Hot Air Balloon!

I've always wanted to ride in a hot air balloon, and what better time than in an exotic place?  Cappadocia seems to be the perfect spot:

If I go with this company, I get breakfast and champagne.  Fortunately, probably for safety, the champagne happens after you land.  

Language

I've travelled enough to know that it's helpful to know at least a bit of local language from the country visited.  For one thing, the locals appreciate at least some effort being put forth.  So, I'm going to learn some Turkish before I visit.  Right now, I know two words:

Merhaba: Welcome
Bocek:  insect; bug; beetle (This happens to be my friend's last name)

Here are the options I've found for studying Turkish here in Portland:

1.  Audit a class at Portland State University - I confess I was very excited about the idea of auditing a class. I know people who did this when I was in Undergraduate and I thought it was supposed to be cheap.  Well, I was wrong. For some reason, they charge you the same tuition and fees to audit a class as they do to take the class for credit. I'm not paying $600+ for one class that I don't even get credit for.

2.  Purchase Rosetta Stone - I can't tell you how many people have recommended this option to me. I'm considering it particularly because it's not as expensive as it used to be.

3.  Take a class at the American-Turkish Cultural Center here in Portland - I love this idea, but I have yet to hear back from them as to how much the classes cost and other such details. 

4.  Mango for Libraries - A friend of a friend passed this information to me.  It's going to be my first stop because it's free.   Looks like something I can do from home via the computer. 

5.  Talk to Turkish people in Turkish - This will happen after I've at least learned the alphabet and have learned a few things. Fortunately, through my tango network, I've met a couple of Turkish people here in the states who have been more than happy to help me. 

I think my goal will to be through at least a level 2 speaker. I want to know a bit more than just the basics.

Op...one more for me to check out, sent by a friend currently living in Istanbul and studying Turkish:
Pimsleur  Will be checking it out soon!

Ancient or Old?

Being a Biblical Historian who focused on studying the development of the Torah, I am undeniably interested in things that are ancient.  If something isn't AT LEAST 2000 years old, my curiosity is generally not piqued (and that's being generous, I generally prefer at least 3000 years old).  The first time then I stepped into a Neolithic structure (about 5,000 years old), my heart was a flutter...

With this in mind, I've been just slightly disappointed to read that most history books date Istanbul to about 700 BCE (yes, I know this is old, but not old enough to make my hear flutter the way something 5,000 years old did).  The story is that it was settled by Gerek cononists. The leader, Byzas, was told by the Oracle of Apollo at Delphi that he should settle across from the 'land of the blind ones."  When sailing into what is now Istanbul, Byzas determined it to be what the Oracle meant because previous settlers must have been blind to have overlooked such a wonderful location. 

But you see, I don't buy it.  I know that most historical places are built upon older historical places.  (For a fun Historical-fiction on this idea, read "The Source" by James Michener).  So I did a bit more digging and found this little gem:

Istanbul's Ancient Past Unearthed!  They claim to have found a burial sign from the 1600 BCE's.  Now THAT's what I'm talking about!  The article is very interesting. It points out that the Bosphorous Strait wouldn't have been formed yet, which means the landscape and such would've been much different from today.  I'm going to have to do more research, but it would be interesting to know what happened between the time of those first settlers and when teh Greeks came.

I am delighted. 

A potential route

Here's a scenario that has 4 stops.  Check out the google map here.

1.  Istanbul (Stops A and E)
2.  Cappadocia (B)
3.  Hierapolis - Pamukkale (C)
4.  Ephesus (D)

Of course, there's also Troy to visit as well...

DOH!

Hierapolis and Pamukkale

Um... Can you say "ancient hot springs"?  I sure can!  Hierapolis-Pamukkale is one stop I think I just might need to make. It is a World UNESCO site too!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hierapolis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamukkale

Romance

There's something romantic about planning a trip by yourself.  It's more of an adventurous romance than a traditional romance.

Being single, it's easy to look at couples and think how lucky they are to have one another. But on the other side of the fence is that I get to do exactly what I want when I want.  This trip, for example, gives me the chance to spend time with myself, my thoughts, doing the things that excite and challenge me.  I can have everything I want with just myself.

When I imagine myself on this trip, I imagine solitary walks through colorful neighborhoods.  I will treat myself to a visit to see the oldest treaty known to history (future blog post about this to come).  I will sit and watch people in silence, listening to only the air and the sounds of the city around me.  I will meet other travelers in hostels who I would not have met if I stayed in a hotel.  If I want to spend all afternoon staring at one painting in one museum, then I will do just that.

Romance doesn't need to equal roses and candle lit dinners. It doesn't need to equal physical intimacy or a ring on your finger. Romance can be getting yourself out of a rut, it can be stretching your limits and getting out of your comfort zone.  Romance can mean simply being with yourself.

Rick Steve's has a sense of humor. Who knew?!

I almost spit up my chai tea this morning when I read this from Rick Steve's Istanbul:


“Aramaic is also the language spoken by Jesus Christ, most other New Testament figures, and Mel Gibson.” P. 159
  
For those of you who are not familiar with Aramaic, here's my perspective on why this quote is so particularly funny:

o       The Aramaic that Jesus and the other New Testament figures spoke is considered a “dead language” which means that it isn’t spoken any more. Not only that, we don’t actually know what it sounded like, so it’s kind of impossible for Mel Gipson to speak it. His version of Aramaic is probably based more on modern Syrian Aramaic. They probably have similarities, but that can’t exactly be proved.  Seriously, Mel Gipson, leave the writing of stories about Jesus to the scholars.  Please.  Let’s not confuse people more. 

o        I also find this humorous in part because in Graduate School, I took a course in Aramaic so that I could read the Book of Daniel (The only Hebrew Bible book entirely written in Aramaic).  It was one of the most traumatizing things I’ve ever done, learning Aramaic. Mostly because I sucked at it.  Hebrew was easier for some reason (despite the fact that they are very similar). I partially blame the teacher.