ANCIENT EPHESUS

Our second stop on our mini cruise of the Greek Isles was actually not in Greece but in Turkey. We docked in Kusadasi and stepped onto the continent of Asia for the very first time!! Here we had the opportunity to visit the archaeological site of the ancient city of Ephesus. Ephesus was one of the seven churches of Asia cited in the Book of Revelation and an important center for travel and commerce in the ancient world. It now contains one of the largest and best preserved collections of Roman ruins and makes a perfect day trip for passengers on Mediterranean cruises.

Destination: Kusadasi |Turkey | Asia

Traveled: March 2015

Accommodation: Celestyal Olympia

Adventures: Terrace Houses, Library of Celsus, Great Theater, Temple of Hadrian, Gate of Hercules

Memorable Moments: 1) Imagining everyday life of the wealthy Ephesians in those Terrace Houses. 2) The Library of Celsus! It was such an impressive structure.

Takeaways: 1) Ephesus has a lot of cats. 2) We forget how advanced these ancient civilizations were in their time. Indoor heating systems and bathrooms? Amazing. 3) The Terrace Houses were the Beverly Hills of Ephesus.  4) We need to return to Asia someday.

 ^^ kusadasi. ^^

^^ goddess of victory, nike. see the swoosh now used for the sportswear brand? ^^

^^ yes, the public restroom and ancient social scene. ^^

 ^^ check out those mosaics and frescoes. ^^

 ^^ the library of celsus. ^^

Recommendations: 1) This is one of those places where you'll want a tour guide to point out the details. 2) Visit early in the day, if possible, to avoid the crowds and heat. 3) Check out the mosaics in the Terrace Houses if you have the opportunity. You'll need to purchase a separate ticket. 

Next Time: Check out Kusadasi. Explore Pigeon Island. Visit the House of Virgin Mary. Eat in a Turkish restaurant.