KUSADASI, TURKEY

Monday, May 13th
     Our first visit to Turkey and it was not a memorable one for two reasons:  pouring rain and 3 other cruise ships in port.  As you will see, our visit to Ephesus was a sea of umbrellas.  I should have taken my small point-and-shoot camera instead of big Cannon.  I was holding my umbrella and shooting photos at the same time and doing neither very well.  We had to be careful of the slippery stone paths we were walking on and also be careful not to get our eyes poked out with someone else's umbrella.  It was not a pleasant day!  We did have a nice Turkish lunch at a nice hotel.
     Turkey is about the same size as the state of Texas and has a population of 75 million.  It became a republic in 1923.  In ancient times it was the gateway between Asia and Europe.  The Silk Road and Gold Road came through it.  Caravans of goods passed both ways through Turkey.  Silk was spun into rugs.  There are Mulberry trees here and the silk worms eat the leaves of these trees.  Turkish rugs are popular all over the world.
     As an aside, Turkey is a good military ally of the United States in a region that is not very "pro" USA.  For that I thank them.

                                                       Sailing into Kusadasi port

                                             Small castle which protected the port

 House of the Virgin Mary.  At his crucifixion Jesus asked John, one of the 12 disciples, to care for his mother, Mary.  The two of them moved here around 40 AD.  Mary died in the year 54 AD.  This the restored house now serving as a chapel.

"Wishing Wall"--You write a note or say a wish out loud in front of wall and it will come true near the house.

                                                   Guard at entry to Ephesus.

                                                        Statue of the Virgin Mary

 Below are photos of the ruins of Ephesus which is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.  Built by Alexander the Great.  It had a population of 250,000 in the 1st century BC, which made it one of the largest cities in the Mediterranean world.  History here dates back to the 10th century BC but the city here was founded around 300 BC.  It was destroyed by an earthquake.  Excavations began in 1897 by some Austrians.  Today, only about 10% of the city has been unearthed.  In 300 BC Ephesus was a port city now the ocean is 6 miles away.  Silt from erosion has filled in below it so it is now far from the water.  Anthony and Cleopatra were believed to have honeymooned here.

                                          Ahead is facade of the library.  largest for its time.

                                                             Library remains

                                                    Theater that held 24,000

                                                     Stage floor was on the pillars

                           This street used to have shops lining it and it led down to the ocean.

                                                    Remains of the gymnasium

                                      Going up to the Basilica of St John built in 6th century AD.

                                  Photos taken from Basilica.  This is a mosque from the 1400's..

                                                Old castle/fort in the background

              Photos of the site of the Church of St John and on right what it is thought to look like.

Jesus entrusted his mother, Mary, to John, one of his 12 Disciples.  They moved here sometime between 37 & 48AD where they lived.  Mary died in the year 54AD.  St John died in the year 100AD at the age of 94.

 Below are photos of the ruins of The Church of St John.  It was built in the 6th century AD but was leveled by an earthquake in 14th century.  Excavations began in 1921 and continue today.

                                                         Baptism room

                                                           Funeral room

     In the evening we met Brad and Toni for drinks and dinner up in Sette Mari (Italian).  They were on our 2010 world cruise and recently joined the ship in Safaga.  We had a lot of catching up to do so dinner lasted 3 hours.  They are lots of fun and we thoroughly enjoyed the evening.  The ship's internet was also terrible today along with the weather.  Athens, Greece tomorrow!

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