J. B. Clark Family: June 2008

So ....
Another installment of our family traditional Bachelors degree capstone activity program is now history and we are back safely.
As a reminder, the remaining excursion with the Phoenix crew remains to be determined. We are still open and entertain hopes.
Our trip was very pleasant and we think Amanda has some nice memories and some new insights, which is what these trips are for.
To James, Melissa, Joshua and Amanda specifically, we cherish each and all. Thank you for being the transcendent souls you each are.
Dad now has the perspective of several trips. With each one he is called upon to stretch and expand horizons. This is a good thing even for a wandering business warrior. He continues to be pleasantly surprised by each new lack of death, destruction or even major inconvenience.
There are many photographs. We have them at the house and can view as desired at next in person gathering. I may post a few here.
Here is a tour summary:
04 June: Travel by air the entire day: SLC->JFK->IST (Istanbul, Turkiye) ... 4 hr across US, 9 hr across Atlantic/Europe, plus 9 hr time change(GMT-7 -> GMT-5 -> GMT+2)
05 June: Istanbul - tour local historic sites: Roman Hippodrome, Sultan Ahmed ("Blue") Mosque, Hagia Sofia, (Lunch), Basilica Cistern. (Hotel: Grand Ostanik, Istanbul)
06 June: Istanbul - regional sites on Asian side: Istanbul-Iznik (Bosphorus bridge,Tuzla-Yalova ferry), Iznik (Nicea), Iznik->Istanbul, Lunch, Topkapi Palace, Bosporus Cruise. (Hotel: Grand Ostanik, Istanbul)
07 June: Air Travel - IST->Izmir, Local site loop: Bergama (Pergamon), (Lunch-CarpetFactory),Akhisar(Thyatira),Izmir(Smyrna). (Hotel: Kaya Prestige)
08 June: Izmir->Kusadasi via site loop: Salihli (Sardis), Alasehir(Philadelphia), Denizli(Laodikea), Colosse (site), (Lunch: MeandrosCafe, Denizli), Transit to Kusadasi(Ephesus). (Hotel: Richmond Ephesus)
09 June: Kusadasi - local sites: Akkoy (Miletus), (Lunch), Ephesus, Shopping (Leather,Porcelain). (Hotel: Richmond Ephesus).
(End Turkey, Start Aegean)
10 June: Cruise Day 1 (Louis Aquamarine): Port of Kusadasi, transit, Patmos, overnight to Rhodes (Hotel: M/V Aquamarine)
11 June: Cruise day 2: Rhodes-ashore-optional: Shopping, Crusader Fortress, re-embark, overnight to Crete
12 June: Cruise day 3: Crete, ashore: Knossos (Minoan), Heraklion (shop), afloat: Crete->Santorini, ashore: Santorini(shops, scenery), Santorini-> Piraeus
(End Aegean, Start Greece mainland)
13 June: Piraeus/Athens, local sites: Acropolis (Parthenon, Areopagus, Agora), Athens overview, (Lunch-Titania), National Archaeological Museum. (Hotel: Titania(Athens))
14 June: Region loop: Athens->Corinth canal, Corinth, Mycenae, back to Athens, Final Dinner and Tour farewell meeting, (Hotel: Titania)
15 June: Main group of official tour transfers to ATH airport for return to SLC, official tour ends - Extension stragglers (3 family units) remain in Athens for church and other purposes.
15 June: Clark-Chartrand-Winter Athens extension: Attend LDS services at Acropolis Branch, 52 Amalia Ave, Athens (20 minute walk from hotel)
Church experience notes: (Astounding confluence of languages - Greek, French, English - and cultures - Greece, Africa, Bulgaria, Brazil, Romania, US. Note: Same struggle for Young Adult LDS marriage/family prospects as elsewhere in Europe, amplified by highly predominant (98%) Greek Orthodox or Muslim environment.)
Sabbath friendly exploration of Athens on foot (Botanical Garden, Temple of Zeus), snack on pre-purchased yummy Greek pastry. Hang-out at hotel with the tour remnants
(Hotel: Titania)
16 June: Extension group transfer to ATH airport for flights to US.... ATH-JFK-SLC.
Observations:
(1) We continue to love to travel with LDS groups if we are not up to a DIY trip.
(2) Turkey is a very safe place for peaceable US people, folks - NATO ally,EU applicant, language Romanized, VERY Europe/West friendly!
(3) Greece is a very nice place, but we knew it would be.
(4) Added 2 national food styles - Turkish and Greek - to our list of faviorites along with China and England. We hope to add Germany some day.
(5) We love breakfast containing Cucumbers, Yogurt, Fruit, spiced Feta, Broiled tomato (Just like UK), and specialty bread.
And now here are some pictures ...
Guess where (in Turkey) --
(1)