The Virgin's House and Ephesus

June 13th, 2009

From Pammakale Libby and I traveled on a small bus (where I was privy to watching some of the Weeds season on Libby's iPod) and we met one of the founders of Moveon.org (randomness) to Kusadasi, where we found that we had much nicer accommodations than planned, and crashed early for the night after elevating our for some unknown reason very swollen feet.

We embarked the next morning with a small and shall we say eclectic tour group , with the first stop being Virgin Mary's House (this part of Turkey is known for much Biblical history). Virgin Mary's house, which is where she is said to have lived out her last years, was small and very, very peaceful. Outside you can even leave a message for her, on the wall displayed below.

This way to her crib.

Awaiting entrance.

Sample of some of the notes left; this was part of a long, narrow wall.

There wasn't a ton to see there, so we headed off soon to Ephesus, an Ancient Greek City known to once have the Temple of Artemis and said to perhaps be the site where The Gospel of John may have been written. It is well-known to have been an important center for early Christianity, and the Apostle Paul is said to have lived here.

It is also widely known, that they sell Genuine Fake Watches outside the entrance.

Ephesus was under Roman rule for many years, and is said to only be 15% excavated, and contains the largest Roman ruins in the eastern Mediterranean (thank you, WIKIPEDIA). The Library of Celsus is a striking image, as was the Theater which is said to be the largest outdoor theatre in the Ancient World and I think still holds concert where once gladiators fought.

Library of Celsus

Libby and I in the Great Theatre, channeling the Gladiators.

Nike, swoosh

The photo below is interesting, our tour guide noted it was so the men in the city knew which way the Library was, which also had a tunnel to the Brothel. Hmmm, scandalous!


I would say Ephesus emphasized the communal life, as evident from the latrines that were situated in close proximity.

After our tour of Ephesus and a few more tour stops of the day at a mosque and at a Carpet store where the guy was straight out of the mafia--curly black hair, chest hair, gold chain and all (we resisted buying the rug). We headed back to Kusadasi, where a real adventure awaited us...