Visitors4 in Kusadasi, Turkey - Ephesus: Impactful and Impressive

[Visitors4]

Prior to visiting Ephesus, we had been told and read about its historical and religious significance. After our visit, we had a great appreciation and understanding for that significance and more. Our ship docked in Kusadasi from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. We did a private car tour with Ephesus Shuttle to the ruins of Ephesus, the Basilica of St. John, and the House of the Virgin Mary. Our guide, Arzu, was excellent in the details and information she shared as well as how she paced the day. 

 

Here’s our day - 

• The ruins of Ephesus was our first stop in the morning. It’s spectacular, and amazing in that excavation continues today on the site. The path for walking thru the ruins are stone (marble) and can be slippery. Wear sturdy shoes. We also had walking sticks which helped especially for the sometimes uneven paths and getting up/down the steps of the Library of Celsus. There’s not much shade along the way - bring hat and fluids. Definite must visit!

 

• Having expressed an interest in Turkish ceramics, Arzu suggested a stop at The Lotus Garden in nearby town, Selcuk. Çini are traditional, handmade glazed tiles and ceramics made in Turkey and that craftmanship is recognized as a UNESCO CulturalHeritage. The shop has beautiful ceramic pieces, and we did make some purchases. It was a nice stop (including rest rooms and complimentary Turkish coffee and chai tea).

 

• We then headed to the Basilica of St. John which is believed to be the burial site of John the Apostle. Like Ephesus, it’s not only the ruins that are impressive, it’s also the history and beliefs in each and trying to visualize all that as you’re standing in the midst of it all. 

 

• We had lunch at a busy, local restaurant suggested by our guide. The food was very good and plentiful. Unfortunately, I don’t have the name of the restaurant!

 

• We visited the House of the Virgin Mary last on our tour (around mid-afternoon). Our guide had been in contact with other colleagues, and the lines were very long earlier in the day. It was very good timing for us as our wait was minimal. There is only one entry point and one exit point for the House. Once inside, your visit is a very short continuous walk thru the very small building. A small donation is suggested, but in reality when we visited, it was required for entry. The walk thru is about 5 minutes when it’s busy, and visitors are unable to linger in their viewing as it’s a continuous walk thru. The grounds around the House are nice, however, parts of the path leading up to the House has been equipped with amenities for visitors like souvenirs and food shops. The fountains for the water from the spring under the property were open when we were there and visitors can bring and fill bottles with the water. The Wishing Wall was also attached with wishes written by visitors. In visiting, consider the wait time on the lines and the short visit time inside the House. 

 

Closing Thoughts - We weren’t sure what to expect in our visit to Ephesus. The day exceeded our expectations. It was a day of learning, understanding, and appreciation. We visited in early September 2022. The weather was warm but not overbearing when we were there. There were lots of people at Ephesus but tolerable with breathing room. It was full day and we returned to the ship by embarkation time. 

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Our thoughts and prayers with Turkey and all the people impacted by the devastating earthquake.