Here come the ruins!

The Turkey trip continues! So much to write and so much to remember! I just need to hurry and catch up so that I can talk about my adventures that are currently happening! I will get caught up...just you stay tuned!

Wednesday was our biggest bus day! So lots of time was spent taking naps and playing games. The cutest part of the bus ride was that at some point in the day, someone had heard our Old Testament teacher (Bro. Harper) talk about marriage and the rest of us wanted to hear what he had to say. He told us the story of him and his wife, and it was seriously THE CUTEST story. It wasn't necessarily a spectacular story, but just the way he talked about his wife and his thoughts when he first met her were the cutest. It probably helps that he is a historian, so he is good at telling stories. He told us his thoughts on marriage (which isn't an uncommon conversation in the YSA world), but we loved it, we all love hearing his thoughts on life and the gospel. It is neat to have that type of relationship with a teacher, you definitely gain a greater bond with the teachers here than you normally do at BYU. We pretty much told everyone in the other class that they need to hear the story when they have him for New Testament. (We switch teachers half way through.)

Our first stop for the day was Assos. Assos was beautiful and was the cutest little town. Assos was the first of many places that we went where there used to stand a temple. It was also one of the places that Paul went on...I believe his second mission, but don't quote me on that. It was neat to start the more spiritual places of our Turkey trip. I love that this study abroad program allows you to go to places and then open up your scriptures and read about the place. I love gaining greater light and understanding of the scriptures. Assos was the first of MANY places to have the beautiful columns. 

You can't see our faces very well...but look at that beautiful backdrop! Gorgeous!

As we were sitting reading the scriptures and Bro. Harper was talking to us, the other class started singing a song. Well, you have to understand that the other Old Testament teacher, Bro. Huntsman, sings in the Mormon Tablernacle Choir...so he loves to sing...and he loves to sing loud. So, in the background it sounded as though Bro. Huntsman was just singing to his class (when reality they were all singing). So...as Bro. Harper was speaking to us he said, "and now I will sing for you." We all just started busting up laughing. He was like, "I'm offended that you are laughing. I'm never going to sing for you now." It was great! It is so funny to see the contrast of the two religion teachers...they are so different. They are both powerful teachers...but Bro. Harper is more of an introvert and Bro. Huntsman is definitely an extrovert. They are both great, but in completely different ways.

Look at them clouds. Ear buds in...we love listening.

Assos was also the location that I partook of my first Magnum bar. It was basically life changing. I got a Double Chocolate one. Oh. My. Gosh! It was seriously heavenly. So delicious. It was a bad discovery...hello weight gain! hahaha. 

So much excitement in that face! So much deliciousness in that treat!

We boarded the bus and continued on. The next stop was Pergamum. Pergamum was another cool place with ruins...pillars from a temple...you get the idea. It also had a large, steep auditorium and a library. Pergamum was the location that there was the Altar of Zeus, but the Altar of Zeus has been moved to a museum somewhere else...so we just saw where it was.

Super windy day! I was definitely regretting the flowy skirt!

Super steep theater!

I love the arches!

I guess this is where the Altar of Zeus was. 

Those were our only two stops of the day. Like I said, it was a big bus day. But no worries...the day ended with us arriving at our hotel for two days...Aqua Fantasy. Ya, our hotel was called Aqua Fantasy. Isn't that funny? I'm not quite sure how to explain this hotel. The name for it's hotel is mainly because of the fact that it has a water park (which we never got to use). It was a pretty big hotel! The meals were kind of like a cruise...but not quite a delicious as a cruise. There were a couple of places that you could eat and it was like big buffet style. It was kind of crazy! There were so many people and you had to search around for what you wanted to eat, and sometimes wait in line for some foods. There were many desserts...but we came to see pretty fast that looks can be deceiving. Most of the desserts in Turkey looked good...but did not taste that amazing.

Aqua Fantasy was also along the beach! So, lots of time was spent just chilling on the piers, and exploring the hotel. There were pools...but they closed at like 7. I badly wanted a spa to sit in...but no such luck! Neither of the hotels had one...it must not be the thing around here. I don't know! The hotel had like karaoke and dancing...but they were mostly at bars. There was some little kid performance that we passed by. It was a happening hotel! We mostly just enjoyed sitting on the pier and getting to know each other better!

I was a fun day! A good balance of relaxing on the bus and visiting sites! Visiting sites ALL DAY tires me out...so I enjoy the balance.

More ruins to come...with one of my favorites...Ephesus!