Another traditional IDC intercultural trip to Turkey took place between July 7th and 17th, 2008. This time IDC hosted a group from law enforcement. The group had opportunity to meet several officials, visit foundations, see many historical sites and have dinner with local families.
They got to know the Turkish culture very closely. Some of the important sites visited included Hagia Sophia, Ephesus, Blue Mosque, House of Virgin Mary, underground city and carved chapels in Cappadocia. The cities that were included on the trip were Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya, Konya, Cappadocia and Ankara.
Some pictures of this wonderful experience:
At the gate of Dolmabahce Palace
A small but old mosque among the houses in Asian side of Istanbul
One of the doors of Dolmabahce Palace
Inside Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia
Blue Mosque
Inside Blue Mosque
Interior Blue Mosque
Ortakoy Mosque from the boat on Bosphorus
An old mosque by Bosphorus
Yeni Mosque in the evening
On the Byzantine walls with mayor of Fatih District of Istanbul
Breakfast with mayor of Fatih District of Istanbul
Our group visited Msgr. Yusuf Sag, Vicar General, Syrian Catholic Church in Turkey
Bosphorus Bridge
Our group hosted by Attorney General, Uskudar District of Istanbul
One of our stops was Samanyolu TV
Ephesus
Ephesus with the theatre behind
After the dinner with some families in Izmir
Aspendos Theatre in Antalya
Dinner with a family in Antalya – three generations together
After visiting tomb of great sufi master Rumi
Traditional pizza in the city of Konya
Cappadocia
Our group visited Religious Affairs Directorate in Ankara
At the Turkish History Society in Ankara
Dinner with Congressmen in Ankara
At the Authors and Journalists Foundation
Our group was also hosted by the Police Director of
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality
Dinner with a family last night in Istanbul
An old mosque and church in Istanbul, seen from the hotel terrace