Busy Being Biblical
-DAY 7, Kusadasi, Turkey-
9.11.16 Sunday
Today our port of call is Kusadasi, Turkey with Ephesus being another close by point of interest. We chose to spend money on a shore excursion because we didn't want to worry about finding our way and we didn't want our parents to worry. The tour we picked was called Biblical Ephesus, it included a mass for EP and also included all of the highlights of Ephesus that we both wanted to see.
We were tired from another late night so we were glad to see that we didn't arrive to port until 930a or something. Our tickets said 1030 so we were able to take our time in the morning. When we got to the Broadway Melodies Theatre, the meeting place, the first guy told us to hurry and go since we were already late. I was very confused because it was 1025. We got to the front and the woman radioed to see if the bus had left yet while I got out our tickets.. which showed a DEPARTURE time of 1030a, meeting time of 10a. Oops! Thankfully the bus had not left yet and we walked/ran to the bus.
Waiting for us on our seats was a bottle of water and a gift bag as well as a bookmark with tge Virgin Mary on it. The bag contained a map, a post card, a survey card, a little evil eye, and a clay pot (depicting Mary) for Holy Water. Our driver was named Ramo (short for something else) and our fabulous tour guide's name was Ilker [ill-care]. We were given radios so we could hear Ilker's commentary at our points of interest and he used a microphone to chat with us while on the bus. Fir those who don't know, this part of Turkey is in Asia minor, so TECHNICALLY we visited not only another country today, but another continent as well. 😍
Our first stop was to Ancient Ephesus. Our guide explained how technically there are 4 Ephesus'. Ephesus 2 was built by Amazonian women over 2300 years ago and is currently being excavated. Right now it's only 10% excavated and that 10% is 10 times the size of Pompeii. So this is the first Ephesus we visited. The ruins were incredible and we were able to see the famous Library of Celsus as well as a Roman style bath and an old brothel (they could tell it was a brothel because they found a relic of Aphrodite's second son, Priapus, there). It was very well preserved, perhaps because it had been underground, due to earthquakes and such. We were able to touch things and not get whistled at; also an elderly woman named Helen was in our group and she had a bag full of bread with her that she used to feed all of the little kitties roaming around the ruins.
We also saw the original marble carving of Nike where the designer drew her inspiration from for Nike's swoosh logo; also there were statues of Medusa, Hercules, and more. We took a photo standing in front of the ancient hospital and we were shown tablets with the medical symbol, still the same staff with a snake/serpent as it is today.
Lunch was provided and marketed as a "biblical" lunch. The restaurant was attached to a building (museum/shop) constructed to resemble old ruins. They also put on a reenactment wearing costumes but we didn't stay to see it. At the restaurant we got a free glass of wine and filled our cups from bottled water.
Everything was served on terra cotta, the first course was lentil soup which was very good. We also had a plate with hummus, tadziki, green beans, a piece of feta, and some other salad, a plate with black olives, nuts, and honey, and a little boat of lettuce with olive oil. Next was a fish course but they served me a vegetarian dish- peppers stuffed with rice, white rice, more green beans, some mostacholi. There was also turkish bread on the table. It was different but filling!
Our next stop was the Church of St. John (the disciple) who was also originally buried there but then, against his wishes, removed to Rome. This site is also home to Ephesus 3, a fort built around/on top of the tomb of St. John. It's in the center of the ruins of Ephesus 1, which was built in 300BC. You should also know that the city of Troy, like in the movie, is in Turkey! Selcuk, Turkey is Ephesus 4, home of the "semi-nomads" that are trying to keep Turkish culture alive. Anyway, the ruins were breathtaking, it's amazing how well preserved they are. Also from this site we could view the last remaining pillar of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (and one of the few of those that still exists). Incredible.
We didn't do a moment of silence or anything in honor of September 11th, feel free to do one now if you wish. We are a cruise of people from over 40 countries and it was odd being in Turkey but also peaceful. Our guide, Ilker, is muslim and he felt confident sharing that with us knowing we were most likely catholic and going to a catholic mass later in the day. He was very knowledgeable in the history of his country and things in the bible and I very much appreciated this phrase he shared with us, "WITH GUNS YOU KILL TERRORISTS, WITH EDUCATION YOU KILL TERRORISM." I think it's important and one of the roots of the issues. My thoughts are with all of those who were effected (and are still) by the tragedy on 9/11/01. ♡
Following the beautiful ruins of the Church of St. John and his tomb, we were headed to the house of Mary. It has been proven and accepted by the Pope and Catholic Church that this is indeed where Mary spent the last years of her life. The bus ride up the mountain was a little terrifying but we made it in one piece. After arriving we went directly to the house where we were quickly shuffled through what used to be a kitchen, living room, and bedroom but has since been converted to a house of worship where many popes have been to visit; they expect Pope Francis soon.
A private mass was included with our excursion and it was in a small building directly behind the house of Mary with a priest from Poland who has been in Turkey for 7 or 8 years.
After mass we were able to visit the three springs below the house of Mary, through which Holy Water flows. EP & I each filled up a water bottle which will be taking up weight & space in our suitcases! Ah, the sacrifices we make. 😜
We were rushed away from the Virgin Mary's house to view a "carpet presentation" before heading back to the ship. It was kind of a bummer to have to leave so soon but this presentation was packed into every excursion. It's part of their culture, hand weaving these beautiful rugs- I just can't afford one, nor do I really like rugs. The presentation was entertaining, the way the unrolled the rugs, and when they got to the smaller ones they spun them and they looked like little magic carpets! We also got complimentary ouzo (tastes like black licorice and it was white & cloudy looking- I think it's the same as sambuca?) and EP got apple tea which tasted delicious! Then we ran away to the bus and waited for everyone else. I told Ilker he better get me back to town before the ship left or he'd have to deal with my momma because all she wanted were some Turkish pistachios! And he did 😉 He pointed out a nice market that also had baclava (in Turkey they don't make it with honey, in Greece they do) so me & EP each got a piece and ran (literally) back to the ship!
There was 730p trivia so we went straight there and got drinks from Danis (pronounced 'Dennis'), our favorite Turkish bartender. 80s songs was the theme of the trivia and I think we got 9 or something out of 15? Lol. Then it was time for dinner and then we brought our (mostly mine) scowling faces to the karaoke finals. We are kind of glad we didn't make it because I felt horrible (still taking the sudafed) and they had judges (who were way too cheesy and in the end still couldn't even pick a winner). It ended up being between Olga and Veronica and Veronica won. She had like a million family members there but she was a cute 69 year old lady who was just having the time of her life.
Rachel & Sarah came to karaoke too even though we were all exhausted so we got to talk to them about tomorrow. EP & I cancelled our shore excursion and decided to just hang out with them! Excited for a relaxing beach day in Rhodes. Goodnight everybody!