DAILY TOUR DIARY
Click on photo slideshows to view photos at full-size
(photos & video by Phil Kniss, unless otherwise noted)
Click on photo slideshows to view photos at full-size
(photos & video by Phil Kniss, unless otherwise noted)
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Tonight the 8 of us (and 6 of our spouses) embarked on the most exciting tour in our 23-year history!
We are the featured guest musical group on a sailing voyage to Turkey and some Greek islands, from Oct. 3-12. The tour is organized by Linford and Janet Stutzman, and under the sponsorship of Eastern Mennonite University. We will be giving two full concerts in Turkey (Izmir and Antalya) at the beginning and end of the tour. And in between, we and the tour group (60 people total) will be on two Turkish gulets (sailing vessels) visiting 5 different islands that played a role in the biblical story. At each stop, we will be singing for the tour group, as well--often one of our recently-released biblical sea shanties from "On the face of the deep."
Tonight the 8 of us (and 6 of our spouses) embarked on the most exciting tour in our 23-year history!
We are the featured guest musical group on a sailing voyage to Turkey and some Greek islands, from Oct. 3-12. The tour is organized by Linford and Janet Stutzman, and under the sponsorship of Eastern Mennonite University. We will be giving two full concerts in Turkey (Izmir and Antalya) at the beginning and end of the tour. And in between, we and the tour group (60 people total) will be on two Turkish gulets (sailing vessels) visiting 5 different islands that played a role in the biblical story. At each stop, we will be singing for the tour group, as well--often one of our recently-released biblical sea shanties from "On the face of the deep."
Thursday, October 2, 2025
We made it safely to Izmir! A bit travel-worn, but grateful, and ready for a night of rest, and preparation for our concert tomorrow at St. John the Evangelist and St. Mary church.
We made it safely to Izmir! A bit travel-worn, but grateful, and ready for a night of rest, and preparation for our concert tomorrow at St. John the Evangelist and St. Mary church.
Friday, October 3, 2025
Today was mostly about getting some rest, and getting a head start on overcoming jet lag before the evening concert tonight in the St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church in Izmir. Linford took us on a walk along the edge of the Mediterranean, and through the active city market and ancient agora. By the afternoon, most of the rest of the tour group members arrived in Izmir and making their way to the hotel. There will be a total of 60 in the group.
Today was mostly about getting some rest, and getting a head start on overcoming jet lag before the evening concert tonight in the St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church in Izmir. Linford took us on a walk along the edge of the Mediterranean, and through the active city market and ancient agora. By the afternoon, most of the rest of the tour group members arrived in Izmir and making their way to the hotel. There will be a total of 60 in the group.
At 6:00 p.m. Cantore performed a tour-opening concert at the church. There was good attendance and an enthusiastic audience. We fed off their energy.
Cantore's sings "Sea People" in concert at Izmir
(filmed by Tom Blosser).
(filmed by Tom Blosser).
Saturday, October 4, 2025
Today as we officially started our tour activities, we embodied the lyrics of one of our sea shanties: "Oh, we're here in Ephesus, taking our rest, waiting for the wind to blow and push us west..." We spent several hours in this ancient city, central to Paul's ministry to Gentiles.
Today as we officially started our tour activities, we embodied the lyrics of one of our sea shanties: "Oh, we're here in Ephesus, taking our rest, waiting for the wind to blow and push us west..." We spent several hours in this ancient city, central to Paul's ministry to Gentiles.
After leaving Ephesus, we visited a local business that makes Turkish silk carpets, from the silk worm to the finished product. They put on several demonstrations.
Sunday, October 5, 2025
Today we finally set sail toward the first island of Samos. We spent this first leg of our sea-based journey exploring the wonders of being aboard this classic Turkish gulet, a 3-masted sailing vessel designed for the waters of the Mediterranean. Its name was Admiral. 32 members of the group, including all of Cantore, were aboard this ship, while the other 28 members of our tour group were aboard a sister ship, the Boreas. We delighted in this beautiful sea-based perspective on God's good creation, and in the leisurely pace of life as a passenger, and in the good-natured crew who took care of everything, from navigation, to cooking and serving delicious food, and caring for our rooms. Admiral is going to be our home for the next six days.
