A Great Saturday in Ephesus!

 Hello!

Selcuk Saturday market!

RADISHES!

Can you believe how big they are?

Cabbage and cauliflower!

Up this morning around 7:30 am and down to breakfast about 8:30 am.  Not sure why this morning’s breakfast was different but rather than having everything laid out on the sideboard, this time, we had plates of things brought to our table.  We also had some wonderful scrambled eggs – light and fluffy, just like I like them.  We also were able to turn in a bagful of laundry, which (hopefully!) will come back sometime or other before we leave on Monday.  This should allow us to get all the way to England before needing to wash again … but we’ll see!

Our plan for today was to first go to the weekly local market set up in town, and then head to Ephesus.  And, wow, the market was really something!  I have never, ever seen cabbages that huge; they resemble rugby balls!  And the radishes – seriously, most of them were larger than baseballs – unreal!  Can one buy two radishes for the week, one wonders?  (Certainly not like I like to eat them … by the bunch!) 

The problem, though, is that the street workers are back (on a Saturday?) and the mess they are making of the street around us is unreal!  We figured that our only chance was to get the car out before we got blocked in … these folks are real experts in double and triple parking, and we didn’t want that to happen. 

Authentic "copy" purses!

Turkish carpet anyone?

Empty entry road to Ephesus

So, Mourseline (hotel manager) drove the car out of its spot and past the work, where we took over. 

Down into town, and we were able to find an on-street parking place, surprisingly!  We really enjoyed the market – there were literally blocks of food stalls and produce – Robert did check out some bananas, but they were labeled from Ecuador!  Wow, they have definitely come a long way!  From the food stalls, we wandered through the clothing stalls, as people we still setting up.  Then came the household goods (towels, tablecloths and bathmats) and finally the cooking supplies and gadgets.  Being only about 9 am, it was fairly brisk for me, and my ears were freezing.  We decided to go back to the hotel and get my ear muffs.  Up the taken-apart-street again, and R walked up to the hotel to find them.  Unfortunately, they were actually in a bag in the trunk but at least we eventually were able to come up with them. 

Game board carved into the marble street

Me in front of fountain at amphitheatre

Stunning amphitheatre

Archway leading out of amphitheatre

I have most definitely picked up something or other, mostly like Bronchitis.  I don’t think it’s a sinus infection, but I am now coughing occasionally (which makes me sound like I’m dying), but between the sneezes and congestion, it is not pleasant. 

Crane flying over amphitheatre! (RRZ?)

Lower agoura and top of Library of Celsus

Ancient footprint on the main street!

(I’m beginning to look like Rudolph again!)  Thinking of asking Philippa if they have urgent care clinics in her area, as I’m not sure one round of antibiotics is going to get rid of this.

From the market, we headed down the highway the 1 km or so to Ephesus.  The time was about 10:30 am.  Well … there were a total of three tour buses in the parking lot, and we were the third car.  Just deserted!  Most of the shops and stores that line the entryway up to the ticket booth were closed as well, although I guess it doesn’t really make sense to open them, if there are no people to sell things to. 

Library of Celsus!

Another view of Library

Me inside of library

There were some visitors!

We didn’t have the place entirely to ourselves exactly, because we did run into three tour groups of French tourists and another group of Chinese, but we were able to have the amphitheatre, the Library of Celsus and the Odeion to ourselves!  Just incredible!  This is our third visit here and the last time we came, we entered about 4 pm on a it’s-going-to-rain-really-hard afternoon, and most people we leaving as we were coming in.  But this experience was really amazing!

We wandered for several hours, deciding not to see the terraced houses once again, as there were a lot of stairs required, and my little bottom was starting to drag.  Finally were able to get refreshed with water, Coke and Snickers at the official “shop” that – for once on this trip, was really open and had things to sell!  Very nice! 

After that, we decided we’d head into Selcuk to see about some lunch.  Found a place in town called Tat (?). 

Public latrine!

Temple of Hadrian

Temple of Hadrian

Scenic view!

I was definitely looking for spaghetti, my comfort food, and YEAH! They could provide it!  Robert got a “mini-shish” with rice and veggies, which he said was good but thought the lamb had done a lot of walking on the way to market (a bit tough), and then we stopped off at the local market for a Magnum Classic bar for me.  R’s suggestion was that I eat the ice cream in the car … well, not exactly one of his better ideas, as we were almost immediately surrounded by three double-parked cars, all on my street side, which truly, blocked us in while the guys were waiting to use an ATM!  I finally honked the horn, which woke someone up, and he did move his car so we could get out.  Amazing!

Back up towards the hotel, only to find that there was absolutely no place to put the car!  They had the road next to and in front of the hotel covered with paving bricks. 

Stunning mosaic of terraced house

Odeion

Had to back the car up and go back to the bottom of the hill, where we parked … well, at least we’re out of the way now, but hopefully by the time we leave on Monday, we’ll be able to get the suitcases to the car conveniently!  I settled down for a nice nap, and R read his book and kept an eye on the street people … he is very impressed at how quickly some of the pavers are getting back into place, and is wondering if they’ll work tomorrow.  Well, time will tell!

Robert and an Effes beer!

More later!

View from our window!

They are actually pavers!

R's "mini" shish

My spaghetti!

m

xxx