In 1998 I came to Türkiye with two friends. After spending a few days in Istanbul, we rented a car and drove around the coastline. One of the most memorable places was Ephesus. While I’ve been to many ruins, few give the same feeling of entering into a living, breathing city where you can easily imagine the lives of the people.
Naturally, I had to take a tour of Ephesus. today But I also remembered that there was a LOT of walking involved, so I opted for the “less walking” tour. It turned out to be a great choice. The guide was knowledgeable and spoke at a level that people unfamiliar with Roman customs could follow and those with some background got more in-depth information.
The site remains stunning. I would happily go back a third or fourth time. Especially now that Ephesus is open at night and lit up. That, I’m certain, would add a new dimension to seeing the ruins. They also hold performances in the theaters—opera, dance, musicals and drama.
I asked the guide how much of the site had been excavated—“twenty percent” he told me. Archeologists believe there are other large structures that have yet to be discovered. That surprised me. I would have thought that with modern technology it would be possible to locate “buried treasures,” but apparently not. In addition to the overall look and feel of Ephesus, the details are remarkably well preserved.
After walking through the lower portion of the site, we reboarded the bus and drove to the top for a scenic overview. Then it was on to the Ephesus Museum to see artifacts from the site. Though small, the collection is impressive. The artistry from thousands of years ago is exquisite.
I could have spent more time at the museum, but modern Kusadasi called—especially to some avid shoppers on the tour. We were taken to the “Grand Bazaar” and, surprise, surprise, taken to a carpet showroom. For the tourists who’d never seen a Turkish salesman in action this was a novelty. For me, it was a well-choreographed and rehearsed performance. It was one of the best I’ve seen—classy, top-quality merchandise and smooth patter.
I escaped without buying anything, though I was tempted by a ring until I heard the starting price. There was no way we would ever get to an amount I’d be willing to pay. I strolled around the port, then had enough of “just look,” “top quality,” “beautiful lady,” and so on. Walking back to the ship was like evading a gauntlet of shopkeepers.