Today we finally set sail toward the first island of Samos. We spent this first leg of our sea-based journey exploring the wonders of being aboard this classic Turkish gulet, a 3-masted sailing vessel designed for the waters of the Mediterranean. Its name was Admiral. 32 members of the group, including all of Cantore, were aboard this ship, while the other 28 members of our tour group were aboard a sister ship, the Boreas. We delighted in this beautiful sea-based perspective on God's good creation, and in the leisurely pace of life as a passenger, and in the good-natured crew who took care of everything, from navigation, to cooking and serving delicious food, and caring for our rooms. Admiral is going to be our home for the next six days.
This afternoon we had a great visit to Samos, home of Pythagoras and other Greek intellectuals. After running aground briefly, our larger gulet managed to moor at the end of the jetty, so we had to walk further to get into town. Tour highlights were (1) a visit to ancient remaining ruins of the temple to the Greek goddess Hera, built in 500 BCE, twice the size of the Parthenon at one time; (2) the Orthodox monastery of St. Mary, high up in a remote and mountainous area...Cantore sang "Ubi caritas" inside the resonant sanctuary; and (3) an evening visit to the monument to Pythagoras, where Linford gave a talk on the influence of Greek intelligentsia on Paul and the NT, and where Cantore sang our sea shanty on Paul in Corinth, and the German evening song, Schöne Nacht. After a night of rest in the gulet, we will set sail tomorrow to the island of Patmos.
|
Cantore's impromptu "Ubi Caritas" inside the monastery
(filmed by MaryBeth Heatwole Moore). |
An evening song on the dock, "Schöne Nacht"
(filmed by Tom Blosser) |
Monday, October 6, 2025
Today Cantore (and the other 52 passengers aboard the Admiral and Boreas) landed in the ancient Skala harbor of Patmos. We heard a lot about St. John the Evangelist, who has deeply shaped the religious life and identity of this island, from which the exiled John wrote Revelations. About John, we heard both the Anabaptist perspective of Linford, and the Greek Orthodox perspective of our guide Mira. Both were enthusiastically shared! We examined the beautiful architecture and artistry at the Holy Cave of the Apocalypse (the traditional site of John's vision) and the Holy Monastery of St. John the Theologian.
After free time to explore Skala harbor's shops and cafes, both boats' 60 passengers boarded the deck of Admiral where Linford did a short talk and Cantore performed two shanties (one about John's journey to Patmos), and an old favorite of ours, "John the Revelator." Afterward, we all sang sea-related hymns for about a half-hour. Great day in the Med!
Today Cantore (and the other 52 passengers aboard the Admiral and Boreas) landed in the ancient Skala harbor of Patmos. We heard a lot about St. John the Evangelist, who has deeply shaped the religious life and identity of this island, from which the exiled John wrote Revelations. About John, we heard both the Anabaptist perspective of Linford, and the Greek Orthodox perspective of our guide Mira. Both were enthusiastically shared! We examined the beautiful architecture and artistry at the Holy Cave of the Apocalypse (the traditional site of John's vision) and the Holy Monastery of St. John the Theologian.
After free time to explore Skala harbor's shops and cafes, both boats' 60 passengers boarded the deck of Admiral where Linford did a short talk and Cantore performed two shanties (one about John's journey to Patmos), and an old favorite of ours, "John the Revelator." Afterward, we all sang sea-related hymns for about a half-hour. Great day in the Med!
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Today was mostly at sea, making our way from Patmos to Kos, nearly 6 hours' journey, made more interesting due to a couple of hours of fairly rough seas (see video below). Some fared well, others less so. Chairs were tossed around, some glassware met an untimely end, and some melons escaped from the kitchen and rolled down the deck. But we arrived safely, and got to dock in the inner harbor. We did a brief walking tour to the monument for Hippocrates, and saw the ruins of the ancient agora in Kos.
