So Turkey gave me the welcome that I was hoping for! A big banner and everything! :) I felt very welcomed! (And there's the red and black outfit again! For your viewing pleasure!)
Kusadasi was our port town that we stopped at. Is this not the coolest picture of our ship framed by the sign? Pretty amazing photography by Larisa.
Right outside of Ephesus they have a lot of shops- this one caught my eye and made me laugh...
Genuine fake watches...love it! At least the Turks are honest!
Thankfully it wasn't too hot as we walked along the road, listened to our guide and learned about the Ephesians. Basically its one long road with a lot of ruins! (Hallelujah for guides that can explain what you are looking at and paint the picture of what it looked like long long ago!)
As we started the decent down toward the library- I could almost imagine how grand this street was at one time! It mean was "The Street". I almost walked down it like Royalty and decided that maybe I would look a little weird. (I mean would Royalty really be wearing the same pants 5 days in a row?! :) )
This street was lined with statues and buildings. Ephesus in only 20 % excavated! I wonder what other hidden treasures are waiting to be discovered!
Listen up all the pharmacist in the family- I took this for you! This was the sign out in front of the pharmacy!
And here she is the "just do it" girl herself...the Goddess Nike.
The Nike "swoosh" sign was designed from the shape of this stone.
I just like these ruins--nothing significant- just cool!
Here is one thing that I am thankful we don't have anymore are public toilets like these. I think its funny how Nate and Larisa just plopped down for a picture (They looked quite comfortable)...
Tiffany and I were a little more hesitant to touch them! Just the thought that they were at one time every single person's toilet in the town- kinda grossed us out! :)
Kinda interesting tidbit that I learned... the wealthy had slaves that would come and warm up the seats before they sat down. Wouldn't that be a fun job?!
And here we are at the library- which I am sure was amazing in it's time...Because it was amazing at how it is now! And see mom and dad I do read! I just have to find a library outside the country to do it! :)
Then there she was- the greatest of all- the Grand Theater where Paul preached. And by looking at it- I can't imagine how he did it! It seemed so intimidating to me! Just think of how many people were there listening...and I'm sure not all agreed and I'm sure they weren't a quiet crowd!
Here I was trying it out myself- I am sure I look just as Paul did "Repent Ye Repent Ye!"
Here I was trying it out myself- I am sure I look just as Paul did "Repent Ye Repent Ye!"
(You can see the lady behind me trying to show me up by going down to where Paul probably really stood! How rude! )
I learned a super amazing fact while in Ephesus. Well I learned a lot of facts. But one that was super cool! You want to know? Okay then- keep on reading!
This road you see below was the road that Cleopatra and Mark Anthony rode on as they entered Ephesus. As they rode in people poured red wine on the road in front of them to welcome them in(why? Wealth I guess)- and from that we have the red carpet rolled out in front of people today! Did you know that? Because I did not!
Now, this is a multi purpose photo. I know! Not only does it show the road, but if you can see on the top of that hill, oh so far away,- is the prison that Paul was put in. Unfortunately this was as close as we could get to it! :)
So I zoomed in so you ( and I ) could see it! You can thank me later!
So I zoomed in so you ( and I ) could see it! You can thank me later!
Now the fun doesn't stop there. Nope. Royal Caribbean Cruises also pays for people to put on a little play for you. Its about 7 minutes and includes Gladiators, Kings, Dancers etc... You laugh, You cry, You cheer... Best 7 minutes of your life... kinda!
Camel.
We also went to another town (which I can not for the life of me remember the name!) and saw the Temple of Apollo. Now never in my life have I seen such HUGOMUNGO pillars! Again- I cant imagine what it looked like in all its glory!
The oracles that told the future were kept in this temple. Unfortunately, they are not still there. I was kinda hoping for a little fortune telling!
Another lesson I learned... Medusa is outside of these temples in order to keep evil away. Did I sleep through all my history classes because none of this sounded familiar!
Here she is- a little falling apart- but here none-the-less!
From there our tour bus took us to a Turkish Restaurant free of charge. There was a big buffet style of Turkish sides. I ordered the chicken and had yummy BBQ chicken brought out to me! Tiffany on the other hand ordered the fish.
HaHa! I laughed so hard when I saw Tiffany's face as they brought out her plate. I had plenty of that on my mission. I had served my time. I am happy that Tiffany had that experience as well! :) I did teach her a trick or two that I learned-- cover the face with a napkin so you can't see the eye and keep talking while you eat so you don't think about what you are eating! She got through it. She did well. I was proud!
The last stop before the bus was a Turkish Rug shop. Really incredible...expensive...but incredible.
Turkey was all that I hoped it would be. Not a let down at all. Exceeded expectations!
One more stop- Crete!
4 comments:
All those ruins are so amazing! Who would have thought this would all be in Turkey? Great pictures! I like the pharmacy one, even if I'm not a pharmacist. Also the Nike and the "red carpet" road pictures. You and Cleopatra on the same road - cool.
Thanks! I didn't know much of that stuff even though I took a bunch of history classes. They only talked about Greece and Rome and then moved on to the next stage of history- like everything else that happened in the world was not important.
It really is so interesting to learn about history. It seems like so many history teachers try to make it dull making kids concentrate on dates and wars. But it is so interesting to think that real people lived and used the public bathroom and lived the beginning of the red carpet etc. It makes me want to read up on what was going on at that time. of course a trip to the place makes it really real.I'm so glad you got to go there.
Dad says
Wow! Just beautiful, and amazing and interesting. Only 20% restored askes what was it like and who knocked it down and why. I am supposed to know this. You see the marble walls were polished and realized how much work it would be for them at that time. That was probably why they needed the pharmacy in the middle of the work zone. And, if red wine didnt stain the materials used then why dont we use them today? The cleaning bill would be a lot lower. When you see all the evidence of history dont you feel so insignificant, so small in the whole skeam of things. So many people have already come and so many yet to come and in there somewhere stands little old me. Glad you are home safely!!
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