Today was GREAT! I am again sitting on the couch looking straight out our window at the dock only this time the view is of Ephesus, Turkey. I didn’t think to take a picture of the view yesterday; I was just taking it all in.
Today’s tour was not to see ruins, although there were plenty of opportunities, but to see the rural side of Turkey. Again it was an early start. This tour was appropriately named “Taste of Turkey”. We started our bus tour to the small village of Sirince. Mike had always said that he wanted to come back to Turkey some day and after just a few miles I was already hooked and can see us coming back again someday. Our tour guide was very personable and the countryside was absolutely stunning.
Off the bus we walked down the hill on a stone road to a small street with shops. The kids immediately noticed all the cats.
The tour guide then took us up a steep hill to a church that was being renovated with support from a Church in Ohio.
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| View from the Church |
Just outside the church was a glass blower making jewelry, mostly eyes. We first learned in Greece about the blue eye and how it wards off evil spirits and brings good luck. When we first boarded the bus we were given a gift of spices and a pin with a blue eye bead. Samantha purchased matching eye necklaces for her and a friend and then we headed back down the steep path. It was raining so the steps were slick but we all got down without incident.
Back in the market we purchased more special gifts and then headed back to the bus. This was the first time I had any desire to actually shop.
The kids were driving Mike crazy chasing after all the cats. Their argument was that shop owner told them that they weren’t strays (which was how we prevented them from touching the animals in Athens and Sicily).
A tractor ride was offered back up the hill where the bus dropped us off which the kids took advantage of while Mike and I preferred to walk. At the top of the hill we went into a restaurant for wine tasting. We (including the kids) sampled blackberry, pomegranate and blueberry Wine. Blackberry was the winner for Mike and I while the kids preferred the pomegranate.
Back on the bus we drove through the country side to the visit Isabey Mosque. Built in 1375, it is one of the oldest and most impressive works of architecture remaining from the Anatolian times. It is identified as being one of the oldest mosques in Turkey. The four columns inside were taken from the ruins of the Temple of Artemis (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; three times larger than Parthenon).
Leaving the Mosque we passed the site of the Temple of Artemis where only one lone column remains.
After another scenic bus ride we stopped at a rug shop. While stops at stores while on an excursion are to be expected, I genuinely enjoyed this one. We were shown how the rugs are made then given a presentation on the different kinds of rugs. Then of course we were allotted the opportunity to purchase rugs.
While absolutely gorgeous, we passed and waited back on the bus for the others. Finally we were taken to a local restaurant and served various traditional dishes. I was proud of the kids for trying most of it.
The drive back was beautiful but I was sad that we could only spend one day here. The cost of living is low and as we passed our tour guide’s apartment complex with ocean view, he told us how much he paid in rent. While I can’t remember the exact figure it was only a few hundred dollars and the shock of the passengers on the bus was audible.
Back on the ship I asked the kids to take a nap. They were out in just minutes. Mike’s employer was kind enough to provide him with international cell phone coverage so he could stay on top of things at work. Fortunately he keeps it in the cabin while we are out during the day. He lay down on the bed to check his e-mail and he too was out in just minutes.
As I watch the shore in the distance as we pull away from the port, I am relaxed and pleased that I had the opportunity to enjoy the day in the Turkish countryside. Now I must wake up my sleeping family so that we can make it to dinner on time.