Before dinner, Cantore sang some songs on the street near our boats--several traditional sea shanties, and a couple spirituals (videos below). Some passersby lingered to listen, as well as many of our tour members. Then we closed out the day aboard the boat with a brief talk by Linford on the "Sea People" and the Phoenicians, followed by two biblical shanties from Cantore and a few more songs. We look forward to a guided tour tomorrow, before we set sail for Rhodes.
Today was mostly at sea, making our way from Patmos to Kos, nearly 6 hours' journey, made more interesting due to a couple of hours of fairly rough seas (see video below). Some fared well, others less so. Chairs were tossed around, some glassware met an untimely end, and some melons escaped from the kitchen and rolled down the deck. But we arrived safely, and got to dock in the inner harbor. We did a brief walking tour to the monument for Hippocrates, and saw the ruins of the ancient agora in Kos.
Before dinner, Cantore sang some songs on the street near our boats--several traditional sea shanties, and a couple spirituals (videos below). Some passersby lingered to listen, as well as many of our tour members. Then we closed out the day aboard the boat with a brief talk by Linford on the "Sea People" and the Phoenicians, followed by two biblical shanties from Cantore and a few more songs. We look forward to a guided tour tomorrow, before we set sail for Rhodes.
Now we're rockin'!
|
The Wellerman
(filmed by Lisa King Burkholder) |
Sloop John B
(filmed by Lisa King Burkholder) |
Prodigal Son
(filmed by Lisa King Burkholder)
(filmed by Lisa King Burkholder)
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
This morning, our guides introduced us to the ancient Asclepieion at Kos. This school-spa-asylum-hospital-shrine, from the 3rd-century BCE, was a fascinating blend of a place to worship (the Greek god Asclepius), to find healing, to practice rest, and to learn and practice medicine under the tutelage of Hippocrates and his disciples. After touring this site, we returned to our boats for lunch.
This morning, our guides introduced us to the ancient Asclepieion at Kos. This school-spa-asylum-hospital-shrine, from the 3rd-century BCE, was a fascinating blend of a place to worship (the Greek god Asclepius), to find healing, to practice rest, and to learn and practice medicine under the tutelage of Hippocrates and his disciples. After touring this site, we returned to our boats for lunch.
Then we hit the open sea, for a six-hour-plus trip from Kos to Rhodes.
From a visual standpoint, the highlight was our final approach to the ancient port of Rhodes and the walled city. What a spectacular sight at sunset!
Thursday, October 9, 2025
Rhodes is a most impressive island. The ancient city is the largest walled city in Greece. It's one of only two mentioned specifically in the Hebrew Bible (the other being Cyprus). In biblical times, as today, it is a place of wealth, commerce, and architectural beauty. We tied up at the dock right beside the city wall, sandwiched between a number of multi-million-dollar yachts. We had more free time here than at other islands, so we enjoyed walking along the many narrow cobblestone streets and alleys visiting shops and cafes, all nestled in among the ancient ruins (such as a 14th-century church, where the whole tour group gathered after dark to sing "606").
Rhodes is a jarring blend of the ancient and enduring with the modern and kitschy. The group took a guided tour of the impressive Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, built by the Catholic order of St. John in medieval times. The order relocated to Malta when Rhodes was conquered by the Ottomans in 1522. The order (now the Order of Malta) is still active today, doing humanitarian work around the world. In the evening session we gathered on the boat where Linford reflected briefly on the importance of ancient trade, of which Rhodes was a hub.
Then Cantore closed the day by singing two shanties--Tyre, Perfect in Beauty; and Chariots Don't Float--and a blessing song, Grace Be Unto You. After breakfast on Friday, we will head back to mainland Turkey for the final 3 days of our tour.
