The PCUSA Pilgrim Pastor

Traveling to Istanbul

Sunday, October 6, 2024

After two years of planning and praying, today is the day we take off walking in the footsteps of Paul. Though we booked are own flights and have different itineraries, we all will arrive in Istanbul sometime tomorrow (hopefully!). The four “solo” ladies are flying together going from Norfolk to Philadelphia then London and, finally, Istanbul. It’s a 7 hour time difference and will take us 14.5 hours before our final destination. Our official tour with Imagine Tours begins on Day 2 when we meet our guide and driver and visit the famous places of Istanbul.

In case you want to follow along with us, here is our itinerary.

Day 1 – Arrive in Istanbul and settle in

Day 2 – Explore Istanbul with a Bosphorus River cruise and the Grand Bazaar

Day 3 – Another day in Istanbul visiting the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Museums

Day 4 – Fly to Izmir to visit Smyrna, Sardis, and Philadelphia

Day 5 – Explore Hierapolis, Laodicia, and Colossae

Day 6 – Spend the day in Ephesus

Day 7 – Travel to Pergamum and Alexandria Troas

Day 8 – Ferry from Asia to Europe arriving in Greece

Day 9 – Visit Neapolis, Philippi, and Thessaloniki

Day 10 – Drive to Berea before flying to Athens

Day 11 – Visit the iconic sites in Athens

Day 12 – Drive to Corinth and return to Athens

Day 13 – Fly into Rome and visit the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel

Day 14 – Spend the day in Rome visiting St. Peter’s Basilica and Colosseum

Day 15 – Fly home

I look forward to sharing this journey with you all. It’s incredible that we will be walking in the places Paul himself walked. Time to get whatever sleep I can for our overnight trip to London. Blessings!

The PCUSA Pilgrim Pastor