Today we visited country number 55. Though the visit was short it was very memorable and full of highlights that will last a lifetime. We arrived in Kusadasi where a relatively new cruise port has been built as ships will no longer venture to some of the other Turkish cities due to the instability. Other than a visit to a carpet factory to see how Turkish carpets are made and of course being pressured to buy (we resisted) our time in Turkey was spent at Ephesus. Ephesus was the capital of Asia Minor and after 150 years of extensive excavation the city's recovered and renovated structures have made Ephesus the most complete classical metropolis in Europe and there is still 82% of the city to be uncovered. Entering the ruins one feels a connection to history. To walk on he same stone pathways that the Roman trod on before the time of Christ makes one realize how connected we all are. Walking through the ruins of the city one sees the baths where one cleansed themselves before entering the city. The Odeon which is a 5000 seat theatre which was used for municipal meetings and such is in fairly good shape with ornate marble columns and carved ornamentation. One passes by the ruins of the temple, hospital and some fountains before entering on to Curetes Way which was the cities main thoroughfare and takes you past small shops, terraced houses, the brothel, the Temple of Hadrian and the public latrines. The way leads you to the impressive Library of Celsius which has a large facade which is very ornate yet the interior itself is quite small as few could actually read so there were not that many scrolls kept. Further on are the ruins of the large market place and then you arrive at the Great Theatre which was built BC and reconstructed in AD 41. This theatre hold 25,000 and has magnificent acoustics so no sound systems are used for performances that are still held here periodically today. We also visited The Virgin Mary's house as legend has long attested that St John brought Mary to Ephesus near the end of her life. Another stop was at the ruins of the Basillica of St John where his remains lay for many years.
Our evening in Turkey was magical. We returned to Ephesus for a private dinner at the base of the lit up library accompanied by live classical music. Handed a glass of wine as we walked down the Roman road leading to the library and being treated to a dinner with first class service in such a historic place with so few people is an experience that will be hard to beat. To add to the magic there was an opera in the grand theatre to which we were invited. Opera fans or not to sit on what I must say were very uncomfortable rock seats in a theatre thousands of years old was a privilege and a experience we will never forget.
The port city of Kusadasi
Beautiful mosaic floors that have been uncovered in the small shops
The opera in the Grand Theatre
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