Western Turkey

HEALING CENTER OF ASKLEPIOS – At the base of the acropolis of Pergamum lies the ancient healing complex devoted to the god Asklepios. This complex was founded in the 4th Century B.C. around a sacred spring. The famous 2nd Century AD physician Galen practiced here and made his reputation treating wounded gladiators and creating the first medical records. Healing was a sacred art that involved mending the Soul as well as the body.
So imagine going on an extended healing holiday, away from the cares of the world, to a place where you could sleep to the sound of a gentle stream, hear words of encouragement, take baths, have massages and be prescribed herbal remedies. And you can even go to the theater to be entertained. This was the ancient world of the Asklepios complex. 

TURKISH RUGS – A trip to Turkey is not complete until you visit a Turkish rug factory. This was the world of hand spun silk and wool colored in natural plant dyes. 
We were fascinated watching the silk worms soaking in hot water while the spinner caught the thin strands of the silk from each worm and spun them onto a large reel.  
From there we met the local women who actually wove the wool or silk into double knotted rugs. With hot tea in our hands we watched the the owner rolled out rug after amazing rug in a kaleidoscope of colors. From there the shopping and bargaining began in earnest.

LUNCHTIME – The local women made our traditional lunch consisting of a delicious bean soup, rice, bread, yogurt with smoke eggplant, fresh goat cheese and sesame paste for dessert, followed with your choice of Turkish coffee or chai tea.  If you were very brave, you might sip some Raki....a local “moonshine” made from Grape pomace and aniseed. 

EPHESUS MUSEUM – On our way to the coast we stopped to view some of the pagan artifacts from Ephesus. The famous Artemis (Called Diana by the Romans) lives here. She was the daughter of Zeus and Leto and the twin sister of Apollo. 
Her pagan resume included being the goddess of wild animals, the hunt, vegetation, and of chastity and childbirth. We had a quick Turkish ice cream made from goat’s milk before we climbed in the bus for our final adventure of the day.

SUNSET CRUISE – At the harbor in Kusadasi we climbed aboard the Matador for a beautiful evening cruise. As the sun slipped behind the clouds, the sliver of the moon arose over the hill and the lights of this lovely seaside town began to twinkle.

In a brief 10 hours we have traveled thru time from 5000 b.c. to the present reminded of the gift of salvation thru Christ, the Great Physician. 

Judy Nicholls – Tyler, TX