Here we are! 8 months into our adventure, and as the saying goes, time flys when you are having fun!  Back on September 20, we met Alexa, Matt, Matt’s Mother, Barbara, and sister, Elizabeth in Munich for the opening days of Oktoberfest. We spent 2 full days drinking fine German lager, eating enough to stay vertical, and socializing with ( literally) thousands of good natured imbibers! What a blast! From Germany, the 6 of flew to Istanbul, Turkey… Barbara and Elizabeth joining us for Istanbul sightseeing.
Our Turkey experience, superbly planned by Alexa, took us to the historically rich ruins of Ephesus, ancient Hieropolis, the house where Mary, Mother of Jesus, lived, & Natural hot springs and snow white  limestone cliffs of Pamukkale. We stopped for a day in the
Coastal city of Izmir before heading to Cappadocia for the anticipated highlight of our trip: hot air ballooning over the otherworldly unique rock formations and cave dwellings.
We all agreed our Turkey adventure just got better and better, culminating with the balloon flight! Alexa and Matt had to make their way back to San Diego… Via Paris for some honeymoon time… And Cathi and I headed to Elazig, located pretty much in the middle of Turkey. Why? Well, my Assyrian maternal grandparent’s birthplace was in the ancient city of Harput… Just a few kilometers from modern Elazig. My Grandparents left in the early 1900’s to escape the Assyrian /Armenian Christian persecution and genocide being carried out by the Turks.

Face timing with Auntie Shmune from Harput/Elazig

My 92 year old Auntie Shmune— wife of my mother’s only brother and my ‘second’ mother growing up on Colchester Street—was also born in Harput. Her father was the priest of the Assyrian Church of the Virgin Mary in Harput. Remains of this church are still standing! After fleeing Harput when Shmune was a very little girl, he later became the priest of Saint Mary’s Assyrian Church in Worchester, Massachusetts.
FYI: This all means, I have very close ties to the city! Today, Cathi and I walked in their footsteps. Harput is situated high on a mountain top overlooking the surrounding plains and the city of Elazig. What a view!

Harput Castle

The oldest structure, Harput Castle (9th Century) sits atop the highest peak walled into the rocks on all sides. The people could see their enemies coming from miles away. The Assyrian church was built into the rock walls of the castle, although only the small entrance was accessible. Auntie Shmune explained the door to the sanctuary was designed so small in order to prevent horseback riding thieves from galloping in and stealing artifacts.

Door to the Church of the Virgin Mary

Harput is still an active little city with some restaurants, markets, and several mosques from different periods in history. It was great seeing where my ancestors came from, but I must say, I am glad they immigrated to the U.S.!

Cathi and I are spending today planning and booking our next couple of weeks( and months)of travel, doing laundry, and updating ZWT.  Tuesday, 10/6 we are heading for Amman, Jordan for awhile (Exact amount of time still undetermined) then it will be onto Isreal. We have a dinner date with Cathi’s cousin,Theresa and her husband,Lou, in Tel Aviv on November 2. Then on 11/6, we meet our good friend Jimmy Baron in Cairo for a couple of weeks of Pharaohs, pyramids, and the Nile in Egypt!

Our health and happiness continue on a good note!
Love to all,
ZWT
Cathi & Bobby