Kusadasi, Turkey for Ephesus (our Day in Kusadasi)

Kusadasi Turkey, is a resort town on Turkey's Aegan coast, on the Asian continent. The nearest major airport is Izmir and the main industry is tourism. Indeed, Kusadasi is a summer tourist town. During winter, the population is under 100,000, with many empty apartments and shops that are closed. Come summer, the population swells to more than 300,000 (some say more than 500,000).

We were the only ship (Norwegian Jade) in port that morning. The port is conveniently located right in the main city.

The port gates are a short walk from the ship. Even before you exit the gates, there are many shops, though not all were opened during winter. In the picture, you can see a number of yellow cabs waiting for passengers. You could hire cabs off the street if you wished, especially in winter, when there were few tourists.

For us, we pre-booked a private tour and the guide was waiting for us just we got off the ship, holding a placard with our names. It was a very easy process to meet her. The highlight of this port would be the ancient city of Ephesus. See this map for Paul's missionary journeys. Paul lived in Ephesus from AD 52 to 54.

However, our first stop of the day wasn't Ephesus, but the House of Virgin Mary. It is not clearly recorded where the Virgin Mary spent her last days. However, it is reasonable to believe that Mary's last days were spent in Ephesus, under the care of apostle John.

The apostle John was believed to have died in Ephesus, around 100AD. John, the beloved discipline, was the only Apostle that did not die a matyr's death. While nailed to the cross, Jesus entrusted his earthly mother to John.

John 19:26-27

"When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

"Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home."

The house that we were visiting has a history. Please refer to this website for the description - http://www.kusadasi.biz/virgin-mary/

In this video, we meet our guide for the day and proceeded to the House of the Virgin Mary as our first stop on this tour. Today, we had a driver and a licensed tour guide. Therefore, there was plenty of useful commentary for us.

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At the House of the Virgin Mary, it was not crowded at all. We were told, during summer, the lines would be really long. The actual house is not very big. This was the entrance. No photos and videos were allowed inside but you can find some photos of the interior from the Internet.

The Roman Catholic Church has never pronounced on the authenticity of the house of Virgin Mary, presumably because of the lack of scientific evidence. However, several Popes have visited the site, including Pope Paul VI (1967), Pope John Paul II (1979) and Pope Benedict XVI (2006).

This would be the place where they conduct the services or prayer services.

We spent about 45 minutes at the Virgin Mary House and surrounding areas. Our next stop would be the highlight of the trip, the ancient city of Ephesus.

Here is the video (first of 3 videos of Ephesus). In this video, we enter the ancient ruins via the Magnesia gate. We were blessed with good weather (the day before it was pouring). Bear in mind this place is completely unsheltered, other than the Roman Terrace Houses that we will visit in Part 2 of the video. Therefore, it would be wise to bring an umbrella.

Compared to Pompeii, the ruins here are extremely well kept. A real wonder and marvel to behold.

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The Magnesia Gates entrance into Ephesus. Entrance fees were 30 Turkish Lira. This does not include the Terrace Houses, which cost an additional 15 Turkish Lira.

The site was beautifully kept. Sense of wonderment as I stepped in.

Look at this sign. We learnt a lot about this sign during our visit. Our guide took pains to explain to us what it meant - "Jesus Christ, the Son of God."

This video explains the sign. Remember, the early church was persecuted. Paul, in Ephesus, faced a very hostile city whose inhabitants mostly worshipped pagan Gods, especially the Artemis (or Diana). This sign was used by Christians to identify with one another.

[YOUTUBE]xrGy1hAmnhE[/YOUTUBE]

First, let me say that I have been enjoying your posts with the photos and video. Very nicely done!

Please don't consider this any reflection on you at all, but rather to point out something I've said on these forums a number of times. Namely -- guides at some sites do not provide accurate information, which is a real shame.

The image of the wheel with the spokes carved into the pavement at Ephesus caught my eye in your post, so I read what your guide told you about it. Unfortunately, it's not true. This is actually a fairly common Roman "game" (tabula lusoria) that has been found in many Roman sites around the empire. It's a fairly simplistic game but it's one that soldiers enjoyed (probably with a wager on the winner).

