Wednesday, March 29, 2023
What a fabulous, gorgeous port town Kusadasi is! Cliff describes it as the best port for great restaurants and unbelievable shopping. He said that you don’t even need a taxi — you can just walk around, shop, and enjoy the local cuisine. He said the roads are beautiful and there were peach trees blooming everywhere. Just looking outside from our balcony, we couldn’t believe how lovely the city is, with waves crashing against the rocks, above which is a little lighthouse. From the other side of the ship, we could see an impressive fort with a walkway to it from the mainland.
Cliff, Joan and I signed up for a tour, "Ultimate Ephesus and Terrace Houses with An Expert — A Discovery Exclusive." I was truly looking forward to it, but I wasn't feeling well, so I bid Cliff and Joan goodbye and went back to sleep.
When Cliff returned, he said it was the best tour yet. He could not say enough good things about Ephesus, and felt it was even more spectacular than Petra. The trip started with the Basilica of St. John, in Ephesus, after passing by the massive Byzantine fortress at Seljuk and the Temple of Artemis (one of the seven wonders the ancient world). The Basilica stands over the burial site of St. John the Apostle.
After visiting the Basilica, they traveled up a hill to the Virgin Mary’s House, which was seven kilometers up Mount Koressos, with hairpin curves. Cliff said the views of the surrounding countryside were awesome. During the visit, Cliff lit a candle at Mary's shrine for our friend who is in the hospital.
It is said that Mary was brought to Ephesus by the Apostle John after the Resurrection of Christ, and she lived out her days there.
A short bus trip down the mountain took them to Ephesus. First, the group walked through the three-arched Magnesian Gates, a long way downhill, into the ruins of Ephesus, once the trade center of the ancient world. Many great civilizations lived there. They saw the Trajan fountain, the Odeon Theater (used for political and entertainment events), and the Great Theater, which Cliff said was more stunning than the one at Petra. The Great Theater was used as an arena for gladiator games and seated 25,000. It is still used today for annual Spring festivals. The Census Library, Cliff said, was unbelievably gorgeous, with its imposing facade and two-story Corinthian-style columns. According to the tour guide, Ephesus is “truly one of the best preserved classical cities in the world and why it is considered one of the great outdoor museums of Turkey.”
Looking up the hill across from Hadrian’s Temple, they saw the newly excavated area known as the Terrace Houses. A 4,000 square foot building was erected over them to protect the houses, which can be viewed along metal and glass stairs, walkways and walls. The homes are from the Roman period, and had modern conveniences such as hot and cold running water and central heating systems. There are beautiful tiled mosaics and ornate frescoes. Excavations are still continuing in the area of the Terrace Houses.
In front of the theater was a wide marble walkway, where the red carpet had been rolled out for Cleopatra and Antony. It was there that Cliff's group ate a catered lunch with glassware, silverware and porcelain plates, with all the beer and wine that they wanted. They were served stuffed grape leaves, little sandwiches, cheese, vegetables, and a delicious variety of desserts.
From there, the bus took them back to the port city of Kusadasi to browse the colorful markets and bazaars and view handmade goods and traditional foods. They watched a fabulous carpet weaving demonstration, where they were told that a mile of silk thread can be obtained from one silkworm cocoon. Silkworms feed on the mulberry trees that are plentiful in Turkey. They also use goat hair for making carpets. Joan picked out a beautiful carpet to take home to hang on the wall.
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