...That Life Is Beautiful Around the World" - Red Hot Chili Peppers
We just got back from a two week trip around the west coast of Turkey - Istanbul to Channakale (Troy / Gallipoli) to Selchuk (Ephesus) to Patara Beach. It's an amazing feeling to know the history that's lived just beneath your feet - Xerxes, Constantine, Alexander the Great...really incredible. We had a great time - it was a wonderful opportunity to sit back and re-evaluate where we are and where we want to be in the next few years. With five months to go in Azerbaijan, we're getting very excited about what's to come. Starting over will be a little daunting, I'm sure - but we're ready.
Here are a few shots from our trip - hope you enjoy them.
Love y'all!
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| Famous Iznik (Nicean) Tiles - Topkapi Palace, Istanbul |
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| The Sultan's Library - Topkapi Palace, Istanbul |
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An Exterior Wall of the Topkapi Palace - From the Palace Gardens
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The Hagia Sophia - Istanbul
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A Mosaic Uncovered in the Hagia Sophia
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View of the Blue Mosque from a Window of the Hagia Sophia - Istanbul
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Inside the Hagia Sophia - The Church of Holy Wisdom -- First A Church, Later Converted Into a Mosque, Now a Museum...
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Inside the Blue Mosque - Istanbul
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The New Mosque, Near the Egyptian Bazaar, Istanbul
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Stone Wall Outside of St. George Monastery, Prince's Islands - Istanbul -- The Wax Drippings Run the Length of the Entire Wall - They Are All That Remains of Years Worth of Pilgrims' Prayers
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Trojan Horse Replica - Troy
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Ruins @ Troy
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Ruins @ Troy
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Poppies in the Ruins - Ephesus
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Ruins @ Ephesus
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KJ&D - Library Ruins - Ephesus
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KJ&D - Ephesus
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Amphitheater - Ephesus
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Ruins of the Church of Mary - Ephesus
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Ruins of the Church of Mary - Ephesus
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Ruins of the Basilica of St. John - Ephesus
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| Ruins of the Basilica of St. John - Ephesus |
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| Patara Beach - Exploring... |
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Patara Beach - The View From My Towel...Doesn't Get Much Better Than This...
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| Patara Beach - From the Cliffs |
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| The View From Our Hotel - To Get to the Beach, You Walk Through an Active Dig Site - You Can See The Theater Ruins in the Background Here... |
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KJ&D - Patara Beach
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