Today is our last official day of our Fulbright-Hays Seminar Abroad. This experience in New York, Greece, and Turkey was the fastest (yet slowest!), most emotional, most amazing, most challenging five weeks of my entire life....and I wouldn't trade the experience or anything. There are a few things I'd like to have not happened - that wallet/passport issue and the emotional melt-downs that accompained it - but in actuality, even those negative experiences have positive elements that have shaped who I have become from what I have experienced in these five weeks.
Here are a few of my favorite pictures, highlights, and memories of Greece and Turkey.
 |
| The Sactuary of Apollo in Delphi, Greece |
 |
| King' Phillip's Tomb was one of the most amazing and surprising sights of my life. We were not allowed to take pictures, so the experience and sights will only truly live in my mind. I should have bought a book as well...but maybe it's for the best. |
 |
| New Fulbright-Hays friends! |
 |
| The Parthenon in Athens |
 |
| Getting my sandals made! |
 |
| Molly - our tour guide at the Ag-or-AH! in Athens |
 |
Here I am in Greece being reaqunited with Boss Ice Cream bars that I had fallen in love with while in Bulgaria last summer. Little did I know, Turkey would introduce me to Magma Ice Cream bars and (wait for it!) they are better! And...the good/bad news is that they are now in the United States. You too can enjoy these ice cream bars yourself without buying an international plane ticket!
|
 |
| The HMS dress that I used to love, but then hated when I realized it was when my passport and wallet were stolen from my purse that was over my shoulder while I was waiting for my receipt. |
 |
| The American Embassy in Greece - a place I wish I never ever had to visit and that no one else I know ever does for the same reason |
 |
| The NEW passport - do you know I am wearing the fated HMS dress? Yes, I planned it that way. |
 |
| Turkish pride and their brillant flag |
 |
| Learning about Ataturk and starting to understand the immense love the Turks still have for him and what he did for the Turkish Republic |
 |
| Grocery shopping in Turkey |
 |
| Finding out just what it means to be a Fulbright-Hays scholar |
 |
| Running into these two in Ankara, Turkey at lunch |
 |
| Discovering these cookies |
 |
| Visiting the Women's Center in Ankara |
 |
| Spotting Ataturk throughout Turkey in various forms, flags, statues, busts, and yes...even tattoos!!! |
 |
| Climbing with Carol, Katie, Beth H, Amy, LeeAnn, Jeremy, and Richard to the top of the Citadel in downtown Ankara and the 360 degree view! |
 |
| The Underground Cities |
 |
| This amazing authenic Turkish lunch |
 |
| My one, and last, sip of Turkish coffee! |
 |
| The breathtaking beauty of Cappadocia |
 |
| The Whriling Devishes Ceremony |
 |
| Wading around the corse salt of the Salt Lake |
 |
| The sunrise in Cappadocia |
 |
| My first hot-air balloon ride in Cappodica |
 |
| Proof I was actually up there and experienced it! I have to still pinch myself! |
 |
| Jeremy, Ada Bear, and our hot-air balloon ride pilot and ground crew |
 |
| Junit, me, Melissa, and our pilot - with our accomplishment hot-air balloon medals around our necks! |
 |
| Seeing pottery made with the kick-pedal wheel |
 |
| Purchasing my tourquoise ring and necklace - Happy December Birthstone to Me - Turquoise is the Turkish gemstone |
 |
| Seeing a caravan stop on the SILK ROAD! |
 |
| Learning all about the Hodja and having Melissa read me his stories and lessons in her great accent - oh, and finding his donkey and sitting on it backwards JUST LIKE THE HODJA! |
 |
| Pammakule!!! |
 |
| Aphrodisious!!!!!!!!! |
 |
| Capturing this picture of Melissa and loving little Ulysess before he/she even arrives in December! Oh...and the fact that she is my own personal Google search engine in person! |
 |
| Our daily afternoon Magma Ice Cream breaks! |
 |
| The sunset over the Aegan from my hotel balacony in Kusadasi |
 |
| The hotel at Kusadasi |
 |
| Ephesus! |
 |
| Visiting Mary's House in Ephesus |
 |
| Making a wish on Mary's wall |
 |
| Learning how silk is made |
 |
| Going to the carpet store, seeing how they were made, and trying them out with our bare feet! |
 |
| Richard's amazing acting and storytelling |
 |
| Columns, columns, and more columns |
 |
| Our bus throughout Turkey - and my back seat corner and all that came with it. |
 |
| Troy and climbing up into the horse replicia - I kind of think the original didn't have windows or stairs going up, though |
 |
| The shores of Gallopili |
 |
| This soldier's tomb engraving spoke deep to my soul |
 |
| This statue sums up Gallopili in a glance |
 |
| Dunn being stopped throughout Turkey for pictures and hair-touching. No, he is NOT related to Obama. He was so patient. |
 |
| Doner! Love it! |
 |
| Aya Sofia - beautiful |
 |
| The blue tiles of the Ottoman Empire |
 |
| The experience of the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar was new, overwhelming, but yet also fun. |
 |
| You can only imagine the smells of this place! |
 |
| Topaki Palace, Aya Sofya, and the Blue Mosque from the view of our boat ride on the Bosphorous |
 |
| Harry Potter with Turkish Subtitles! Thanks for going with me, Stephanie and Beth! |
 |
| Baklavah is actually a Turkish desert, not Greek! And...I LOVE IT! |
 |
| The peaceful demonstrations in both Greece and Turkey - democracy in action! |
Okay that was WAY more than a few, but I couldn't stop once I got started. I found it quite theraputic as well. Now maybe I can be ready to take in the experience coming up in Egypt!
5 comments:
Your story is amazing. Take care in Egypt, Maryann. Will see you soon. Marta
Way cool! Can't wait to hear about Egypt!
What a fabulous recap, Maryanne! Truly the adventure of a lifetime. Hope you continue the blog on the next leg of your adventure - I'll be reading! xo Liza
I have enjoyed almost every day of your journey. (Not the passport problem days!) Thanks for taking us with you and making us feel and see what you felt and saw. Amazing. Enjoy Egypt and we'll see you soon,
Mary
I loved the great review of the trip and all your amazing photos.
Carol S.
Post a Comment