To keep it simple, Turkey is indeed another country. It's pace and mindset is a little different than Greece in that it feels older and a little more aggressive towards tourists. This is not to say it's any less safe or enjoyable, just different. The peddlers in the big market were in full form today and you had to really be insistent that you had no interest in their shop while maintaining your best Southern Gal mentality. I sense that they would become irritated if not being coaxed easily, if you aren't careful.
The coastal area of Kusadasi is the home of the "original fakes" as Turkey produces a lot of the designer clothing and handbags. So when fashion houses send a design over and order say...100,000 "units" the producers here will make 100,000 to send to designers and another 100,000 to sell right here in Ephesus for DIRT cheap. Let's just say we took full advantage of this today whereas in other travels I've completely avoided this designer stuff.
We disembarked and boarded a bus to ancient Ephesus. I wish I could pronounce our oh so beautiful guides name, but for the sake of ease, let's just call him "Marco." For those of you who followed my blog or were actually on tour in Pompeii in Italy, you know about Marco the absolutely dreamy anthropologist guide who led me on two separate tours through Pompeii and had the women (young and old alike) tripping over themselves to be at the front of the line nearest to him. So today, his Greek cousin, who we'll also call "Marco" gave us a really nice guide through Ancient Ephasus. He likened ancient city planning to the human body with the Acropolis (top of the city) being the head and then various buildiungs making their way down the hill until you get to the "Agora" which is the open air market where people would shop as the rest of the body. Of course today, this is an excavation site and I'd like to say that it's as impressive as Pompeii in Italy with a very similar balance of working, residential, public and places of worship that have been unearthed, while it's covering less area of land at this point than Pompeii. They have only excavated since the 1960's and have only uncovered 20% of what they beleive exists. It's an unreal example of advanced engineering and city planning complete with roads, public baths, TOILETS...photos are the only way to explain these and the most impressive is the "bibliotek" or the enormous public library which would have also served as a university for men during this historic time. The archeological society has done an amazing job of recreating the three story facade in all of its intricate detail, as a centerpiece of the walk along the ancient city.
When we left Ancient Ephasus for the modern coastal area where the ships are docked (seven at port today, oy) we were whisked in to a very interesting lesson about how Turkish rugs are made (double knots as opposed to 1 knot and very very slowly) while being served Apple Tea (VERY VERY good) in hopes that one of us would whip out our wallets and buy a $2500+ rug "but this includes shipping right to your front door!" At that price (though worth it due to the craftsmanship), unless mine came with a magic genie who loves kids, dogs and housework, it isn't happening. I did buy some nice apple tea to bring home for $3 euros. Whoo! After the carpets, we proceeded to be bombarded one stall after another, by the gents selling their turkish goods but we made it out with our wits, Southern sensibilities still in tact and some seriously good "original fakes" and various other Turkish delights!
Side note to my cat loving friends: Like any ancient city I've visited, there are inhibitants but they are the four legged fuzzy variety that love to get attention from tourists. I always feel like they know just how well they bring character to an ancient column, stone, archway, etc. and thus we snap pictures of them as if we've never seen a cat. Today's kitties had a pavlovian response to bags rustling because they must know that food comes from these and I am betting they get treats most days of the week.
On another note: France has it's crepes, Italy has it's Gelato's and yes, Greece has it's yogurt but the treat with the common thread are fresh fruit slushies. These come in a wide variety of flavors, dictated by the fruit that's in them and every time we exit a big tour, we all seem to find our slushy vendor just like little kids find the gift shop at the end of the ride at Disneyworld. It's very hot here so these are hitting the spot and they are delicious!
The coastal area of Kusadasi is the home of the "original fakes" as Turkey produces a lot of the designer clothing and handbags. So when fashion houses send a design over and order say...100,000 "units" the producers here will make 100,000 to send to designers and another 100,000 to sell right here in Ephesus for DIRT cheap. Let's just say we took full advantage of this today whereas in other travels I've completely avoided this designer stuff.
We disembarked and boarded a bus to ancient Ephesus. I wish I could pronounce our oh so beautiful guides name, but for the sake of ease, let's just call him "Marco." For those of you who followed my blog or were actually on tour in Pompeii in Italy, you know about Marco the absolutely dreamy anthropologist guide who led me on two separate tours through Pompeii and had the women (young and old alike) tripping over themselves to be at the front of the line nearest to him. So today, his Greek cousin, who we'll also call "Marco" gave us a really nice guide through Ancient Ephasus. He likened ancient city planning to the human body with the Acropolis (top of the city) being the head and then various buildiungs making their way down the hill until you get to the "Agora" which is the open air market where people would shop as the rest of the body. Of course today, this is an excavation site and I'd like to say that it's as impressive as Pompeii in Italy with a very similar balance of working, residential, public and places of worship that have been unearthed, while it's covering less area of land at this point than Pompeii. They have only excavated since the 1960's and have only uncovered 20% of what they beleive exists. It's an unreal example of advanced engineering and city planning complete with roads, public baths, TOILETS...photos are the only way to explain these and the most impressive is the "bibliotek" or the enormous public library which would have also served as a university for men during this historic time. The archeological society has done an amazing job of recreating the three story facade in all of its intricate detail, as a centerpiece of the walk along the ancient city.
When we left Ancient Ephasus for the modern coastal area where the ships are docked (seven at port today, oy) we were whisked in to a very interesting lesson about how Turkish rugs are made (double knots as opposed to 1 knot and very very slowly) while being served Apple Tea (VERY VERY good) in hopes that one of us would whip out our wallets and buy a $2500+ rug "but this includes shipping right to your front door!" At that price (though worth it due to the craftsmanship), unless mine came with a magic genie who loves kids, dogs and housework, it isn't happening. I did buy some nice apple tea to bring home for $3 euros. Whoo! After the carpets, we proceeded to be bombarded one stall after another, by the gents selling their turkish goods but we made it out with our wits, Southern sensibilities still in tact and some seriously good "original fakes" and various other Turkish delights!
Side note to my cat loving friends: Like any ancient city I've visited, there are inhibitants but they are the four legged fuzzy variety that love to get attention from tourists. I always feel like they know just how well they bring character to an ancient column, stone, archway, etc. and thus we snap pictures of them as if we've never seen a cat. Today's kitties had a pavlovian response to bags rustling because they must know that food comes from these and I am betting they get treats most days of the week.
On another note: France has it's crepes, Italy has it's Gelato's and yes, Greece has it's yogurt but the treat with the common thread are fresh fruit slushies. These come in a wide variety of flavors, dictated by the fruit that's in them and every time we exit a big tour, we all seem to find our slushy vendor just like little kids find the gift shop at the end of the ride at Disneyworld. It's very hot here so these are hitting the spot and they are delicious!
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