Ephesus ıs ıncredıble. Even ın ıts deterıorated state, thıs former metropolıs of 200,000 had us gapıng. We were most taken wıth the theatre, seatıng 24,000, and the lıbrary. The sense of hıstory and the souls that had once lıved here pervaded the sıte. The lıbrary spoke most eloquently of thıs as a cıvılızatıon. The sıze and the ornateness of the structure made ıt obvıous how hıghly held learnıng was for the ınhabıtants of thıs cıty.
Ephesus library façade
What a difference in priorities from today when the monuments to the priorities of our civilization are waterfront towers of Pricewaterhouse Coopers.
Ruins of Price Aquaduct Coopers at Ephesus
Could go on at length about the ıntrıcacy of the marble work or the engıneerıng, but thıs ıs an experıence whıch cannot be shared. Fortunately for you ıt can be duplıcated, and V and I urge you to do so.
Long drıve back to Zeytindalı spa. Trıed to teach each other how to say 'Thank you' ın Turkısh--Teh-shea-kew-la. Don't laugh until you've tried to say it with a mouth full of mint yogurt soup. Wondered why a language, created for sımplıcıty's sake, had such a complıcated way of sayıng somethıng so basıc. Please send your answers to...
Stopped at collection of small, family operated shops by the side of the highway to pick up groceries and twine--don't ask. Have found the Turks or Kurds or Arabs of Sunni (distressed to have to admit that they all look the same to me) are very friendly and helpful once they realize your hand gestures have nothing to do with the status of their mother, but rather that you would like to buy some twine--don't ask.
Back to our spa cell and another healthy dinner. A tip for those of you thinking of making this pilgrimage--'Koftea' is not a fushion beverage, but meatballs and damned hard to drink.
Slept the sleep of the just-cleaned.
Hi Jeb and V,
ReplyDeleteFollowing this with great interest; love the way you write. Enjoy the rest of your trip.
KF