlights to be visited are a Synagogue, Gymnasium, Byzantine Church and the Temple of Artemis. Proceed to Thyateria or Akhisar, another town where Christianity spread quickly and the site for one of the Churches of Revelation. Continue onto hauntingly beautiful Pergamon, which rises high on a hill as one, nears the city of Bergama. Being one of the richest and most powerful of kingdoms of the ancient world, you will see that it still retains its past grandeur even in its shattered yet dignified present state. Highlights will include the Altar of Zeus, Temple of Trojan and the Theater. Coming down the mountain, stop by Asclepion, a leading health center of the ancient world where methods of treatment included music therapy and barefoot walking. Dinner at the hotel and overnight in Pergamon.

Bergama         Berksoy Hotel     
                        PK 19 Izmir Yolu  35700 Bergama / Izmir
                        Tel:  011.90.232.6332595  Fax : 011.90.632 960910

January 16

After breakfast depart from the hotel and proceed to Assos and Troas before heading towards Troy. Assos perched high on a cliff overlooking the Aegean and the Island of Lesbos is breathtaking. Its Acropolis carries the impressive Temple of Athena. Arriving at Assos on foot from Troas, St. Paul preached here and climbed down to the little port on the shore to board the boat on his return journey to Jerusalem Troas was a busy port situated on the northwest coast of Asia Minor. Recent excavations revealed a dozen different cities covering 3000 years of civilization. During his stay in Troas , St. Paul had a dream in which he saw a vision of a man asking him to "Come over to Macedonia and help us". After this dream, he decided to go to Europe. All in all, he stopped and preached here 3 times. Dinner at the hotel and overnight in Canakkale.

Çanakkale     Tusan Hotel    
17001 GUZELYALI / CANAKKALE
             Tel: 011.90.286 232 82 10  Fax: 011.90.286.232 82 26

 January 17

After breakfast,  begin the drive to Istanbul. In the afternoon, visit the Hippodrome and the Blue Mosque, know for the impressive blue tiles lining its walls. The rest of the day will be spent in the Grand Bazaar before check-in at the hotel. Dinner at the hotel and overnight in Istanbul.

Istanbul           All Seasons Hotel
Molla Gurani Cad. Emin Ali Yesim Sok no 5 34270
             Findikzade / Istanbul
             Tel: 011.90.212 6358383    Fax : 011.90.212 6214535

 January 18

After breakfast, we drive and to visit the spectacular Topkapi Palace , built on one of the seven hills of Istanbul. This huge complex commands views of the Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn and was the seat of government for the Ottoman Empire for many centuries (1453-1852). Visit the extravagant Treasury and the priceless Chinese porcelain. Continue onto St. Sophia, the Church of the Divine Wisdom (excluding Gallery-2nd floor). It is one of the world’s greatest architectural and spiritual masterpieces and was originally the largest church in the Christian world. Following this stop, we will go onto the Underground Cistern built by Justinian in 535.Returning to your hotel for dinner and overnight in Istanbul.

January 19

After breakfast, you will be met and transferred to the airport for your return flight home.

Arrive in Boston 6:55 PM (DL6178 from New York JFK). Those going back to Bangor will be met by Bob Evans and Paul Baker, who will pick us up at the airport with rented minibuses.

Hits  // Last modified September 30, 2005 //   Back to Trobisch Homepage