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We flew to Izmir, in the heart of the Aegean region, where we visited what is believed to be the final home of Mary, mother of Jesus, near the city of Ephesus. We then toured Ephesus, one of the greatest ruined cities containing the restored facade of the Library of Celsus and the Gate of Hercules. We toured the Temple of Aphrodite in Aphrodisias. We photographed the white limestone terraces at Pamukkale at dusk, and waded in the warm hot springs that feed the graceful formations. Adjacent to Pamukkale is Hierapolis, a city destroyed by an earthquake in 60 A.D. A stop at the local police station produced a lost trekker. Mentor Rosanne Pennella called for an impromptu visit in an anonymous village on market day, which yielded marvelous portraits of the very friendly and accommodating Turks. That evening, we swam in the warm waters of the mineral pool at our hotel. We visited Mevlana Museum, the lodge and school of the “whirling dervishes, founded by Rumi. We stopped at caravanserais, built to house and protect merchants and their caravans as they traveled around the country. At the end of a long day of sightseeing, we arrived in the fairy landscape that is Cappadocia precisely at sunset, and captured beautiful photos of the “fairy chimneys” in Urgup. Dawn of day 6 found many in the group floating gently above the landscape in hot air balloons. We toured the countryside to see the variety of land formations, the distinctly shaped elongated columns, the fairy chimneys, the mushroom shaped rocks, the soft ice cream tuff fields in cone shapes, the pedestal shapes, all created through erosion of volcanic rock resulting from eruptions over 30 million years ago. Later that day, we visited a factory where female artisans demonstrated the art of hand knotting to create the most magnificent carpets. We enjoyed apple tea as local artisans demonstrated pottery creation and decoration. On our way back to the hotel, the group paused for a photo in front of “the castle.” Then on to dinner dressed in local costume, followed by an evening performance of traditional dance. Early the next day we were airborne again, on our way back to modern Istanbul, where we toured the city and walked along the famous Istiklal Caddesi, home to many shops and restaurants. On Friday, we toured the Egyptian Market, and photographed the Spice Market, followed by a relaxing cruise on the Bosphorus. At the workshop close, Reed Hoffman declared this the most photogenic of treks and the busiest one he had ever participated in. We were an exhausted and satisfied group, grateful to our mentors, Rosanne Pennella and Reed Hoffman, for all their insights and assistance in capturing this memorable experience, and to Michelle Cast and Erica Johnson for arranging such a complex and wonderful trip. Our guide, Ali Keskinbiki, expertly moved the group from photo op to eating op without falter. It was a great group of people, and together, we all learned how to use histograms, and when to use hissy fits, when polarizer's should be on, and more importantly, when polarizer's should be off. Overall, a phenomenal experience.

Lorriane Van Pelt