I went to Turkey!

Okay Okay...I know I'm a terrible blogger...but it's a work in progress, okay?  

Well let me fill you in on my life these last couple of weeks...

Well...I WENT TO TURKEY!!! !  All I can say is that it is the most beautiful place I have ever been in my entire life.  Literally breathtaking.  Green rolling hills, beautiful coastline, cute little towns, ancient sites...INCREDIBLE.  It’s what I have always imagined Greece to be like.  I wanted to stay there and live there for the rest of my life...well not really, but kinda :)  

This is just a normal sight in Turkey...isn't it unreal?!  

While there I experienced a couple things.  I had my first experience with a beday (which turned out to be a very positive and exciting experience...did you know that every toilet in Turkey has a beday?!  I certainly did NOT!  

I ate goat milk ice cream (not the greatest thing i’ve ever tasted in my life, just to be honest). 

I rode a ferry on the Bosphorus Sea (and drove the ferry for about 2.5 seconds).  

I ate the best baklava in the entire world. 

The baklava bakery owner...he was SO proud of this pan of baklava with Obama's face on it...so funny!

I went to Troy (as in THE Troy...with the Trojan Horse and everything...although there is debate about whether that actually happened...but let’s just say we believe :)

Trojan VICTORY dance in front of the Trojan horse...at Troy!!

  I ate at a picturesque fish restaurant on the coast (and if I was a fish lover, I’m sure it would have been fantastic...but unfortunately I really just can’t stand fish...ergo, it was mostly just a cultural experience for me, and not a tasty experience). 

I went to Ephesus, where Paul (one of the greatest missionaries of all time) lived and preached for a couple years.  That was a really cool experience, especially with Brother Muhelstein’s insights while sitting in the famous theater of Ephesus—he is so full of spiritual knowledge and goodness, I always just feel enriched after he speaks to us! 

Ancient street @ Ephesus

I went to the natural hot pools of Hierapolis and laughed as scantily clad Turks posed for awkward pictures in the hot pools—they were so awkward, yet so serious...which made it so funny! 

Hierapolis!!!

I went to some really cool mosques (including the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia in Istanbul).  Those places are incredible, and so detailed—it really is amazing!

Blue Mosque @ Istanbul

Great Mosque @ Bursa

Hagia Sophia @ Istanbul

Great Mosque @ Bursa

 I discovered the best gas station cookies in the world...they are called ‘coco stars’ and they are delish.  I spent large amounts of time on a bus. 

 I went to the ancient city of Pergamum and saw the Temple of Trajan (referred to as 'the Seat of Satan' in the Bible...it was so beautiful though...anything BUT the seat of satan!)

Pergamum

Pergamum

Temple of Trajan @ Pergamum

One of the columns @ the Temple of Trajan (at Pergamum)

Theater @ Pergamum (below the Temple of Trajan)

Temple of Trajan @ Pergamum

 I splashed around in and skipped rocks on the Aegean Sea.  

I stayed at a broad spectrum of hotels (ranging from super classy to super sketch and trashy...).  

All in all, it was one of the most fantastic and stellar trips of my life!  But seriously...if you EVER get the chance to visit Turkey...DO IT!  It's an incredible country!    

Well, that's all for now folks...stay tuned for more of my adventures in the near future!!!