Here's some info on the game: http://www.lore-and-saga.co.uk/html/tabla_lusoria.html

And here's some more scholarly discussion of Roman games that looks almost exactly like your image from Ephesus: http://homepage.univie.ac.at/elisabeth.trinkl/forum/forum0612/63behling.htm

Anyway, I hope I haven't spoiled your enthusiasm for Ephesus, which is a wonderful site. It's just a pet peeve of mine when guides try to pass off information like that as truth. The guides there must be particular offenders -- I had one on an earlier tour try to pass off a real whopper to our tour group.

cruisemom42,

Thanks for the info! Very useful.

No worries, I am most happy to be corrected and be pointed to the truth! There is so much out there to see and learn.

I did wonder whether this image was the same as the "chi-ro" christogram, see this.

Link in wiki -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chi_Rho

However, the wheel with spokes carved does look significantly different from the Chi-Ro Christogram.

The Chi-Ro was the symbol dreamt by Roman Emperor Constantine, to put on the shield of his soldiers.

As you said, the Chi-Rho looks a bit different (and it is certainly a legitimate Christian symbol)! You are more likely to see it near early Christian tombs or catacombs.

@Iluvcruising2, who did you book your Ephesus tour through?

Thanks in advance,

Brian

@Iluvcruising2, who did you book your Ephesus tour through?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Brian

Hi Brian,

We booked from this company called Ephesus Deluxe - http://www.ephesusdeluxe.com

More pictures of the ancient site. Here, they let you wander around freely and touch all the marble columns, if you so wished.

Check out this marble column and the piece of rebar in the middle. This was how the Romans strengthened their columns, using lead rebars. Check out the video where the guide gives a good description.

A tour group passing by. This was winter and at times, there was some congestion. Again, be careful when there are large crowds, especially against petty theft like pickpockets.

This was nice. The Goddess of Nike. Nike was a goddess that personified victory. She is seen with wings.

With a walkway like this, you can really have a good idea of how grand this place must have been, 2000 years ago.

Once we exited the Terrace Houses, there were good views of the Ephesus site. Take note that we now had to climb down a long flight of stairs which could be slippery when wet, before we got back to the Ephesus ancient city.

This is the video for the Library of Celsus and the Theatre.

[YOUTUBE]zT2A59kyJbg[/YOUTUBE]

Our next stop would be the library of Celsus. From wiki, I learnt that this library was built in honour of Roman Senator Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus, hence the name Library of Celsus. Celsus had been consul in 92AD, governor of Asia in 115D, and a wealthy and popular local ciizen. He was Greek, but honoured as both a Greek and Roman in the library itself. Celsus paid for the construction of the library with his own personal wealth. The library was built to store 12,000 scrolls and to serve as a monumental tomb for Celsus, who was buried beneath the library. It was unusual to be buried within a library or even within city limits, so this was a special honour for Celsus.

This pictures gives you a good sense of how magnificent the library would have been, 2,000 years ago.

After the library, we went to the famous theater. This photograph (off a signboard) shows how the theatre looked like around 1900, just as the site was being excavated. Hard to imagine at that time that the theatre would have the capacity of 25,000 seats.

The Theatre of Ephesus is mentioned in the Bible (Acts 19:23-41), the theatre was the site of the riot of silversmiths who made figures of pagan idols like Artemis (Diana). A silversmith by the name of Demetrius was named to have rallied fellow silversmiths to his cause. They stirred up the people of Ephesus, who were confused, and all rushed to the theatre. Acts 19:34 records the people in the theatre as chanting "Great is the Artemis (Diana) of Ephesus!"

This is the theatre today. Pretty grand.

The Austrians have been heavily involved in the excavation of Ephesus. This is the second of such signs I saw that day. Earlier, the guide told us that the Austrians built the roof over the Terrace Houses too.

Took this picture of a happy cat resting on a broken Roman column.

Overall, it was a very impressive visit to the ancient city of Ephesus. There was a lot to see. We were grateful that the skies held up, though it got cloudy as the morning wore on. We exited Ephesus via the Harbour Gate (recall we entered from the Magnesia Gate) and our next stop would be lunch at a Turkish Restaurant.

Overall, it was a very impressive visit to the ancient city of Ephesus. There was a lot to see. We were grateful that the skies held up, though it got cloudy as the morning wore on. We exited Ephesus via the Harbour Gate (recall we entered from the Magnesia Gate) and our next stop would be lunch at a Turkish Restaurant.

