Picture update from Kuşadası!

Please enjoy a picture update from Kuşadası, Turkey :-) 

Yesterday morning we arrived in Marmaris from Rhodes and immediately hit the road. As we drove through the Turkish Terrain our view looked somewhat like this: 

Our guide could sense our hunger and suggested Turkish meatballs at a stop he was very familiar and fond of. We held a vote on who wanted to stop for Turkish meatballs and the census was pretty much unanimous. So to the fast-food meatball stop we went! Look how welcoming this man is: 

This is the Turkish version of fast food off the highway. Efficient, inexpensive, welcoming and most importantly - DELICIOUS. 

We had a spread of meatballs, sesame bread, fresh salad, grilled tomatoes, onions and green peppers and to top it all off we had some pomegranate syrup for the salad. After the feast we were served traditional Turkish tea. Some of us were feeling adventurous enough for the pumpkin desert, topped with crushed walnuts and tahini, Yum!

 For around 8 euro, this might just be the best spot in Turkey the world. 

After dinner yesterday a large group of us went to the beach to extend the evening a bit. Luckily, our sunset was just about epic. Please notice the perfect crescent moon :) From dinner some of us walked home while others took the shuttle as we had to prepare for today's early morning and tour to the House of Mary and Ephesus. 

We were greeted by our wonderful guide at 9:00am and made our first top at the House of the Virgin Mary where our OECTA group had a private mass in the private chapel held by Etzio, a Franciscan priest from Italy. He opened up after the Homily to the group where we were able to ask any and all questions about Mary and her life here in Ephesus. We learned that it is said that she ended her days in her home, having lived here for roughly 9 years. 

Mass was extraordinarily moving today. I believe we will all agree that it was incredibly moving and a special spiritual experience that will forever remain with us. In today's mass we were reminded both of the pilgrimage that we are on and the power of Mary's love in our lives... today's mass was truly incredibly, and personally speaking, one of the most powerful experiences of my life.

This is the humble entrance of the small chapel. 

After mass we were able to walk on our own through the grounds. We started at the house of Mary (not the actual house, but a recreated home based on the original foundation)(If you are not familiar with her house and how it came to be, I encourage you to do some research on her house and Anne Catherine Emmerich, a German nun whom had visions of her home, which lead to it's discover in the 1800's) 

Following walking through her home we were able to light candles and say a prayer. After this, we were all able to fill the clay vile of water that we were gifted with from the same fountains that were working in Mary's day. 

After this, we had the opportunity to write down whatever we wished and tuck it into one of the prayer walls. 

And following this remarkable experience we carried on to Ephesus for a walking tour through this ancient town. 

In case our day couldn't get any better, and in case we couldn't fathom anything more amazing that Turkey could offer us in half a day, we made a stop at a Turkish carpet farm. Where we met the students as they weaved, learned about silkworms and the process of weaving. We were greeted in pleasant Turkish form with food and drinks and had a carpet demonstration to end all carpet demonstrations. 

Kusadasi has been exceptional to us. The Palmin Hotel has been phenomenal and we're all eager and excited to see what Istanbul has to offer us. We depart tomorrow morning at 10:00am and upon arrival in Istanbul we will have a guided tour and perhaps a stop at the Grand Bizarre.

I send you all my loving thoughts

Hello from Rhodes!

Hello everyone!

Hope this blog posts finds everyone very well back home. We have heard and learned about the excessive floods back home and we keep you in our thoughts and prayers.

I am currently sitting in the hotel lobby as class is going on in the hotel's meeting room just down the hall. Today's liturgy was held by Amanda, Teresa and Rosalie and was excellent. They covered the table in the centre of the circle with shells with Greek words written in each one. Each participant has been encourage to find out what the meaning of their word means, they all know that the words are virtues in Greek but are unaware of what they are. Once they discover their word they are to throw it into the ocean in the hopes that at some time, somewhere someone will find this virtue and will be able to hold it with them.

