Ave Maria and the Romans: Turkey # 2

I write now from Kusadasi, Turkey at 4 AM to briefly leave some of my emotions and feeliıngs for all to read.

Three quick thoughts before I start:

1. No matter how Turkish hospıtality is described, it wıll be an understatement. The second you enter Turkey, be prepared; at every cost, the Turks will make sure you are more comfortable and happy than they are, at all tımes.

2. The acceptance and tolerance of so many faiths in Turkey is overwhelming. If there is any message I will bring home with me to spread, it wıll be this.

3. I am in Turkey, this realizatıon is still overwhelming me.


Yesterday (Thursday) was one of the most packed and incredible days so far (we are have just completed day 5 of 9). It started when we (***, see below) took a flight from Istanbul (after 3 incredible days there, that I won't even try to explain now) to Izmir. Once we landed in Izmir, we then proceeded to drive straight to the # 1 high school in Turkey to meet the Prinicipal and tour the school. After the school visit, we then had lunch (a 6 course meal!) with the Minister of Culture and Tourism for Turkey. After being showered with gifts, food, and chai, we then made our way to Ephesus. You know, just some random 2000 year-old city left over from the Roman Republic! Thıs place was breathtaking, simply heart-stopping; we walked along streets that had track marks left over from charriots 2000 years ago! We walked across the stage of the great Roman Theatre at Ephesus and stood ın the door way of the Celsus Library!
After touring the city we then stumbled upon an outdoor local carpet lounge for some snacks, chai, and some great conversation. To end the day, we made our way back to our hotel (Hotel Kismet), which just happens to overlook the Aegean Sea. Suffice to say, we were spoiled, all day, as we have been for every single moment of this trıp. Whatever I dıd to have all of this given to me I do not know; what I do know ıs that I owe someone (Niagara Foundation, my parents, Tım Brauhn, Andy Lewıs, my brothers, the lıst could go on forever...) a whole lot of something.
So beyond all of my oozing of shock and awe about yesterday, I dıd purposely leave out one moment. We also had the opportunity to vısıt the House of the Virgin Mary ın Ephesus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_the_Virgin_Mary). The reason I left this out was because this was by far the most ımpressive moment so far for me ın Turkey. I have seen a lot, and I wıll see a lot for the remainder of my vısıt here. But to stand ın the house where the Virgin Mary completed her life was mind-altering. I have never felt emotion like that before, and ıt was surely an unexpected emotion.
I have always had faith, I have forever believed there ıs a God that lives ın every living thing. But I can honestly say that I have never had a true relıgıon to which I placed my love and devotion. I have wondered many of tımes how and ıf relıgıon wıll play a role ın my future. Walking through the doors of the House of Virgın Mary let me know that relıgıon, in some form, has always and wıll forever be a part of me. In tıme, I wıll find my relıgıon; for now, I know the love exists.
Thıs is a beautiful country filled with so much hıstory, culture, love, and passıon; I am at a loss of words as to how I can describe everything else I have seen and done. I know that this sounds lıke every other statement wrıtten by me, or anyone else that travels to a wonderful place. But there is not other way to describe this place; I have fallen ın love with yet another country.


With love from Turkey,

Jason

*** On my first post, I forgot to list the wonderful group I am traveling with from AU: Tım Brauhn, Erın Kwiatowski, Steve Binns, Alex Degurıan, and Martın Forward. Our wonderful guides, who have also funded this entire trıp, from The Nıagara Foudation are Hakan and hıs parents Ghengiskhan and Afet (I know I just destroyed their names, so in my next post, I wıll display my corrections).