Wonderful Ephesus

On this occasion we are going to relax in Izmir - we have not yet seen anywhere in Turkey we did not like. It is a wonderful holiday destination. So we are not going to Ephesus this time but on a previous cruise, it was an absolute highlight. I know this is going to sound contradictory. We enjoyed ourselves enormously and will return; just not this time when we have carefully scheduled rest into a busy three weeks.
The point of this post is to give some tips to our friends. Ephesus is magnificent. The classical tourbus approach takes you to the highest point so that in walking through the extensive site, you gradually descend to be met at a lower exit point. There is a great deal to absorb and you feel that one visit however fastidiously conducted is not really enough. Our guide was excellent. Without one you would certainly need an audioguide.

It is a physically demanding site which does not easily accommodate the disabled. It is certainly not unsafe but you should wear sturdy footwear and watch your step throughout as the surfaces are consistently uneven. It is also, for all its size, a crowded site because of its popularity.
You can, if you pause, allow your mind to drift back to the heyday of remarkable Ephesus. A good place to do this is about half way through the descent and facing the sea. Today the site is many kilometres inland; in its day Ephesus was a port! This really brings home to you the passage of time. For those interested in genuinely ancient history, Ephesus is a must. For those interested in a beautiful country with wonderful and western-friendly people, Turkey is an excellent destination.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephesus