Beyond All Expectations

Dave, Chuck, Bob, and Piotr (Peter in other references)
at our last dinner in Istanbul

As the group gathered tonight for our final dinner, there was a clear understanding by each of us that by coming on this Nile Foundation hosted "Dialogue Trip" we had just experienced something extraordinary. This marked our ninth dinner together since first we met at the hotel on that first Friday night of this adventure in Turkey. We have spent eight full days in the hands of the extraordinary Mahmut and Saliha, the husband and wife team who have been our guides, shepherds, and friends for this amazing journey. They have led us with grace and patience and always with a spirit of love and care, and this has been no easy task, to be sure, and yet, they’ve made it look very easy by their great competence and abilities. So first to them, I say tesekkur ederim (thank you)!

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

As we boarded the bus this morning for our final day in Istanbul there was, I think, a set of mixed emotions, excitement in what we would see today, and a bit of sadness that this is our final day of this extraordinary experience. We would start the day at “Miniaturk” which is a large outdoor park filled with models of significant sites in Turkey from every period, location, and empire of this ancient land. We observed many of these sites firsthand, here replicated in miniature models of intricate and beautiful detail. It is a reminder of the magnificent architecture, art, and devotion which is part of the fabric of Turkish life and culture. Also, there was a museum with a special tribute to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the father of the modern democratic Turkey established in 1923 after the War for Turkish Independence. Sounding much like our own Thomas Jefferson, Ataturk once said, “We must absolutely be successful at education. This is the only way to salvation of a nation.” He also said, "The new Turkish society won't be a nation of warriors.The new Turkish society will be a nation of new economic activities." This visionary leader set the stage for the modern economic and cultural development of Turkey over the past century, and is beloved in the memory of his people.

Dome Frescoe at Chora Church

Next we made our way to the Edirnekapı neighborhood in the western part of the municipality of Fatih to the Church of Holy Savior in Chora considered to be one of the most beautiful examples of a Byzantine church in Istanbul. In the 16th century, the church was converted into a mosque by the Ottoman rulers, and then became a museum in 1948. The interior of the building is covered with magnificent mosaics and frescoes. The original church was built in the early 5th century and stood outside the walls of Constantinople (the name Chora means “in the country” i.e., outside of the city walls). The intricacy and details of the beautiful artwork in the Church is a tribute to a lost age. After leaving the Chora Museum we made our way past the magnificent entry gates of Istanbul University, Turkey’s oldest institution of higher education, then making our way past the main entrance to the Grand Bazaar we walked the several blocks to our lunch stop.

Interior at Chora Church

Mosaic of Jesus and Mary at Chora Church

The main entry gates of Istanbul University

A street in the Grand Bazaar

On the way to the Spice Market

After lunch we wended our way through the throngs of people to and through the Grand Baaar and the Spice Market. It is impossible to describe the experience of these places, except to say that it felt as though one was stepping into a world in an alternate universe; thick crowds pressed through mazes of narrow, covered streets lined with goods and wares of every conceivable kind. Shop keepers vied for the attention of any customer who might respond, hoping no doubt that he (and in rare case she) - meaning the shop keeper - would find that customer who might make the day’s labor worth it all. For those of you who know how I feel about shopping, I will tell you that I did not run screaming out to find the first tea shop available.  Also, I made a new friend today, a shopkeeper named Murtaza, we had a nice conversation, and may I someday be as proficient with the Turkish language as he is with English.  While I am still not a convert to the shopping experience, I did find the afternoon in these settings fascinating, if mostly on a sociological level (oh, of course don’t misunderstand me, I did try my hand at "bargaining" and found a few good items too!)

Murtaza Avci
Shopkeeper at the Spice Market

Eight full days, and nine glorious evenings later, here are some of the things I know: Turkish people are beautiful, kind, and generous (oh, I’m sure they have their ‘rascals’ like all of us, but I did not see them anywhere).  Turkey is a wondrous country rich in culture and heritage with a proud history; and it is certainly  making its way to a new greatness through its strong democracy, progressive economic work, openness to all people, and positive values to build community, family, and world relationships in life giving ways.  Turkey holds the keys of tremendous promise to helping diverse peoples of the world find common ground by being a voice of friendship and reason to its neighbors east and west. I believe Turkey will continue play a key and ever more important role in helping to set a table for diverse world leaders to gather around and begin to forge new relationships of trust and future development for the good of humankind – it’s a staggering proposal, but I believe that Turkey is up to it! I hope and pray that the wonderful path which Turkey has forged will continue with renewed strength each day. My advice: come to Turkey, and see for yourself what a wonderful people and place this is – Lutfen (Please).  Wherever your journey may take you, may the love and grace of God go with you, always.  Islam (Peace)