Travelling through Turkey was quite the spring break adventure. Though I won’t be studying abroad here, I am very jealous of the people who are. There is so much to be seen, and so many different facets to the lifestyle and culture.
I started my break in Izmir, but I travelled through the Turkish countryside to visit the relics at Ephesus and the thermal pools in Pamukkale. Though it involved a lot of driving, the trips were well worth it. The ancient ruins at Ephesus date back to the Roman Empire, and their preservation was remarkable. The natural beauty of Pamukalle took me by surprise – I wasn’t too keen on driving four hours each way to see a thermal pool, but little did I know that the pools were embedded in calcified terraces in the mountains of Turkey. The sights were breathtaking, but what was truly remarkable was how well the site had been maintained. This holds true for many historic sites in Turkey- they undergo constant to ensure that they are well maintained.
Istanbul was in stark contrast to Izmir; it was bigger, brighter, more historic, but just as beautiful. Though there weren’t mountains and endless fields, there sheer amount of history concentrated in one small area was astounding. I hadn’t expected the famous mosques, museums, and palaces to be so close together, and interspersed throughout these wondrous sights were equally as historic relics that went unnoticed. Walking from my hotel to the Blue Mosque, there were a number of smaller mosques from the 1400s that were only pointed out in my dad’s old tour guide. Anywhere else, these alone would be considered an attraction, but in a city with over 6000 mosques, they were quickly looked over.
My personal favorite attraction was the Topkapi Palace Museum, which had served as the home of the Ottoman sultans for centuries. Currently, the museum houses a tremendous number of religious relics, such as the clothes of the four caliphs, jewelry and decorations of the royal family, and a huge array of weapons and armor. It was astounding to see so much history in a single museum, and that was only part of it- many of the exhibitions were closed for restoration.
The study abroad program picked a great location for a civilizations program- there is so much history embedded within the culture and daily life of Istanbul, and learning about it in such a vibrant and dynamic city seems like the perfect study abroad experience. The juxtaposition of the rich history and modern culture is a melting pot of ideas and lifestyles, and I can’t wait to come back and visit soon.