Day of Departure - 08/01/11

Fly from San Antonio to Turkey

Day One - 08/02/11

Arrive Turkey at Erkilet International Airport, Kayseri Turkey. Immediately, we will kick off our tour of exotic and diverse Turkey with the Soganli Canyon. This valley was one of Paul’s first stops on his ministry of spreading Christ’s plan for redemption. We can take a short hike to the cave where Paul hid from the Roman soldiers, later enlarged and converted into a church typical of the apostolic period with beautiful ninth and thirteenth century frescoes. The room where Paul took refuge from his persecutors is still preserved for us to see. Next, we will visit an underground city, which the ancient Hittites carved out of solid rock, many stories deep, complete with multiple escape passages and booby traps for their enemies. The existence of the Hittites was seriously doubted by much of the archaeological community because of the lack of non-Biblical contemporary records. This underground city, along with others similar, confirm the Biblical account of the Hittites as a superpower of the ancient world with its stellar encapsulation of the Hittite way of life.

We will overnight in a cave. Yes, you read that correctly, the Cave Hotels of Cappadocia are complete with every luxury, and remain deliciously cool after a warm day. Make sure to sip a cup of Cappadocian tea on the hotel’s flat roof-top terrace and enjoy the stars.

Day Two - 08/03/11

We commence our second day in weirdly beautiful Cappadocia with a brisk 4 km walk down the Rose Valley. One of my personal favorites, this valley not only offers a spectacular view of the Cappadocian countryside and famous “fairy chimneys”, but an incredible church so well hidden, that visitors very rarely find it. Behind a cave intended for a pigeon roost, a small opening widens into an awe-inspiring vaulted church with pillars and vaulted domes carved out of solid rock. We will test the amazing acoustics by singing a few songs as a group, perhaps just as the persecuted Christians did hundreds of years ago. Next we will walk to the Cross Church, which was constructed shortly after Constantine declared the Christianity, and the symbol of the cross to be part of official state dogma. With no further need to hide, this church is the largest in Cappadocia.

The bus will meet us in the village of Cauvasin, before we continue to Devrent Valley and Pasabag to see the rock formations which transform the landscape into one that is truly unique, and early Byzantine churches. A trip to the charming village of Avanos completes our day.

Day Three - 08/04/11

After breakfast, we will go the Goreme Open Air Museum: a collection of caves, houses and churches hollowed into the cliffs. Feel like a part of an ancient civilization as you clamber into these authentic homes and see their way of life. From the top of Uchisar Castle, a cliff with rooms and steps carved into it, we can see the entire region. Next, a scenic drive to Ankara, the capital city, with a stop at Nar Lake, a volcanic crater with a geyser. Overnight in Ankara.

Day Four - 08/05/11

We will drive to Hattusas, the capital city of the Hittites, and explore the extensive ruins, which are still in impressively good shape. Near Hattusas is Yazilikaya, a pre-Hittite worship-site, full of natural beauty, which we will visit. We will drive back to Ankara for the night.

Day Five - 08/06/11

The Turkish city of Pammukale was known in Roman times as Hieropolis (mentioned by Paul in Colossians). Legend states that Phillip the apostle is buried there. The Roman ruins are some of the finest in the world, and we can still swim in the baths alongside toppled pillars and amongst artifacts. The waters of Pammukale are said to be very healthful, and many people walk along the glistening, snow-white cliffs left by the calcium in the water.

Day Six - 08/07/11

Today we will visit Laodicea, one of the seven churches of the Revelation. As well as Afrodisias, once the home of the cult surrounding the Greco-Roman goddess of love, which was later changed to the ‘city of the cross’, the seat of many Christian bishops. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day Seven - 08/08/11

The city of Ephesus amply demonstrates the worldly grandeur Paul refers to as normal Ephesian life before conversion to the new faith. The magnificent library at Ephesus is one of the few ancient buildings to survive with multiple stories. We can also see St. John’s Basilica, where the apostle allegedly wrote some portions of the New Testament.

Day Eight - 08/09/11

Smyrna and Thyatyra are two more of the seven churches of Revelation, and the citys’ ruins are still impressive today. After we explore these ancient metropolises, we will fly from Izmir to Istanbul and check into our hotel.

Day Nine - 08/10/11

Istanbul is the only city in the world located on two continents, and has always formed an important link between Europe and Asia. The melange of cultures, peoples and customs makes for a truly unforgettable, “excitement tingling up and down your spine” experience! Perhaps the most recognizable landmark is the Hagia Sophia, which Constantine built after he converted all of Rome to Christianity. Built as a church, the invading Muslims added minarets, to use it as a mosque. Now the impressive structure is a museum.

Just across a plaza is the equally beautiful Blue Mosque, with an interior of hundreds of thousands of intricate blue and white tiles. Topkapi Palace is the storybook Eastern stronghold- lavish, immense- a sel-contained paradise for the ruler of the Ottoman Empire. Comes complete with locked and barred harem, incredible jewels, and bloodthirsty court intrigue.

Day Ten - 08/11/11

Before we say goodbye, we will enjoy our last day to the fullest cruising the Bosphorus strait between the Asian and European portions of Istanbul.

Day Eleven - 08/12/11

We return to the USA encouraged by the fellowship of other believers and with a better understanding of the environment in which Christianity grew and spread bringing Salvation to everyone who would believe.