Travel Update

So, just as an update, I've sent my paperwork for a visa for Ghana, which cost me a whopping $135 including shipping costs and photo costs. So far my running total is $360 for the first application, $280 for the international insurance through ISEP (International Student Exchange Program), $100 for WVU international programs application fee, and finally this $135 visa cost for a current subtotal of $875 just for the preliminary costs. Remind me never to eat out or leave the lights on again, cause I am gonna be paying for this forever.

Anyways, on to happier notes, I have been having an interesting response from people about this blog idea. Mostly, I've heard that I should talk about more than just my trip to Ghana. So, I think I am going to change the title of my blog to "International Adventurer" instead and just update those who are interested on all my recent adventures. So, although I can't imagine why anyone would be particularly interested in my life, I will acquiesce to popular demand.

So, a little prior information update now, for those of you who don't know I recently traveled to Turkey during the 2nd week of March and I recently came home from a 10 day camping/hiking stint in the Southwest of the U.S.

View from my hotel balcony

Turkey was a wonderful experience (only the second time I have ever been out of the country-- the first was to Mexico, specifically San Miguel de Allende and Mexico City). We started in Kusadasi (pronounced Koo-sh-ah-dah-see), where we had a gorgeous hotel on right on the Aegean Sea.
The first site we visited was Ephesus. Some may know Ephesus as the resting place of the Virgin Mary, others may know it from the biblical story of Paul who tried to preach repentance to the people of Ephesus and was run out. I showed up knowing little more than the above information, and was absolutely blown away my the history and the majesty of the architecture from the Hellenistic Greek and Roman societies who founded the city. We saw many different things there including the Library of Celsius, The House of the Virgin Mary, the theatres, and even a traditional Roman bath house. We also visited a rug co-op, where there were women making traditional Turkish rugs.  

Small Theatre at Ephesus

Me crying in the theatre at Ephesus

The theatre where Paul preached

Me sitting on a Roman toilet seat

Statue at the House of the Virgin Mary

Mary's House

Turkish Woman working on a rug at the co-op

The Gorgeous Turkish Rugs

 

Library at Celsius

We also visited the Basilica of St. John, the site of the Temple of Artemis, Pergamon, and an ancient hospital site called Asklepion.

The Temple of Artemis Remains

One of the columns from the Temple of Artemis

Some of the columns at the Basilica of St. John

Theatre at Pergamon

Emblem from the Ancient Hospital of Asklepion

 

Ross & I at the Temple of Dionysus (Theatre God) at Pergamon

After that we drove up the coast stopping at the fabled city of Troy and the site of the Battle of Galipoli, before entering the city of Istanbul. In Istanbul, we went to the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, The Church of Cora, the Grand Bazaar, Topkapi Palace (including the Harem), and the Turkish Spice Market.

Monument at Galipoli

Trojan Horse Replica

The Blue Mosque (outside)

Troy Ruins (levels are numbered)

The Hagia Sophia (outside)

The Blue Mosque (inside)

Hagia Sophia (inside)

Church of Cora

Cora mosaic of Mary's parents

The Grand Bazaar

Spices at the Turkish Spice Market

View from Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace

 
Overall, the trip to Turkey was eye-opening and quite informative of my own fears and prejudices when put in a foreign place and made to sink or swim. It was great to be able to travel to Turkey before this trip to Ghana. It has helped me to mentally prepare myself a lot better than I otherwise would have, and it has released me of a lot of my initial fears about studying abroad and has given me confidence in my ability to face new situations with a more open mind.

That's it for now, but I'll post stuff tomorrow chronicling my trip to the Southwest and sharing some funny stuff that has happened to me recently. I'm sure you're all waiting with utter suspense. :-P