June 25, 2004

We really enjoyed Turkey.  The people were very nice, and our guide talked at length about how they are a secular Muslim country.
As we entered Ephesus, we saw all these columns piled up along the road that leads thru the town.  This tour truly involved uneven surfaces and a lot of walking, so even tho you wanted to just stare at the sights, you had to pay attention to where you put your feet.
This was a small amphitheater where political debates were -- there is a much larger one coming later.
Our guide talked about the various styles of columns to be seen in Ephesus:  Doric, Ionic, and I forgot the rest.
This pile of stones in the foreground is (was) a fountain.
The sun was really beating down on us.
Earthquakes and conquerors all played a part in making this a ruin of a ruin.
But the swirly bits, the chunks of beautiful carving -- it was so worth the visit!
This is a mosaic sidewalk in a section of town where rich folks had there homes.  The homes are on the left. This was roped off to protect it.
Here is a better shot of the long mosaic sidewalk. Up ahead, the modern roof and wall have been added to protect part of the ruin.
You can't tell, but this place was jammed with tourists.
It must have been breathtaking.
Communal men's toilets.  You paid to get in, and sometimes musicians performed to relax you. Look at the lady in the pink shirt. Her foot is next to a channel carved out of the rock where clean running water flowed for handwashing. More water flowed under the seats -- constant flushing.
Here is the Celsus Library.  It held a huge collection of books, but Marc Anthony took them away and gave them to Cleopatra as a birthday gift.
I hate to mention brothels again, but the brothel was located across the street from the library.  A husband could say he was going to the library...
Right outside the stadium.
25,000 people can fit in this stadium, which was used from like 300 BC to 700 AD. Until recently, it has been used for a Spring festival and some concerts.  Elton John and Yanni (spelled correctly?) both played here.
This was also where Paul was supposed to talk to the Ephesians. But a Roman soldier got the people all riled up.  He convinced them that if they listened to Paul, half would become Christians, the Temple would fall into ruin, tourists would stop coming, and they would all lose money.  By the time the soldier was finished, the crowd had decided to kill Paul.
Luckily, someone warned Paul, and he did not come into town.  Instead, he wrote his famous letter to the Ephesians. The modern chairs look strange in these surroundings!
I love an educational sign!
Large chunks of town, laid out neatly in the sun.

Excursion: Ephesus, St. John's Basilica & Virgin Mary Shrine

Explore the ruins of a once-proud Roman capital and visit two of the holiest shrines in Christendom on a walking tour. WHAT YOU VISIT Ephesus - Enter through the Magnesia Gate and begin a slow, downhill walk with your guide into the ruins of this Roman provincial capital. Your route takes you past the Odeum, the Celsus Library, the Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Trajan and the Great Theater. The theater had seating for 25,000, was the site where St. Paul preached to the Ephesians, and is used today for a local spring festival. Basilica of St. John - Built by the Emperor Justinian over the tomb of St. John the Apostle, the Basilica, now in ruins, once rivaled St. Sophia in size. One can still see graceful columns and mosaics. House of the Virgin Mary - The Vatican has recognized this small house in the Solmissos Mountains as the final resting place of the Virgin Mary. A small shrine dedicated to St. Mary was found when the ruins of the house were first discovered. WHAT YOU SEE ALONG THE WAY From Kusadasi, you travel north to Ephesus, passing the Byzantine fortress at Selcuk and the ruins of the Temple of Artemis. The drive to the House of the Virgin Mary is long and winding but with great vistas of the valley. After your tour, return to Kusadasi, where you may take in a carpet exhibition or shop on your own in the bazaars. Walk back to the ship at your leisure. SPECIAL NOTES Ephesus requires walking long distances over uneven surfaces.

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