Monday 5 October

More ruins today at ancient Pergamon in Bergama which we accessed by taking the gondola lift to the top of the hill to explore the Acropolis. Pergamon was the capital of the region until it was surpassed by Ephesus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We continued to the village of Assos. We needed to leave our small bus at the top of the hill and travel by car to the hotel. It was well worth it with the small town of cobbled streets and our magnificent old hotel (Hotel Kervansaray) situated next to the little fishing boats. Again so many cats and kittens playing around and having the cheek to try to get food from us, So the fish heads from our meals of sea bream and sea bass were gratefully received. From our room which overlooked the Aegean Sea, the coast guard boat could be seen patrolling its waters.

 

 

 

Sunday 4 October

Ephesus is fantastic. Most other places with ruins were largely destroyed but Ephesus is large and the structural layout with streets and buildings is evident even to this day… even toilets, a brothel and the massive facade of the Library of Celsus. The amphitheatre is apparently still used here for concerts, including one of my favourites Elton John.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tonight at Kusadasi we walked along the promenade and ended back at a restaurant near the hotel for more delicious Turkish food and entertainment by a group of three musicians playing mandolin, violin and percussion drums.

Saturday 3 October

We drove to Selcuk to visit more religious sites: the home of the Virgin Mary, St Johns Basilica and the Isa Bey Mosque. The home of the Virgin Mary was a tiny two-room building but no photos were allowed. Outside there was a wall where people tied rags and lit candles as a memorial.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After visiting these important sites, we wandered through a little village which was very much for the tourists with lots of laneways filled with shops to buy memorabilia, craft items and fruit wines. There was also the opportunity for wine tasting  if you wanted. Another stop at a leather coat factory meant that many of the group were able to spend up big on a leather coat which were beautifully made and came in many designs including reversible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The night was spent in a hotel in the coastal town of Kusadasi. It was opposite the esplanade and the sea which was occupied with large cruise ships. Up on the hill at night a large statue of Ataturk with opening arms could be seen lit up. It was a busy place with lots of people wandering up and down the Esplanade in the evening. We had dinner by ourselves in a Turkish restaurant (there were many other restaurants with international food styles such as Mexican, steak houses and so on but we were still keen on Turkish food.