Luxury

We have returned safely to the Old City portion of Istanbul. 

Due to a minor Administrative error (not naming any names, but she is my wife) we have to stay one night (tonight) in a different hotel.  No problem.  We scored an upgrade to a suite!  We have a patio with a view so good we can see from Europe to Asia.  By contrast, the rooms we have had so far have been so small that a nightstand could only one side of the bed.  (Fortunately, at both prior hotels, the nightstand has been on MY side of the bed.)  Our current suite has 2 nightstands and they do not even touch the walls!

Ephesus

We have been going pretty hard so far, so getting upgraded to a suite is perfect timing.  We are over jetlag had intended on making tomorrow an alarm-clock-free morning even before we knew about the suite.  Now it’s even better.

Today went “according to plan.”  We woke early, had a big free breakfast on the roof patio at our hotel and took the free shuttle to Ephesus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephesus).   It was comical/ominous how many tour buses there were outside; quite a bit different than the places yesterday.  Despite the crowds, we spent several interesting hours crawling in around the ruins and visiting the museum.

Like yesterday, the understanding that Ephesus brings to me is the enormity of time.  How many generations have walked this earth.  How many people have contributed to what we have now.  It is amazing.

Interior of a house at Ephesus

At Ephesus, they are reconstructing eight houses which were destroyed in a major earthquake around 400 AD-ish.  There are 120,000 fragments of wall tiles, floor tiles and ceiling stuff that needs to be put back together.  There is enough done already to be able to see what life was like back then.  The plumbing is startling: running water, toilets and steam-heating in the walls.  They painted pretty good too.

Locals & Tourists at Şirince

After Ephesus, we were looking for reprieve from the tour buses, so we headed for the hills to the quaint city of Şirince.  Well, it’s quaint, but we were horrified to see a tour bus careening down the narrow two-way/ one-lane access road.  Yup: they were there too.  I guess Şirince has been “discovered” by the big-box tour industry.  Oh well.  Having said all that, it was really enjoyable walking.  We were able to find a local restaurant with a great view across the valley and was wonderfully quiet … for about 30 minutes at which time a yellow umbrella wielding tour guide marched his wards into the restaurant and occupied every seat in the place.  The charming sizzle and smells wafting from the kitchen were the cooks feverishly preparing to feed an army.  The oddest moment was when we overheard (it was not hard) the person sitting behind me say that she was from San Ramon.  Wow.  Small world.  We spoke.

Selçuk

The rest of the day was spent ambling around Selçuk, driving back to Izmir and flying to Istanbul.  We had a video call with Jennifer this evening, which was really nice.  She seems happy.