I know I say this every day, but WOW...what an amazing day.
I was nervous about the whole thing. On Monday I decided spur of the moment to have my guide Guzin fix me up through her sister's travel agency for this all day adventure. She sent me the electronic tickets, but when the front desk printed them, they came out with each line on a separate page. The hotel could not get a boarding pass last night, either, AND the shuttle bus was closed down due to protests.
So, I hopped in a taksi (that's how it is spelled here) for a 30 minute ride this morning, and got to the airport an hour before my flight. Then it got complicated, as I could not get a boarding pass in the kiosk either. Long story short, it took a lot of blank stares, pleading questions and sign language for me to get on that plane.
As soon as I emerged on the other end into arrivals at Izmir airport (after a one hour flight) I saw a sign with my name on it. RELIEF. My very friendly driver was from the Canary Islands, spoke English very well, and so we chatted through the one hour transport.
Our tour group consisted of four people from Bombay, India; a couple from Perth, Australia; and a single gal from Toronto, Canada. The eight of us later sat around a table for a leisurely lunch - fascinating. The family from Bombay spoke English well.
Ephesus. What can I say? Two plus hours of walking through the excavated ruins, and listening to the guide recite history. I did not even know which way to turn to take a photo. The one here is The Library of Celcus. (110 AD)
Next: Virgin Mary's House. Fascinating.
And then to a Cini pottery making shop. We watched a man hand throw the famous local cini clay (which has a large percentage of quartz so it is very durable), watched women hand paint the fired pieces and then were completely mesmerized at the rooms full of colorful finished pieces. Stunning.
Next, the van drove to a carpet making shoppe. We held silk worm cocoons, and saw how when they are soaked and brushed the silk can be spun. We watched women hand weaving rugs from hand dyed silk thread, and others from hand dyed wool. Those silk weavings contain 169 knots in each square CENTIMETER. c.r.a.z.y.
We were served tea and wine, and then the carpet show began. They must have thrown two dozen down in front of us (quite a performance), each one more gorgeous than the last. If I had a few extra thousand, I'd have bought one. Watching what these women painstakingly do, the carpets truly are worth the money. Sadly it is a dying art because, like so much art, no one can afford to pay a price that reflects the time invested. Both of these artistic stops, each lasting about an hour, were an added bonus and completely fascinating.
Must scoot. Photos soon. Perhaps I will go to an internet cafe in the morning. In the afternoon I am going to Ayasofya Hurrem Hamami for a traditional Turkish Bath. There are many Hamams in Istanbul, and all over Turkey, but Guzin said this one is the ultimate in pampering. It is SO great to have inside information! Since this may be the only Turkish Bath of my life, I'm taking her recommendation.
Ciao for now. Good night!
PS I absolutely love Turkey. Can you tell?
Hi Grace:
ReplyDeleteI continue to be in awe of you! You are soooo courageous! I probably would have taken the fact that the tickets would not print correctly as a sign to not venture so far away. I get nervous just reading your posts but also very excited. Continue to keep us posted. I'm loving every nugget of your adventure. And you know Sister, that you are lovingly covered in prayer. Blessings xoxoxo
Simply stunning, Grace. Can't wait to see more photos. Was it true what I said about the carpet show! The sales show is as much an art as the carpets themselves.
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