I've now been to Izmir, Antalya and we're now in Konya, the city of Rumi. Swam in the Mediterranean Sea for the first time in Antalya surrounded by Russian women in bikinis.
Hagia Sophi is now a museum. Atataruk refused to let it be a holy site for either Christians or Muslims by turning it into a Museum. The Blue Mosque, almost right next store is the holy Muslim site in the area. We did visit it during non-prayer hours. It also is very impressive.
I did see the marble jar and the unbelieveable underground cistern with Medusa's head turned on its side.
The food has been absolutely terrific with our Muslim hosts putting on elaborate feasts for us. Had some ice cream made with goat's milk yesterday.
We've been traveling in minibuses, mostly VW's that resemble Sprinters and hold about 16 people. We have been in some Sprinters, something called a Prestig and tonight a Peugot minibus. Finally seeing more 115's and 123's in the heart of Turkey.
So far, my Muslim hosts have been pretty tolerant of me, which as you can imagine says a lot for their skills in this area. The Gulen movement has the potential in my opinion to be the version of Islam that is able to make the accommodation with the modern world in a way that will satisfy many Muslims, allowing them to advance economically in a capitalist system while retaining a version of their religion that won't constantly be odds with what other Muslims see to be an external imposition of cultural values.
I need to inquire as to the extent that the movement extends into Europe. One of our guides is a German born Turkish Gulen follower who emigrated to the USA.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13