Silk Roads: China, The Middle East, and The New World

We will visit Istanbul, the ancient capital of the Ottoman empire which straddles Asia and Europe. There we will tour cultural and historical sites and meet with a variety of non-governmental organizations. We will also tour significant places on the Aegean coast such as Ephesus and Mersin, a city with a rich multicultural blend of Arab and Turkish life. In Jordan, we will be hosted by the Bedouin community of Wadi Rum, the magnificent desert described by Lawrence of Arabia. We will also visit Petra, the archeological gem of Jordan, and the capital city, Amman, and its thriving artistic community.