We awoke to a beautiful morning, threw open our blinds to admire the harbour and in our view was 2 ships that had berthed overnight. The port is 50 metres deep so can accomodate these giants of the sea.
Picked up at 9am by Inan our guide. We had a huge 14 seater on our own for the Ephesus tour. How lucky are we with a personal guide.
The day is due to get to 35 so sunscreen on and off we go. The ride only lasts about 20 minutes to Ephesus and the enormity of the area is jawdropping. Covered by a mud slide the restoration began in earnest in 1951. The scale of the dig is huge. Much of the cost is born by the Government and Archeologists from around the world are painstakingly unearthing the city.
Only a small percentage of the city has been uncovered but it takes 1.5 hours of walking to see what has already been done. Columns rebuilt with original structure and only a small percentage is substitute. The library is an amazing structure that majestically stands at the end of one of the long walkways. Housing, public toilets, walls and jails are to name a few structures of the city that have been unearthed.
A visit to Mother Mary's house was very interesting as it is out of the way in a hilly part of the country. It's a beautiful stone building that is simple but efficient. A water fountain provides water that is said can cure ill's along with a wishing wall for dreams, hope and inspiration. Heavily guarded by armed police gives insight into the relevance that is placed on this area. The Pope has visited here along with many other dignitaries and thousands of worshippers.
A stop at a leathergoods manufacturer was fun and we were treated to a fashion show with full blown catwalk and models. What made it more fun was Celeste and Alain were asked to model some clothes and join the models.
A rug manufacturer was another stop to learn about Turkish rugs. Beautiful pieces that take weavers months to make. It was a training school and it can take 2 years to become good enough to weave on your own.
Back to the hotel about 4.30 we are calling it a early finish.
Drinks in Kerry and Andrew's room then dinner, which was delicious and an earlier night. During the evening we were treated to a fireworks display that went off across the bay. Beautiful eay to finish the day.
