Turkey Cross Cultural
May 26–June 15, 2009
Tentative Schdule
Explore World-Class Biblical Archaeology Sites and Experience an Islamic Culture
May 26 Tuesday: Depart from New York 
- New York JFK Airport.
- Take the Turkish Airlines TK 2 non-stop 4:30 PM flight to Istanbul.
May 27 Wednesday: Arrive Istanbul
- Archaeological Museum containing the Gezer Calender, the Titus Inscriptions, City Walls from Babylon, and other important items.
May 28 Thursday: Istanbul
- Spice Bazaar
- Boat tour along Bosphorus seeing both Asian and European shores of Istanbul
- Topkapı Palace
- Whirling Dervish Show (a spiritual dance called Sema)
May 29 Friday: Istanbul
- Hippodrome Square
- Blue Mosque
- St. Sophia Church (during the St. Sophia Church Museum visit, Gunhan Danisman, Professor of Art History at Bosphorus University, will give a lecture)
- Underground Cistern Basilica
- Grand Covered Bazaar
May 30 Saturday: Istanbul-Gallipoli-Canakkale
- Gallipoli (World War I site where 500,000 people died)
- Car ferry across the Dardanelles strait
- Legendary city of Troy with replica of the wooden horse
May 31 Sunday: Canakkale- Assos- Pergamon
- Temple of Athena in Assos
- Pergamon (Rev. 1:11; 2:12), including the Acropolis and the remains of the 1st century Red Basilica
June 1 Monday: Pergamon-Izmir (ancient Smyrna) – HOME STAY
- Open air bazaar day in Bergama, with local families displaying their agricultural products
- Izmir, the third largest city of Turkey on the Aegean Sea coast
- Begin home stay with Turkish families for four nights. This home stay will allow you to experience Turkish culture, life style and more. Dinner with local Turkish families
June 2 Tuesday: Izmir – HOME STAY
- Daytime visits of local attractions in Izmir (Kemaraltı, Roman Agora, Old Elavator, a modern mall, and so on)
- Dinner and overnight with home-stay family
June 03 Wednesday: Izmir – HOME STAY
- Kaşıyaka and Campus visit to 9 Spet. Univ.
- Dinner and overnight with home-stay family
June 04 Thursday: Izmir – HOME STAY
- Depart Izmir and drive to Kuşadası for a free day at the beaches.
- Dinner and overnight with home-stay family
June 05 Friday: Izmir-Ephesus-Crisler Library-Kusadasi 
- Ancient city of Ephesus
- Archaeological Museum and the Crisler Library in Selcuk
- Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.
June 06 Sat Sirince Village – Kusadasi
- Tukish village of Sirince, famous for its old decorated houses
- Turkish Cooking course at a local home/restaurant
June 07 Sunday: Priene - Miletus – Dydima – Kusadasi
- Greco-Roman site of Priene
- Miletus Theater
- Temple of Apollo, the oracle center of the Western Anatolia
June 08 Monday: Aphrodisias – Hierapolis - Pamukkale
- Aphrodisias (archaeological site with a marvelous stadium, theater, agora, and archaeological museum)
- Pamukkale, site of ancient Hierapolis with its hot springs. Our hotel has indoor hot spring pools. Swimming is available
June 09 Tuesday: Pamukkale - Antalya
- Antalya via Taurus Mountains
- Archaeological Museum of Antalya
- Old Castle overlooking the Mediterranean Sea
- Dinner and overnight in Antalya
June 10 Wednesday: Antalya – Perga – Aspendos - Antalya
- Perga, the port entry to Anatolia for Barnabas, John Mark and Paul on their first missionary journey (Acts: 13:13)
- Aspendos theatre, one of the best preserved Roman theatres in the world
- Kursunlu Waterfall
June 11 Thursday: Antalya – Myra – Antalya
- St.Nicholas Church in Myra (Demre)
- Mediterranean towns of Kekova, Kemer and Olympos
June 12 Friday: Antalya-Konya-Cappadocia
- Iconium (Acts 13:51; 14:1-21; 16:2, 2 Tim. 3:11)
- Konya to visit the Mevlana Mausoleum
June 13 Saturday: Cappadocia
- Underground city
- Göreme Open Air Museum with painted rock churches
- Pottery making town of Avanos
- Citadel of Uchisar
- Optional Folcloric Dance Show
June 14 Sunday: Cappadocia – Ankara
- Ankara, the capital city of Turkey
- Ataturk’s Mausoleum
- Anatolian Civilization Museum containing Hittite artifacts
June 15 Monday: Departure