TRAVEL AND LIFESTYLE DIARIES

So here is the rundown on Ephesus. We explored the archaeological site for more than an hour but we stayed at the ruins for approximately 2 hours so you can safely say that you need about 2 hours there unless you are a historian and an ancient art freak, then you can better stay there for a whole day. It is also very hot, so it’s not really a good place to be staying out that long on the ruins site. Of course there are trees to take shelter from the heat but do you really want that? I bet no. You can find my Ephesus posts below: Ephesus Part 1: Throwback to my Christian past and an Intro to the Ephesus story Ephesus Part 2: The Library's Secret, the Bath and Latrine Culture, and the Grand Theater Back in the bus, Nec, our amiable tour guide told us that we will be stopping over for lunch nearby. Lunch will be Turkish Food of course. So what do I know about Turkish Food? Well, I know the Turks love tomatoes, cucumber and aubergines. And oh, kebabs as well and lots of tea ...

Don’t worry, this is not going to be as heavy as the Ephesus Part 1 post! Hehe. In fact, I will share with you some insider stories that I learned from our good-humoured tour guide, Nec. He was a very cool character of a gentle-old-man. Below are some of the noticeable and popular parts of the Ephesus Ruins that you should not miss when you visit this place. Many of them are hard to miss anyway, but not the insider stories, unless you have someone like Nec as a guide. The holes on Curetes Street The Curetes Street is the most dramatic street in the Ephesus Archaeological Ruins. The street starts from the Hercules Gate sloping down to the Celsus Library. This street used to have many shops, galleries and what have you during the ancient times. Berry and I noticed that the road has many holes, like everywhere. We wondered if these holes were already present during the time. So we asked Nec for confirmation. Nec lighted up, his eyes gleaming with excitement that we are intereste...

You do not really have to be in a group tour to go to Ephesus but that all depends on where you are coming from and staying. Since I am holidaying in Samos, Greece I opted to take the tour which will take care of my boat (read here: Boat trip Samos to Kusadasi: Turkey Immigration took my passport! ), the dock fee, the transfer bus, Ephesus entrance fee and the tour guide. It’s just a day trip, it’s not like I am staying in Turkey for a few days. I’d rather spend a little than put myself in a hassle that I will later regret. I have a Dutchman waiting for me back in Samos Island that is expecting me for dinner. For the total package I paid 95 Euros. The package does not include lunch, drinks and other incidentals. Berry and I went with Meander Travel on the English bus, and this is our tour guide called Nec. He reminds me of my cute tour guide in Mexico when I went to the Tulum Ruins. Nec is definitely taller though. Have a look here: Tulum Ruins and our little Panda Bear tour...