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TITLE: Turkey Inspired | Previous Challenge Entry
By Shanta Richard
11/11/14
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The month of November is all about turkeys! On whatsup the

major topic of conversation of my children is how to cook a

turkey! My thoughts turn to the nation called Turkey and

my tour of that place a decade ago.

Turkey is unique in that it spans two major continents - Europe

and Asia.Its capitol Istanbul and 5% of its population are

situated in Europe and the rest spread over Asia minor, which

lies across the Bosporusstraits that connects the Black sea

and the sea of Marmara. Their civilization dates back to the

Neolithic era. My experiences of that tour has left a lasting

impression in my memory.

First, I realized that God's dwelling place is not in human

buildings.Hagia Sophia - holy wisdom - a church built in the

6 th century by theByzantine emperor is a magnificient

place of worship. It was so beautifulthat the Muslim

Ottomon sultan who conquered the Byzantine

did nor destroy it but converted it into a Mosque and

renamed it he Red Mosque. Today it is a museum of

St. Sophia. If God, Almighty resided in this edifice, I

believe that no power on earth could reduceit to its

present state.

Second, I was impressed by the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul.

Situated in the center of two great continents it

dominated the trade between the east and the west.

The market consists of over 3,000 shops from all

over the world. Shops were grouped together according

to themercandise so shoppers do not have to travel all

over the place. Thus sales depended on the salesman's

"gift of the gap".

Bargaining is an art, a battle of wits. The possibility of

getting the right price depends upon how clever and

patient you are. It also depends on the time of the day.

Salesmen have a daily quota to reachand are likely to

sell at a cheaper price in the morning until they reach

their target and then hike up the prices. Bargaining

gives satisfction to both the seller and the buyer. The

seller fixes the price at say $100 foran article valued

at $50 and after an effusive haggling sells it at $60

and is happy. The buyer on the other hand thinks he

is clever to have purchased a $100 item at $60 !!

Finally I was blessed to visit the house of the Virgin Mary in

Mt. Koresses,near Ephesus. It is said that during the

persecution of the Christians bythe Roman Emperor,

St.John came to Turkey. Since Jesus had

entrusted His Mother Mary into his care, John brought

her with him. He built a stone house for her and left her

in the care of the goatherds wholived there when he

was exiled to Patmos. The blessed Mother lived in

this humble abode peacefully until her death.

As I walked into this simple home I felt my whole being respond

to thethrill of heavenly joy and peace that I never felt when I

visited St. Peter's Basilica in Rome or Westminster Abbey in

London. Here a broken- heartedmother was comforted by

the love of Her Son and found peace and solace

in the faith of His resurrection and eternal life.

The experiences of travel not only enriches my knowledge,

but also blesses me spiritually.

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