Note: The majority of this material was created during my travels and produced in lieu of postcards for keeping my friends informed of my whereabouts and activities. In France, Italy, Spain and Portugal I am indebted to Agers, "Geology of Europe" for directing me to extraordinary sites, even if I failed to find (or recognize) the described relevant geologic features. Acknowledgements for specific help in individual countries will be found in the descriptive material but I am solely responsible for the interpretations (or misinterpretations) presented herein.
According to Webster’s New World Dictionary “a year or shorter period of absence for study, rest, or travel, given at intervals, orig. every seven years, as to some college teachers, at full or partial salary.”
Why every seven years?
This seems to follow a tradition established during the Old Testament period by Mosaic Law where, “...the land and vineyards were to remain fallow and debtors were to be released.”
Muncel Chang of Butte College's Department of Geography helpfully suggested the observation that "Sabbatical is also a reference to creation, the Ten Commandments, and the reason for the Jewish "Sabbath," the seventh day of the week set aside for "rest." So also for the name of the Seventh-day Adventist religion who celebrate and worship on the Sabbath (Saturday).
Rhodes Koss Mykonos Paros Santorini (Thera) Crete Milos (one of these days)
Ephesus Cappadocia Pamukkale Scenes from Istanbul Turkey and the earthquake of 11/12