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| Monday, March 29, 2004 |
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"Do you ever feel like we are playing fast and loose with our sanity?"
Who would have thought that 10 days with seven flights (total of about 30 hours on airplanes and five movies) and innumerable hours on a bus could be reinvigorating? Worn out but no longer as burned out. Turkey was amazing! The mix between ancient and modern in everyday life was almost spooky. Of course, that is coming from an American who's idea of old is the pre-computer age. In all of our sightseeing, we did not even look at anything that was younger than the 15th century. Once I figure out how to put pictures into this thing I am going to put some of the more entertaining ones up. The trip was full of highlights but some favorites sites included Pergamum and the Temple of Aesclepios, Ephesus, Temple of Apollo, and Priene. In each of these places it was easy to project yourself back two thousand years ago into the life of the royal or average person.
The male, with affected nonchalance, slipping into the brothel after telling his wife he was going to offer sacrifices at the altar of Zeus before stopping at the city gates to discuss the answer to the world's problems with the other elders. The priestess, after receiving her prophecy from the oracle of Delphi, rises to her feet, bows before the god and turns to meet the awaiting multitude. She stops for a moment at the sacred pool to look deep into its depths; slipping a strand of hair behind her ear, she smiles at her reflection then ascends the stairs to the platform. The young man, convinced that he is consumed with disease, offers a sacrifice to Aesclepios, then is directed by the priest to an underground sleeping chamber to await his healing dream. The new Christian slipping through the shadows of Ephesus to meet with the others, desperate for fellowship and teaching yet afraid of becoming a torch to light the street to the harbor. Helen of Troy, standing on the terrace of the Temple of Athena, looking over the grassy field towards the Aegean Sea, watching the Greek ships sail from the harbor leaving behind their infamous gift. Wow.
In Turkey:
* having a family camping trip, complete with a bonfire (not just a regular, yay-we-are-camping size fire) and chestnuts, on the street corner is not only acceptable, but common.
* street lanes are optional. Best course of action is just find a place where your vehicle will fit (relatively) and just lean on the horn, because that makes the gridlocked cars in front of you move faster.
* the exchange rate does wonders for your self-esteem.
* men still offer camels for women (I never could find out if camels were actually accepted for women though).
* playgrounds are made up of ancient ruins.
* there are over 20 political parties, including communism, and they all drive around the streets with loud speakers.
* I got to be a model. Oh-la-la.
* pastries are delicious. Even the ones in carts that have been pushed up and down the streets all day.
* despite my best efforts I never was able to try real Turkish coffee. Their tea is wonderful though! (and those cute little cups...)
* American music is popular - we are corrupting the world.
* Turkish guys are hot!! |
posted by Unknown @ 8:49 PM   |
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| Friday, March 19, 2004 |
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| Dont worry C4! I have been doıng nothing that you would do. I am in Turkey right now!! WOW. İt ıs amazıng. I have been to five of the seven churches in Revelation. So you can go read your Bible and think, "Lauren is there. Lucky her." Anyway, there is a line of people waiting to use this computer and trying to find the letters on this Turkish keyboard is annoying so good-bye! See you all in a few days! Hope you have been doing okay without me there. Chow. |
| posted by Unknown @ 11:21 PM |
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| Thursday, March 11, 2004 |
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| Watch out Turkey! Here I come!!! Yay. *claps hands* |
| posted by Unknown @ 10:29 AM |
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| Monday, March 08, 2004 |
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"Post already!" "You going to post at some point?" "What? Did you just get a blog so you could 'fit in' then forget that means actually writesomething?" Due to all of these persuasive comments, and the fact I finally have time, I am going to post! Yay me.
The newest thing that has happened to me is that my hair is now has a faint tinge of red in it. Just at the front. So anyone you see walking around with hair that gives you the impulse to scream "fire!" and throw random buckets of water (or just light a cigarette) is not me.
And now - roll credits!
I would like to thank Lesbo for his wonderful help in making this blog, sending me the link and password, then telling me to post. Also Brooke for showing me all the cool tricks and getting my comments to work! I would keep thanking people for stuff but um yeah, that would get old. I really just wanted an excuse to do the link thingy.
FYI - I am planning on actually doing something with the template. Something along the lines of "not boring" but I am going through my "blase phase" at the moment so you will just have to deal with it because it does not bother me so who knows when I will actually get around to doing it.
One last thing before I go to class ... I'm going to Turkey!! Of course, I'm not excited or anything as cliche as that. Rather I am ... okay okay, excited! Just had to share. I know everyone who is going to read this probably already knows that, but so what. I still get to brag because you are not going to Turkey. Anyway, if you have any world-wise tips for the soon-to-be international traveler, please impart your wisdom! |
| posted by Unknown @ 8:32 PM |
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| Monday, March 01, 2004 |
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| Initially, this may look lame, but I am working on it. |
| posted by Unknown @ 9:13 PM |
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