Mary's House!

              Today is Sunday and I woke up at about 6 or so (it was still dark) to the sound of the louder than usual call to prayer. I have no idea why it was louder, but I have not heard it that early before. I'm getting used to hearing the call to prayer and it sounds nothing like I had imagined it would sound like (but I don't know what that was). For anyone who doesn't know, the call to prayer is a call (sounding a lot like someone saying 'ai yi yi' a bunch of time with different tones) for Muslims to pray to Mecca. You can hear it everywhere because there are mosques everywhere. I usually hear it right after lunch and after school gets out and again around 7 o'clock. Now, I haven't actually seen what people are supossed to do when they hear this. My host mom informed me that not many people actually do what their supossed to anymore. But, the call still sounds 5 times each day.
             My host family had a beautiful long dining table that they never eat at...until this morning, when a friend of my host mom had breakfast with us. I thought it was nice to eat at the dining table instead of the little table in the kitchen. Anyways, I love Turkish breakfasts. There is usually a TON of bread and jam and cheese. We also had olives, tomatos and cucumbers in olive oil and mint, and, of course, tea. The bread here is simply divine and there are so many different kinds: bread with cheese in it, bread with sesame seeds, plain bread, bread with tomatos...you get the idea. I'm getting used to the cheese. It is very different from American cheese, but I don't know why. I keep trying to figure it out, but I haven't been successful.
              After breakfast, we drove to Kuşadası. It is right near the sea and very beautiful. There where two cruise ships in the harbor so Kuşadası appeared to be a tourist town.



After that, my host family decided to take me past Ephasus and up to Mary's house. I only caught a glimpse of Ephasus and it looks spectacular!! Mary's house is the place where Mary, the mother of Christ, is believed to have spent her last years. There is a little chapel there and right outside the chapel, you can light a candle and make a wish.

Serim and I lighting our candles

My candle (and all the other ones)

In front of Mary's house

This wall is under the house and you can tie

a piece of cloth or ribbon on it to make a wish.

I guess wishes made here are supossed to come true.

                So overall, it was a very good day! Tomorrow I get (well okay more like have to) go to school tomorrow, so it's back to the routine.

Monica :)