4-Dagen Zeven Openbaringskerken

Dit was een geweldige ervaring. Om te kunnen staan waar deze kerken (vroege christenen) stonden en hun leven daar in beeld te brengen. Mijn gids Emre was uitstekend in zijn kennis en ik heb zoveel geleerd! Hij was ook leuk en gemakkelijk om mee om te gaan. Mijn chauffeur, Emin, was ook geweldig. Ik heb deze tour alleen gedaan en voelde me extreem veilig en comfortabel. Ik zou dit reisbedrijf en Emre ten zeerste aanbevelen! !

Fantastische rondleiding! De professionaliteit van de gids en chauffeur was fenomenaal. Ze waren uiterst vriendelijk en zorgden ervoor dat aan alle behoeften werd voldaan. Mijn gids, Emre, had een uitgebreide kennis over de geschiedenis van de zeven kerken, hun relatie tot de brieven in Openbaring en ook de pre-kerkgeschiedenis. Als predikant en voormalige student geschiedenis van het christendom, had ik niet gelukkiger kunnen zijn met deze tour.

Although there are too many to list here, I will name only three of the many highlights - the splendour of ancient architecture, the peaceful ambience of Mary's hillside Ephesian home, and the depth of historical insights shared by Emre, our tour guide who made the Ionian hillsides and ancient trade routes come alive...once again. Despite the current concerns of covid-19 that surround tourism, Emre and our driver Okan's attention to our welfare and safety dispelled any anxiety quickly. They took us on a 4-day journey of all seven churches of Revelation sharing insights and historical gems that allow people of all Christian faiths to complement their own biblical understandings. As a trained teacher of history, Emre articulately explains differing perspectives that share light on biblical references in early chapters of the book of Revelations, such as Satan's seat in Pergamum and the centrality of the imperial cults of worship to its economy, which at the same time created extreme risk to early Christians. We also walked the streets of Sardis located on the ancient Silk Road, as Emre points out an early Christian symbol carved into the pavement stone before demonstrating symbolic foot movements allowing persecuted Christians to identify each other. It's a great time to see these historical sites, which for many carry a serious contemporary relevance. We travelled smoothly between tour sites and our hotels in the vehicle's air-conditioned comfort and by the end of the four-day excursion had made two new friends. The gift pack Emre gave us at the beginning includes hand-sanitiser more than enough masks for the whole trip, a pictorial travelogue, attractive notepad, as well as a few pictorial postcards. Other bonuses include a night at the stunning Kusadasi beach, a trip to the world heritage Pamukale white marble terraces and thermal pools where Cleopatra regularly visited for their therapeutic benefits (and the opportunity to soak our tired feet), and enjoyed some tasty meals at little restaurants along the way. There's also an opportunity to get some great carpet, pottery and leather bargains at this time as local shops are keen for business.