Rhodes is a most impressive island. The ancient city is the largest walled city in Greece. It's one of only two mentioned specifically in the Hebrew Bible (the other being Cyprus). In biblical times, as today, it is a place of wealth, commerce, and architectural beauty. We tied up at the dock right beside the city wall, sandwiched between a number of multi-million-dollar yachts. We had more free time here than at other islands, so we enjoyed walking along the many narrow cobblestone streets and alleys visiting shops and cafes, all nestled in among the ancient ruins (such as a 14th-century church, where the whole tour group gathered after dark to sing "606").
Rhodes is a jarring blend of the ancient and enduring with the modern and kitschy. The group took a guided tour of the impressive Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, built by the Catholic order of St. John in medieval times. The order relocated to Malta when Rhodes was conquered by the Ottomans in 1522. The order (now the Order of Malta) is still active today, doing humanitarian work around the world. In the evening session we gathered on the boat where Linford reflected briefly on the importance of ancient trade, of which Rhodes was a hub.
Then Cantore closed the day by singing two shanties--Tyre, Perfect in Beauty; and Chariots Don't Float--and a blessing song, Grace Be Unto You. After breakfast on Friday, we will head back to mainland Turkey for the final 3 days of our tour.
Everyone in the tour group gathered in the ruins of a 14th-century church in Rhodes called "Church of the Virgin Mary of the Burgh," where we stood on an elevated section to sing "606," or "Praise God from Whom..."
Friday, October 10, 2025
The sail from Rhodes, Greece to Fethiye, Turkey was spectacular. Seas were smooth. Scenery was amazing--we could see snow-capped mountains and palm trees from the same vantage point. Logistics went mostly according to plan. Going through passport control was a breeze. The difficulty was finding space for both vessels in a very crowded harbor. While the 60 tour group members ambled around the huge open market--and tried (with varying degrees of success) to avoid being pulled in by very persuasive Turkish Delight salesmen--the boat crew finagled a plan to stay at the entry wharf and tie the boats up side-by-side. This made us passengers of Admiral need to pass through Boreas and clamber over the rails into Admiral without falling into the harbor. Had a nice after-dinner farewell ceremony for our crew, and a photo of the 32 passengers of Admiral (crew and passenger pics are in the slideshow).
The sail from Rhodes, Greece to Fethiye, Turkey was spectacular. Seas were smooth. Scenery was amazing--we could see snow-capped mountains and palm trees from the same vantage point. Logistics went mostly according to plan. Going through passport control was a breeze. The difficulty was finding space for both vessels in a very crowded harbor. While the 60 tour group members ambled around the huge open market--and tried (with varying degrees of success) to avoid being pulled in by very persuasive Turkish Delight salesmen--the boat crew finagled a plan to stay at the entry wharf and tie the boats up side-by-side. This made us passengers of Admiral need to pass through Boreas and clamber over the rails into Admiral without falling into the harbor. Had a nice after-dinner farewell ceremony for our crew, and a photo of the 32 passengers of Admiral (crew and passenger pics are in the slideshow).
Saturday, October 11, 2025
After a night of rest, we disembarked Admiral for the last time. Fortunately, we could temporarily moor the boat at another spot near the busses, narrowly avoiding the fiasco of a return trip across the boat rails and across Boreas, while carrying all our luggage. Now we are being bussed along the coast, with two stops planned en route to Antalya.
This is possibly the most scenic 6-hour bus route in the world. The highway snaked along the Turkish Mediterranean coastline from Fethiye to Antalya. It followed all the small bays as they cut into the mountainside and all the land masses that jutted out into the sea. On our left were the Taurus Mountains and on our right the Mediterranean Sea. Sadly, shooting pics through glass windows in a moving bus doesn't make for great photography, but I captured a few. We made two stops at archeological sites, places where the apostle Paul stopped on his missionary journeys.
One was a stop at the Patara ancient city, which included an 8,000 seat theater, and a smaller theater where legislative issues were debated and decided. Some of us wandered among the ancient ruins, and made a brisk walk out to the restored lighthouse that was built in the 1st century by Emperor Nero.
