When the main concern of the human being was to continue their species through reproduction and make best of the nature for production, Mother Goddess was the symbol of existence.

When self sustainability and self sufficiency was no longer the motto of the societies, the God of War replaced the honored position of the Mother. But the "mother" never disappeared. Her presence can be felt in the land, in the woman and at the sites of her homeland, Anatolia.

Two weeks devoted to nine millennia of women's traditions in Anatolia from worship of the Great Mother to the Mediterranean Goddesses, from Christianity to Islam!

Inspired by informative talks by two outstanding Institute Leaders, (www.iwsi.org/ana_leaders.html ) participants will make daily excursions to well-known Goddess sites AND to newly-discovered sites well off the beaten path PLUS experience immersion in women's lives, crafts and culture - ancient and contemporary. And, as part of this extraordinary Institute, participants will share the life-changing experiences of community building, re-creation, and celebration of women's cultural heritage and spirituality.

Arrival Suggestions:
     VISA
US citizens need a visa to travel in Turkey. You may obtain this visa upon your arrival at the Istanbul airport. The fee is $ 20 in US currency for the USA citizens. The visa is valid for three months.
When you come out of your plane please proceed to the Visa  Booth. They only accept cash.
    POLICE CHECK AND LUGGAGE /
    MEETING MELITOUR REPRESENTATIVE FOR TRANSFER
After paying for your visa please proceed to police control. Baggage claim is immediately down the ramp after the police check. If you need a cart, you will need to pay one US dollar cash to a person who stands by the carts. It will be nice if you have a change. The Melitour representative for transfer to the hotel will meet you out side the custom area. Look for a MELITOUR sign as soon as you leave the customs gate.

  EMERGENCY INFO FOR TRANSFER
In case of unexpected delay or change of your  flight, should there be a problem in meeting the person who should be waiting for you at the airport please call Hotel Ayasofya at 0212-51694-46 or take a taxi to Hotel Ayasofya. Your taxi fare will be refunded.

Hotel Ayasofya
Kucuk Ayasofya Mahallesi
Demirci Resit Sokak
Sultan Ahmet Meydani Alti

PRE TOUR ARRANGEMENTS
If you plan to arrive a few days before the tour to get over jet lag we can reserve a room at Hotel Ayasofya (Single Room US$60, Double Room US$85 Tax Included)

We can suggest itineraries for those who want to explore on their own or with a guide before or after the tour. Simply send us an e-mail with your request.

Itinerary

Day 1 -
Arrive in Istanbul
Depending on which flight you might be taking the last plane in will be at 3 :00 PM arriving from the USA so
the group will meet at 5.00 PM in the lobby of the hotel. Short introduction to what we are doing on that day
Visit the Blue Mosque before dinner.
Dinner at an old Istanbul house in the neighbrhood of the Blue Mosque (Dinner is included)
Overnight at Hotel Ayasofya

Day 2 -
( MARA teaching at St. Sophia 20 minutes)
Start at 0845 visit the Cistern, Turkish Islamic art Museum the rich ethnographic display in the museum will be used to interpret the role of the Turkish women in different socioeconomic communities in Turkey- the nomad, town ,village and city women

The quiet surrounding of the museum will be used for an introduction to the History of Anatolia using the history of the city of Istanbul After lunch we will visit St. Sophia ( We will have 20 minute of Mara's teaching on St. Sophia- the wisdom followed by a visit the museum of St. Sophia) Topkapi Palace.

In Topkapi palace we will see the Harem of the palace and try to understand the institution of Harem and the role it played in the History of Europe.

Before dinner we will have a group meeting to establish a better understanding of the tour and tour members can ask questions about how the tour will be conducted. This tour meeting is very important. It will be great to see all the tour members at the meeting The dinner will be at a fun local dining area of Istanbul Dinner/lunch is included

Day 3 -
We will start the day at 09.00.
After the Covered Bazaar we will visit the church of Chora which is a very unique museum of Mosaics from the 12th century depicting the role of Virgin Mary as the mother of God with the emphasis on her being mother rather than Jesus being the God
The tour members will be on their own for lunch at the 19th century neighborhood of Istanbul we will meet at 03.30 PM at the Pera Palas hotel where Agatha Christie wrote her famous book "The Murder on the Orient Express." We will get a chance to visit her museum room and go to the Spice Market the last stop of the Silk Road before the riches of the East were distributed to Europe
At 17.00 we will take our private boat and cruise in the Bosphorous towards the Black Sea.
Dinner will be on the Asian side of Istanbul.
We will take the night train to Ankara 2 people in one compartment their luggage will travel with them
Lunch is not included
Dinner is included

Day 4 -
Mara will give us an introduction of the goddesses before the touring of the museum

We will visit the Anatolian civilizations museum We will learn about the evolution of man kind following their ability to control nature. We will understand how the importance of the cult of the mother goddesses is very closely related to economic system of the community. The museum will give us a good insight to various different civilizations of Anatolia and how they had interpreted the role of women in their communities

After lunch we will visit the Mausoleum of the founder of our republic to have a better understanding of the modern Turkey.

