Further on up from "Oh my God Hill" we came into a vendors cove. The sellers were in your face. Surrounding me at every point! Several times Jim had to get between me and a seller to discourage them. My first purchase was a blue vase for Faye. It was fun! This little girl had just opened her store and was still putting her wares out. When Jim offered to pay her for the vase, she said; In Turkey, it was their custom for their first sale, that the customer was to throw the money on the floor of the store. Jim didn't want to do it, but she insisted. He took the bills and threw them on the floor at her feet. We turned to walk out but couldn't resist turning back just in time to see her picking up her first sale from the floor.
Our ship was docked just outside of a town called Kusadase where we were told we could visit, shop and then return to the ship on our own since it was within walking distance. Surprisingly enough there were no duties to be paid here. We watched a carpet maker weaving a carpet just outside of his store. But Jim took me into a Jewelry store instead. He bought me a ring! Actually it was a set of three small matching rings. 18 carrot gold with little rubbies, diamonds and emeralds. I was thrilled! In Turkey money it was 576,265,150 (or just over a half a billon) dinars, but in American it was $428.00 We refer to it as my Turkey ring.
As we headed towards the ship we walked through a small strip mall with many of the shop owners standing outside to wave you into their shop. One young man came up to us and said, in perfect English; "Hi Jim and Jane Ann." Boy were we startled! How did he know our names? He saw our surprise and pointed to our name tags. We smiled and nodded but continued on our way. What a trip! What a morning! We made our way back to the ship and rested.
That afternoon we took a little boat called a Tender to the Island of Patmos to see John's cave where he wrote the book of Revelation. However, what we saw was an inhabited village with a monastery situated on top of John's cave. Very disappointing! Inside we saw it was small. A priest and a woman were working in there and you could tell that they didn't like the tour crowd in their domain. It was obvious that with Catholic influence everywhere, it was no longer John's cave but a Catholic monument. I am sure when John was there it was probably empty and looked bigger. I felt very uncomfortable so we went outside and looked at the view that John would have seen. It was spectacular! The rolling green hills flowing down into the sea. Large rocks here and there but not obstructing the view. perhaps it was more rugged when John was there but this day it was gorgeous and we could see forever.
I am sure that when John was exiled to Patmos by the Roman Emperor, Domitian, about AD95, the emperor was pleased with himself and the punishment he delivered. However; "All things work together for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 John was visited by God and gave us a book of promise; Promises made to those who overcome. However, it is also a book of fear; because it contains promises made to those who do not obey.
Did you know that the world 'Revelation' comes from the first word of the book in Greek. That word is apokalypsis which means; "the unveiling of something previously unrevealed." In other words this book provides a capstone to the New Testament; i.e. Jesus Christ! "He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." Rev. 21:7
Later on after John was released, he went to Ephesus where he spent his later years. To be used of God is the most precious existence in this world. To be used of God knowingly and to remain humbled is only a gift from God. By Jane Ann Crenshaw 9/23/09
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