Yesterday's liturgy was perhaps the group's most moving as it took place on the beach during sunset. The group (comprised of Jenny, Carla and Diana) read the poem 'Footprints in the Sand'. It's a very common poem that we are all familiar with, but as we continue on this journey together as a group it took on a new, perhaps different meaning. At that moment in time, with the sun behind us and the sand beneath us, it resonated with all of us in a new way. It was an amazing moment that will surely be everlasting for all of us. Please enjoy a reread of the poem here below (or a new read if you are unfamiliar with this piece!).

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. 

                                          Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. 

In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. 

Sometimes there were two sets of footprints. Other times there were one set of footprints. 

This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life When I was suffering from anguish, sorrow, or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints. 

So I said to the Lord, "You promised me, Lord, That if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I noticed that during the most trying periods of my life 

There have only been one set of prints in the sand. 

Why, When I have needed you most, you have not been there for me?"

The Lord replied, "The times when you have seen only one set of footprints Is when I carried you."

Today is Tuesday July 9th and we have had a couple of very exciting and full days up until now.

Sunday (July 7th) was spent with a morning tour of the National Archeological Museum followed by free time in Athens. A small group of us travelled to the market in Syntagma Square while others chilled out and enjoyed gelato in the shade. In the late afternoon we regrouped and made our way to the ferry. A short couple of hours after we embarked for our trip the sun was setting as we sat together and enjoyed the moment. We had a pretty easy overnight ferry and enjoyed dinner and breakfast onboard.

The following morning, Wednesday July 8th we arrived and were greeted by our guide Eva and our private coach. We were expecting a tour of Lindos and Rhodes Town but received much more than just this. Upon driving to Lindos we stopped at a traditional Greek Ceramic studio that has been passed down for 3 generations. We watched as Kristos spun the wheel and made a vase within seconds right before us. After this demonstration we were taken to their small private studio where many of us purchased ceramic goodies handwritten 'made in Greece' by the very man we watched make a vase. It was a very personal and interesting little stop. From there we carried on to Lindos. We stopped before reaching the city for a very classic photo op standing above Lindos. From the photo op we drove a little bit down a hill to the gulf of Lindos where the Church of St. Peter sits, as an homage to St. Peter as he was here on this island for a night while on his pilgrimage. According to our guide, this church is famous amongst foreigners as a chapel for destination weddings.

Once we arrived down in the main square of Lindos, some of the participants had the option of climbing the steps (all 300 of them!) to the Lindos Acropolis for an epic view overlooking the town, while others decided to enjoy their time below to grab some lunch or some time to relax. After gathering together at the end of the tour we carried on to the Walled City of Rhodes where we enjoyed a visit to a small ancient church where we had the opportunity to light a candle and say our small prayers. Following this we enjoyed (a late) lunch at a very quaint restaurant that was highly recommended to us from our guide Eva. From here we walked back to the bus and continued on to our hotel.

Now this morning, July 9th the group is gathering for class and we will meet again this evening for prayer and liturgy. We are here in Rhodes for tonight and tomorrow night then we carry on our way to Kusadasi and start the Turkish portion of this program. Which we are all absolutely excited about.

Please enjoy some pictures and a video from the last few days here in Europe.

I send you all my love from this beautiful island.
xo
Natalie

***editors note. In my last post I quoted Laura K. as saying that we were 'in the history of our faith, in the now of our faith'. I'd like to correct myself and say that it was Teresa C. that said this and not Laura. Thank you to the group for pointing this out to me :-)

This is me if you're wondering :-) 

The dinner on our last night in Athens with Greek Dancing in the background! This is also a video of the group linking arms and joining in on the dancing.

Elda taking a photo on our day trip to Corinth

This is where class and liturgy were held while staying at the Intercontinental in Athens. 

Passing around the Eucharist at mass on Sunday. Urszula wanted to hold mass like they did at the beginning; the coming together to celebrate mass followed by a meal. A warm thank you to Father Rick for Sunday's celebration, it was amazing. Thank you. 

Boarding our ferry, the Blue Horizon for our overnight ride from Athens to Rhodes. 

Urzula looking out before disembarking in Rhodes

Meeting Kristos and visiting his studio. 

The view of Lindos from our photo stop. 

Walking through the Walled City of Rhodes. 

Visiting the beautiful teeny church and lighting some candles. 

Buon Appetite!