We will drive for 3 hours to Konya . For part of the ride the tour members will introduce themselves and will talk about why they have chosen to come to Turkey on this tour so that the tour can be tailored to their expectation when possible

over night at Sifa Hotel At night we will have a music recital with Turkish instruments.

Lunch and Dinner included

Day 5 -
Mara's lectures in Catalhoyuk/Rituals/Dancing

This will be the longest day on the tour We will start the day at 08:00
At the near by mosque using the mosque as an auditorium we will learn about Rumi
We will leave for Catalhoyuk at 10:00 We will arrive at Catalhoyuk at 11:15 We can have rituals, teachings at the site picnic will be available so if the group decide to spend long time there (Physically there is not much to see it takes 45 minutes to walk around the site) we can use as much time as they wish. We need to leave the site by 2.30 PM
Drive over the Toros Mountains.
Overnight at Antalya at a 200 year old beautiful house in the old city of Antalya,
Lunch picnic lunch
Woman in community meeting at the hotel in Antalya.
Dinner served in the garden of the hotel included .

Day 6 -
Drive to Side Perge And Aspendos. At Perge on the main street we can see the columns adorned with the images of Artemis. The group can do their rituals and studies at the site .If the tour members can prepare a dance or a song that they would like to perform in Aspendos, we can have a little time for our individual performance .We will be at the best preserved roman theater that we have in Turkey
In Side which is a very terribly touristic town there is good swimming We will try to avoid seeing the tourists but enjoy a good lunch and 1 hour of swimming For those who are not interested in swimming we have a great museum that they can go and a fabulous ancient site to visit
We will finish the day with a great experience in a Turkish Bath.
Lunch in Side
Dinner on your own
Woman in community presentation
Overnight in Antalya

Day 7 -
We will have a full day on a gullet. Lunch will be served on the boat.
We will go swimming We will have a great superb location for a ritual in the ruins of Olympos. If the tour members are willing to have a more private place than Aspendos for performing in a superb setting they can use this theater and its excellent surrounding for a great spiritual experience.
We will finish our boat ride in Phasalis which is a stunning little Roman City on the Mediterranean
Dinner will be on your own
Overnight in Antalya

Day 8 -
Drive north to Pamukkale visit the Nomads en route. Observe the matriarchal nature of the nomad women.
Swim in the natural pool of the hot springs of Hierapolis
Overnight in Pamukkale
WOMAN IN COMMUNITY

Day 9 -
Drive to Aphrodisias. Visit the museum and the site. Picnic lunch free time at the site for tour members to enjoy the site on their own and have rituals at the Temple of Aphrodite. For those who prefer a guided tour Meli will try to bring her favorite city alive.
Overnight at Selcuk at Hotel Kalehan
Picnic lunch and dinner included

Day 10 -
METROPOLIS AND NOTION COLOPHON TEMPLE OF APPOLLO AND LETO

Very leisurely day
Visit to unknown new excavations
Visit the new excavated site Metropolis which was the cult center for the Mother goddess Artemis
Visit Notion for the temple of Athena picnic lunch and visit the temple of Apollo and his mother Leto
Swim in the Aegean .
Overnight at Selcuk at Hotel Kalehan
Lunch and dinner included.

Day 11 -
Visit the local Market of Tire see lots of hand crafts
Lunch at a very beautiful place opportunity to have a ritual
Free time in Kusadasi Swimming, Shopping
Overnight in Kusadasi
Dinner on your own

Day 12 -
Mara will teach about the Oracles
The oracle center where the women oracles changed the history with their prophesies The temple of Athena-Prienne
The temple of Artemis - Magnesia ad Meandros
Overnight in Kusadasi

Day 13 -
Visit Ephesus Museum, The Temple of Artemis and the grand city of EPHESUS If the site is open to Public in the evening an evening ritual at the library of Ephesus
Overnight in Kusadasi

Day 14 -
The tour is over after breakfast.

Pricing information

A five day yacht tour at the end of the tour or an optional 3 and 4 day excursions to Cappadocia or Pergamum, Troy and Assos are also offered at additional charge.

Cost: NOT including airfare to Turkey

• $2,500 before
• Cappadocia (3 days) - $300
• Pergamum, Troy, Assos (4 days) - $400

This Institute will be limited to 24 women. We expect a large demand, so reserve your place NOW!

The tour price includes the following:

• 13 night hotel, double occupancy including breakfast
• Transportation on bus and train
• Bosphorus cruise
• Mediterranean cruise
• Turkish bath
• All meals except one lunch in Istanbul and two dinners in Antalya and Kusadasi
• All entrance fees
• Hotel, restaurant and Turkish bath tips
• Guide

Not included in the price

• International flights to and from Turkey
• Tip for the tour bus driver
• Beverages
• Cancellation insurance