Lunch was included in our tour. For lunch, the guide brought us to a restaurant called Agora Restaurant. According to tripadvisor, this restaurant was fairly well reviewed. We didn't have any choices for the lunch. We were served with some starters that included pita bread, side dishes, salads. This was followed by the main which consisted of two types of grilled meats, rice. I noticed many other tourists in the restaurants. Other tour groups (including cab drivers) also brought their passengers here. It looks like the restaurant has tied up with the various tour operators. Overall, I found the food just ok, nothing special.

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After lunch, it started to drizzle. As we had seen the most important sight for the day (ancient Ephesus), we were not sure where else to go. The guide asked if we wanted to see some carpet weaving (i.e. carpet shop). Since this was our first time in Turkey, we said ok.

The place we went to was called Bartok Authentic Looms.

On hindsight, while the visit was quite interesting, we were pretty much like captives during the time there. The objective of the place was to sell you carpets, expensive ones at that. I think a visit to a carpet factory was included even in the Ship's Tours, as stated in the excursion forms.

Here was a video I took of the carpet factory visit.

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To cut the long story short, after the elaborate sales pitch which literally included the sales staff throwing carpets at us. We ended up buying 2 small carpets at US$50 each.

By the time we were done with the carpet store, it was really raining. We went to the ruins of the Temple of Artemis (one of the seven ancient wonders of the world), but due to the rain, the family did not get off the bus. I got down to take a quick look and made a short video before getting back to the mini-bus.

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We arrived back in port in good time. We walked around the port area as well as the beachfront. While it was drizzling slightly, it was still fun to explore the place. There were shops selling "Genuine Fake Watches". Oxymoron.

[YOUTUBE]HSSs7D6krsI[/YOUTUBE]

Yes, Genuine Fakes!

We are going to be there in early April. Did you get to see the Terrace Houses, and were they worth the time and money? Our "regular" tour does not include them, but we have an "optional" (extra cost) tour to include them, but this will cut short our time in the rest of the site. Do you have an pictures or video to share.

Thanks so much for this - it really gives us an idea of what to expect. Looks wonderful!

We are going to be there in early April. Did you get to see the Terrace Houses, and were they worth the time and money? Our "regular" tour does not include them, but we have an "optional" (extra cost) tour to include them, but this will cut short our time in the rest of the site. Do you have an pictures or video to share.

 

Thanks so much for this - it really gives us an idea of what to expect. Looks wonderful!

Thanks for your question. It made me realise that I had forgotten to post the video I made on the Terrace Houses! What a miss!

Yes, we saw the Terrace Houses and I think they are definitely worth a look if you are all the way there. Extremely well preserved.

[YOUTUBE]fq_L2U37jEk[/YOUTUBE]

Thank you so much for sharing your memories, thoughts and images with us, it certainly makes decision-making easier!

Thank you so much for sharing your memories, thoughts and images with us, it certainly makes decision-making easier!

Glad you found the review useful.

want to thank OP and other posters for this very useful thread for our upcoming Grand Met. cruise.

want to thank OP and other posters for this very useful thread for our upcoming Grand Met. cruise.

Glad you found the review useful. Have a wonderful cruise!

great info iluvcruising.We are doing this stop in April.Does anyone know if you can get this trip without Ephesus included?Anyone have any idea the price of a taxi trip to Virgin Mary house with a bit of sightseeing along the way?We have

visited Ephesus and carpet shops,so don't want to spend time there on this trip.Thanks..

great info iluvcruising.We are doing this stop in April.Does anyone know if you can get this trip without Ephesus included?Anyone have any idea the price of a taxi trip to Virgin Mary house with a bit of sightseeing along the way?We have

visited Ephesus and carpet shops,so don't want to spend time there on this trip.Thanks..

if you don't want to go to Ephesus you should consider a trip to the village of Sirence.

I suggest contacting a tour company such as EKOL and arranging a private tour.

You can easily get the House of the Virgin, Sirence, the Cathedral of St. John, the Temple of Artemis, and the Baths of Isa Bey.

You can always stay in town and enjoy the Turkish Baths which IMO are not to be missed.

Here is a report I did on a similar excursion:

http://dreamingonthesea.blogspot.com/2010/06/grecian-holiday-part-x-kusadasi-turkey.html

How long was your tour? I'm looking at booking a private tour and it's 4 1/2 hours, including Ephasus, terrace houses and lunch. Just wondering if that's long enough. Thanks