Having completed our tour of Western Europe it is time to reflect on the experience and share a few thoughts. Europe is the cradle of our civilization yet many times has been anything but civilized. Travelling around beautiful cities like Brussels, Innsbruck, Venice, Rome, Florence and Paris as well as those in Germany, Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic on our previous tour, it is hard to believe these countries have been ravaged by war down through the centuries and especially in the 20^th century with two world wars.

Over this time I have been reading a book published just last year by Max Hastings, “Catastrophe – Europe goes to war in 1914”. In it he explains the political maneuverings that led to the war but also devotes a lot of attention to the reactions of the man in the street. There are detailed accounts of the horror of trench warfare which come from the diaries and letters of the soldiers who fought. One describes it as marching into an abattoir rather than a fight! Continue reading REFLECTIONS ON EUROPE →

Being someone who has always enjoyed history and geography it has been a joy to travel through central Europe and experience first hand so many different countries and what their major cities have to offer. Countries like Germany and Austria I have studied at school and already know something about. Other countries like Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Hungary have always been a mystery to me. In my growing up years they were drab and oppressed countries behind the Iron Curtain.

I expected to see affluent societies in Germany and Austria but was surprised to find prosperity in the former Eastern Block counties as well. The exclusive designer label shops are not only in Berlin and Vienna, but also in Budapest, Prague and Warsaw. Supermarkets are just like ours, packed full of goodies to satisfy every appetite. Continue reading CHRIS REFLECTS ON CENTRAL EUROPE →

Greece – what a contrast to Turkey. No wonder these countries have been protagonists over the years. History has seen Alexander the Great and the Greek Empire of the 4th century BC ruling over Asia Minor [Turkey] and the Ottoman Empire ruling over Greece from the 14th century AD. And of course in recent history the flashpoint of conflict has been Cyprus.

The contrast we have seen has been Turkish mosques versus Christian Orthodox churches and a country with ties to the Muslim Middle East versus a country with ties to the Christian West. [The old division between Eastern Orthodox Christianity versus Western Roman Christianity now pales into insignificance]. Greece and Turkey are both secular democratic republics but Turkey appears to have retained much more of its Muslim taboos than Greece has retained Christian taboos. The sex shops and strip clubs of Athens are very noticeable arriving from Turkey and hardly a good incentive for a devout Muslim tourist to want to convert to Christianity. While Orthodox churches are very prominent in Greece they can’t match the saturation of mosques in Turkey. Church bells however, do make for relief from the drone of the minaret. Continue reading CHRIS REFLECTS ON GREECE →

TURKEY – a country full of surprises! Either my expectations were way too low or Turkey is a truly amazing country which would wow even the most seasoned traveller. Everything was so modern and clean in a country with so much ancient history to tell.

Our tour guide said Turkey is the second fastest growing economy in the world [I presume after China] and all around there is ample evidence to support this claim. It is also the most visited country in Europe after Spain. Russian and German tourists pour into this Mediterranean mecca for their annual holidays and of course it is a favourite destination for Australians with Gallipoli.

You can come to Turkey for a relaxing or exciting holiday as good as anywhere in the world (and most likely much cheaper), or you can come to explore ancient ruins. There is ample evidence here of the Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires. If you come to Turkey to explore these ancient cultures it is good to have done a little study in archaeology first. Our tour guide shared a classic question a lady once asked him: “Why did the Romans always build ruins?” Ephesus is just magnificent. One can imagine the apostle Paul walking up and down the streets talking to anyone who showed some interest or saying farewell to the Ephesian elders as recorded in Acts 20.

We also explored the vast network of tunnels the Christians of Cappodocia dug to hide from the Romans and the other enemies. At one point we were 77 metres underground and there were tunnels which went even further down. These Christians took some very elaborate measures in order to survive during times of persecution.

There is of course plenty of non-Christian history to explore as well – the city of Troy, the Blue Mosque, Heirapolis, Aspendos, Safranbolu and the palaces of the Sultans– Topkapi and Dolmabahce. The history just goes on and on in this vital gateway between Asia and Europe which is territory that has been the prize possession of many conquering empires.

Istanbul is an amazing city full of charm. There are bazaars everywhere which ooze excitement and offer a great bargain for anyone prepared to haggle. Colourful Turkish lamps and wandering minstrels make for a very pleasant evening meal at the avenue of restaurants at the Fish Market.

A cruise on the Bosphorus gives a new angle on this colourful city. The palaces with their harems reveal the extravagant and self indulgent lifestyles of the Sultans. You can take a Turkish bath in one of the very old buildings where the Sultans used to also be washed.

The biggest surprise of all however was the incredible group of Aussies who accompanied us on this tour. Everyone mixed, was on time and enjoyed good humour with one another. Out of a group of 35- 19 identified themselves to us at some stage of the trip as Christian, with varying degrees of commitment. We also had one Hindu, one Buddhist and one Muslim. Through it all there were lots of significant conversations, ministry to various needs and rich fellowship.

God is the God of surprises. Turkey is a land full of surprises. I am praying for one more surprise –that this ancient land will recover its Christian roots and Jesus Christ be on honoured as Lord.