The second stop was the ancient harbor of Andriake. We viewed the ruins from roadside, across the now silted-in harbor, since the site is closed during restoration work. Cantore sang one of the biblical shanties about Paul's last journey to Rome, which mentions Andriake and other locations in the region by name.
After arriving in Antalya, we settled into our hotel (first lodging on land in the last 6 days), and enjoyed some free time to explored the old markets and harbor.
After a night of rest, we disembarked Admiral for the last time. Fortunately, we could temporarily moor the boat at another spot near the busses, narrowly avoiding the fiasco of a return trip across the boat rails and across Boreas, while carrying all our luggage. Now we are being bussed along the coast, with two stops planned en route to Antalya.
This is possibly the most scenic 6-hour bus route in the world. The highway snaked along the Turkish Mediterranean coastline from Fethiye to Antalya. It followed all the small bays as they cut into the mountainside and all the land masses that jutted out into the sea. On our left were the Taurus Mountains and on our right the Mediterranean Sea. Sadly, shooting pics through glass windows in a moving bus doesn't make for great photography, but I captured a few. We made two stops at archeological sites, places where the apostle Paul stopped on his missionary journeys.
One was a stop at the Patara ancient city, which included an 8,000 seat theater, and a smaller theater where legislative issues were debated and decided. Some of us wandered among the ancient ruins, and made a brisk walk out to the restored lighthouse that was built in the 1st century by Emperor Nero.
The second stop was the ancient harbor of Andriake. We viewed the ruins from roadside, across the now silted-in harbor, since the site is closed during restoration work. Cantore sang one of the biblical shanties about Paul's last journey to Rome, which mentions Andriake and other locations in the region by name.
After arriving in Antalya, we settled into our hotel (first lodging on land in the last 6 days), and enjoyed some free time to explored the old markets and harbor.
Sunday, October 12, 2025
Today was our last day together as the "On the Face of the Deep" tour group. The day began by walking to the St. Paul Union Church in the old city of Antalya, where we worshiped with the congregation there. Cantore sang the offertory song.
After worship we ate together at a nearby restaurant before boarding the bus for our final visit to ancient ruins. Perge is a beautiful example of a well-planned and laid out city that existed in some form since the Bronze Age, but flourished beginning in the 200s BCE. Even in "ruin," Perge has beautiful architectural features, and well-preserved evidence of its infrastructure. The most striking feature was the human-built cascading waterway that ran down the middle of the main street.
We took two group photos while seated in the seats of the ancient stadium at Perge, where once were chariot races and gladiator bouts. Robert Maust set up the photos in his camera, and they were taken by our beloved guide, Pinar.
Today was our last day together as the "On the Face of the Deep" tour group. The day began by walking to the St. Paul Union Church in the old city of Antalya, where we worshiped with the congregation there. Cantore sang the offertory song.
After worship we ate together at a nearby restaurant before boarding the bus for our final visit to ancient ruins. Perge is a beautiful example of a well-planned and laid out city that existed in some form since the Bronze Age, but flourished beginning in the 200s BCE. Even in "ruin," Perge has beautiful architectural features, and well-preserved evidence of its infrastructure. The most striking feature was the human-built cascading waterway that ran down the middle of the main street.
We took two group photos while seated in the seats of the ancient stadium at Perge, where once were chariot races and gladiator bouts. Robert Maust set up the photos in his camera, and they were taken by our beloved guide, Pinar.
We wrapped up our 10-day tour with a concert back at the St. Paul Cultural Center. After spending all this time on the sea with our group, it was an exciting musical event to conclude with. It's safe to say, we sang well, and we sang with heart. And the audience (many tour members, as well as community attendees) clearly appreciated it. After dinner back at the hotel, we had a moving farewell, wrap-up, and "thank you" session with the group. Cantore ended that time by singing our "Farewell Shanty."
And finally, just for fun, a 1-minute video montage of our floating life on the Mediterranean Sea.
And finally, just for fun, a 1-minute video montage of our floating life on the Mediterranean Sea.