2025_0913 Kusadasi, Turkey...

Saturday, September 13th, was an excursion day for us. We arrived in Kusadasi, Turkey at 7am. We had a quick breakfast at Surfside Cafe. Then down to the Viva Theater to wait for our tour to Ephesus to be called. 

Our tour was titled Magnificent Ephesus. It was to last about 2 1/2 hours. Most of that would be walking. I took these pictures as the coach drove us to the site. The Viva is the middle ship. 

Sam would be our tour guide. She was a very modern Muslim. She loved living in Kusadasi. She cracked me up by saying "Oh My Gosh!" after telling us something she found amazing. 

This is a map of the tour site of Ephesus. We entered at the top right by the baths and would exit at the end of the Harbor Road. Paul preached here and later wrote to the Ephesians. That is the Book of Ephesians in the New Testament. 

7a-2p, Kusadisi, Turkey

Magnificent Ephesus (KUSN09): 7:30-10am, 2½ hrs, Moderate.

Walk excavated ruins in Ephesus. The Great Theater where St. Paul spent 3 years preaching the Gospel. The Library of Celsus is another architectural highlight. One column of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, also remains. Approx 2 hours of walking.

At the entrance was the Turkish flag. It based on the 18th-century Ottoman Empire flag and the symbolism of the crescent and star remains powerful, though not exclusively religious in its historical foundation. 

Bailey asked for cat pictures. There were several at the entrance to the Ephesus ruins. Not so many as we walked the tour. 

These are the bath ruins. 

Across the road was the state Agora. This was a public open space used for assemblies and markets. Sam explained they did not sell fish in the market area as it would cause and odor. There was another agora later and that is where the fish were sold. 

The Odeion Theater. The building would have served as a space for political meetings, social events, concerts and theatrical performances.

Prythaneion: the Sacred Heart of Ephesus. Built-in the 3rd century BC, this city hall housed senior officials, received foreign dignitaries, held the state archives, but most importantly, held the sacred flame in the Hearth of Hestia; the symbolic heart of Ephesus.

Memmius Monument. The four sided victory arch was erected to celebrate a military victory and the liberation of Ephesus from enemy occupation. 

Caduceus or Rod of Asclepius. Remember on the Acropolis where the medical office/temple were located by the Dionysus Theater. Asclepius was the god of medicine and healing. He was often depicted with a staff around which a snake was coiled.  The snake figure was associated with Asclepios possessed benevolent properties. It was believed to be able to cure a patient or a wounded person just by touch.

Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. 

Pollio Fountain is a significant ancient Roman structure. It served as a distribution point for water.

Note the ending of the words carved on this stone. Lisa Marie Presley came to Ephesus. Sam was the tour guide. She pointed out this stone and the ending words which clearly look like Elvis was here. Lisa Marie was very amused. 

Main Boulevard to the sea. 

The Hadrian Temple was built-in the 2nd century AD, the Temple was built in honor of the Roman Emperor Hadrian, who ruled from 117-138 AD, as well as Artemis and the people of Ephesus.

Columns and mosaic floors. 

Men's latrines with another cat!

Celsus Library. At the time of its completion the Celsus Library was the 3rd largest in the world, behind the libraries of Alexandria and Pergamum, with space for over 12,000 scrolls.

The Agora where Paul would have preached. 

The Great Theater was actually positioned to make use of the breeze coming off of the ocean, which would carry sound up towards the audience. It was here that ancient Ephesians would gather during the day for plays, concerts, debates, discussions, and even gladiator matches.

Harbor Road.

Sarcophagi on the hill.

Tree-lined walk to the coach.

Claude and I were both very happy neither of us fell while walking these ruins. Many marble streets that were slick. After both falling in Italy last year, NOT falling this trip was a paramount goal. The walk actually started at the top of a hill and you walked downhill for the entire tour. Yike!!

We were informed while waiting for the Ephesus tour that anyone touring a mosque in Istanbul the next day MUST meet a dress code or you would not be allowed to enter. That dress code mean shoulders and knees covered for men. Shoulders, knees and head and hair covered for ladies. Hmmm...I did not bring a scarf for my head. I thought Haggai Sophia was a museum. It is not part mosque and part museum and I had to have a head covering to tour it. Fortunately, at the end of the tree-lined street were a good series of shops and many carried pashminas. Perfect. Sam directed us to the shop she felt was best for that purchase, #9. I quickly entered, explained what I needed, she showed me a purple pashmina (I am a sucker for anything purple). I was able to pay with American dollars. Yeah! I was ready for the next day.

Sam then took our tour group by coach back to Kusadasi, to learn about making Turkish carpets. I took this picture as we drove back to Kusadasi. 

We would see beautiful Turkish carpets. Turkish rugs are special for their hand knotting techniques, natural dyes, and symbolic designs. They are often crafted using the double-knot (Gördes knot) technique, making them highly durable and luxurious collector's pieces.

Claude and I left the rug store after much pressuring to purchase something. Don't like that pressure. The rugs were gorgeous though. We walked back to the Viva. The Viva is in the middle of the first picture. The second picture is a sign above a restaurants window. Cracked me up!

We went directly to Surfside Cafe for lunch and soft serve ice cream. Yes! A hot day needed that refreshment. Once again, we watched as the Viva left harbor. We loved our balcony. Will probably never cruise again with a balcony for our stateroom. 

A brief nap was on the schedule. Dinner would be in the Hudson dining room. I didn't record what we ate this night. Then we enjoyed views of the Kusadasi harbor and the Viva leaving. We watched a tug boat (2nd picture) position himself between the two huge cruise ships to keep them from bumping into each other. Wow!

A good day for us. We were happy to make it through the tour and happy for cool rest after.