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