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| Library at Ephesus |
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| Denise and the Greek Goddess Nike |
Ephesus @Kusadasi, Turkey
Well back to Turkey for one more time. Arrived at 8am in the busy port of Kusadasi, hopped on a pre-arranged tour ( extra) and took off with our guide jan (pronounced John whichmade life easy) to Ephesus. We were group 10 so its big business, although I didnt realise how big until we toured the site with 11,000 people a day craming into the ruins.
Ephesus was an ancient Greek then Roman port town which silted up then was finally destroyed by an earthquake and covered up by landslides from the surrounding hills. Frozen in time until found in 1850something. Wonderful mosaics, freizes and extremely sophisticated fresh water and sewerage system, which is more than I can say about Christchurch at the moment. It was the 2nd largest city in the Roman Empire if not the world so thats saying something. Our man John was verry passionate about his baby, and I was impressed until we ended up at a very good friends carpet shop. John didnt make much commission out of our lot unfortunately.
Back at the ship we had an early dinner then we were again transported out to Ephesus to a very special 'Seabourn Event'. The set up was magical, a lit covered passageway led to our seating, young nymphs providing appetisers along the way. The Athenian theme continued with the seating as well, white linen draped over comfortable chairs. The event itself consisted of a chamber group playing some classical pieces at the site as the evening fell. Unfortunately thats not all that fell, and we all ended up getting a little damp, the musicians and their instruments even more so as the sun umbrellas erected for the occasion proved woefully inadequate. The music was fabulous, although played perhaps a little faster than would normally be the case. As luck would have it the drizzle stopped as soon as the concert finished.
MYKONOS.
Another overnight journey, arriving in Mykonos Port at 8am. Bit of a rough crossing we coped OK. Classic Island with freshly painted white houses slapped up hard against each other and everything else. Postcard perfect with the blue trim, although I did see some brown window frames etc which seemed to flout the local building code for "the Greek Island look'. Even the streets had white paint around the cobblestones.
Right then off for a look around, taking the bus into the Car Park then walk into town. No one touting for business which was great. One gets the feeling these traders know the tourists will buy as the season progresses so they are cruising for now. Nice actually as you have time to look at things (sorry GK &L nothing for you here), for us anyway the touts are definitely counter productive.
Very windy here now but there was a photo of the town and its windmills to be taken. Keeping an eye on the sun to determine direction in the maze of streets, we found our way to the fabled windmills, hence to a hilltop where I took a few photos and a dodgy (nearly fell off) video from a precarious vantage point. Why the best places require life and limb to be risked I dont know.
Down again, missing town completely somehow, and ending up at our bus about to depart back to the ship. Back on board we had an enrichment course (no not double chocolate criossants) on Alexander the Great & Rhodes.He was pretty good really as it puts some flesh on the bare bones of antiquity.
Now for a meal at The Restaurant. Highlight of the day really. I had prepared previously by buying a reasonable shirt (genuine fake YSL, or is it fake genuine?) in one of the markets. Denise had carried some nice clothes to use on such an occasion, so off we went. Fabulous food and attentive service, Denise was taken by the arm and personally escorted to her seat. No such luck for me but everything else was just grand.
The evening concert was a bonnie scottish lassie who could play the violin rather well and sing superbly. Dannie Boy and Loch Lomond were two I can recall. We had meet her prior, she had been flown out from Glasgow for a week on board to do 2 concerts. Nice work if you can get it.
Well back to Turkey for one more time. Arrived at 8am in the busy port of Kusadasi, hopped on a pre-arranged tour ( extra) and took off with our guide jan (pronounced John whichmade life easy) to Ephesus. We were group 10 so its big business, although I didnt realise how big until we toured the site with 11,000 people a day craming into the ruins.
Ephesus was an ancient Greek then Roman port town which silted up then was finally destroyed by an earthquake and covered up by landslides from the surrounding hills. Frozen in time until found in 1850something. Wonderful mosaics, freizes and extremely sophisticated fresh water and sewerage system, which is more than I can say about Christchurch at the moment. It was the 2nd largest city in the Roman Empire if not the world so thats saying something. Our man John was verry passionate about his baby, and I was impressed until we ended up at a very good friends carpet shop. John didnt make much commission out of our lot unfortunately.
Back at the ship we had an early dinner then we were again transported out to Ephesus to a very special 'Seabourn Event'. The set up was magical, a lit covered passageway led to our seating, young nymphs providing appetisers along the way. The Athenian theme continued with the seating as well, white linen draped over comfortable chairs. The event itself consisted of a chamber group playing some classical pieces at the site as the evening fell. Unfortunately thats not all that fell, and we all ended up getting a little damp, the musicians and their instruments even more so as the sun umbrellas erected for the occasion proved woefully inadequate. The music was fabulous, although played perhaps a little faster than would normally be the case. As luck would have it the drizzle stopped as soon as the concert finished.
MYKONOS.
Another overnight journey, arriving in Mykonos Port at 8am. Bit of a rough crossing we coped OK. Classic Island with freshly painted white houses slapped up hard against each other and everything else. Postcard perfect with the blue trim, although I did see some brown window frames etc which seemed to flout the local building code for "the Greek Island look'. Even the streets had white paint around the cobblestones.
Right then off for a look around, taking the bus into the Car Park then walk into town. No one touting for business which was great. One gets the feeling these traders know the tourists will buy as the season progresses so they are cruising for now. Nice actually as you have time to look at things (sorry GK &L nothing for you here), for us anyway the touts are definitely counter productive.
Very windy here now but there was a photo of the town and its windmills to be taken. Keeping an eye on the sun to determine direction in the maze of streets, we found our way to the fabled windmills, hence to a hilltop where I took a few photos and a dodgy (nearly fell off) video from a precarious vantage point. Why the best places require life and limb to be risked I dont know.
Down again, missing town completely somehow, and ending up at our bus about to depart back to the ship. Back on board we had an enrichment course (no not double chocolate criossants) on Alexander the Great & Rhodes.He was pretty good really as it puts some flesh on the bare bones of antiquity.
Now for a meal at The Restaurant. Highlight of the day really. I had prepared previously by buying a reasonable shirt (genuine fake YSL, or is it fake genuine?) in one of the markets. Denise had carried some nice clothes to use on such an occasion, so off we went. Fabulous food and attentive service, Denise was taken by the arm and personally escorted to her seat. No such luck for me but everything else was just grand.
The evening concert was a bonnie scottish lassie who could play the violin rather well and sing superbly. Dannie Boy and Loch Lomond were two I can recall. We had meet her prior, she had been flown out from Glasgow for a week on board to do 2 concerts. Nice work if you can get it.
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Crusader in Rhodes Shop. Zippo was his name ,short for St John of Zippodopopulous |
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