We arrived in Kushadasi today and headed out to Ephesus at 7:30 this morning. It was a very short ride but when we got there I thought okay this isn't going to be as good as Antayla. WRONG!
Excavation began in Ephesus in the late 1800s and the terrace houses in the 1980s. They're guessing that there are more terrace houses still to be uncovered. In my next life I definitely want to be an archaeologist.When you walk into the site there really isn't much to see besides rock and boulders spread out on the ground. Sure there's lots of columns and you get a brief history of the place but then when you walk around the bend and see the magnificent columns and the library and the altars and the houses you wish you lived in Turkey so that you could visit every day.
I didn't think there could be much more that would amaze me; when we got to the amphitheater it just blew my mind. There was a group of tourists inside and I guess a few of them were on the stage whooping it up and you could hear them outside the acoustics were that great. The theater held 24,000 people. Ray went to explore it but I headed to the bus; I just couldn't take another step.
Walking along the street you can just imagine what it was like all those years ago. People shopping, visiting with neighbors, going to the temples to pray, using the public latrines (guess there were no overweight people back then...those opening are mighty small!); your imagination just runs wild!
The terrace houses excavation started in the 1980s. There are only seven Terrace houses that have been excavated, but the guide said for sure that there's more buried among the area. Since it was covered for over a millennia, the frescoes still have their vibrant color. Again, it's amazing how this work could possibly be done 3000 years ago.
It was a huge challenge for me since we basically climbed seven floors and my foot was killing me. They are currently working and equipment is all over, but today, being Saturday, there were no workers. Every flight of stairs brought another wonder. Rooms, alcoves, mosaic floors, frescos
I barely made it down the stairs when we exited (75 of them, every one a different height); luckily Ray was there and he helped me down. I'm guessing the steps were put in by the archaeologists because there's no way that the Romans, who probably were shorter than us, could've managed the steps which are more then 12 to 15 inches in depth.
We then continued to the library; the entrance is beautiful. When I was dropped off in town and naturally had to do a required carpet demonstration but after about a half hour we were able to get out. I headed off to go shopping and Ray met up with EmaRou. I ran into Ray later and he told me someone asked him where his wife was. We both had a good chuckle with that!
The shops here are ridiculous. No matter where you walk they are trying to entice you to come in to their place of business and buy something. I kept resisting but then finally I succumbed.
I ended up buying two leather jackets… Like I really need them… But one of them is the leaf design which Carol will understand and the other is reversible so really I got three.
... "Life is about the adventures you take and the memories you make. So travel often and live life with open eyes and an open heart." -- Katie Grissom ...
