Day 21 - Canakkale to Kusadasi

 26 April 2023

We spent quite a bit of time in the bus today, travelling from Ҫanakkale down to Kuşadasi, a marina and cruise ship terminal city on Aegean Sea. At our lunch stop we got to sample lamb head soup – but (surprise, surprise) most of us decided to order a version of either donor kebabs or pizza. The pizza’s came with a large whole chilli as garnishing. We are very lucky to have Levent guide us with the menu choices.

Our first ‘tourist’ stop was at The Asklepion (Healing Centre) in Pergamon. This has been described as something between a sanctuary and a spa resort. Only people who could be cured were treated here, as they didn’t want to have a bad reputation. People who were very sick were turned away. This is the oldest health centre still in existence. The ruins that we were looking at were built by the Romans in the 2^nd century BC, and I was so surprised that we were able to just wander all over them, with nothing fenced off. The site was very large and even included a theatre. Psychiatric patients were treated here and there is a tunnel that was used as part of a hypnosis process. The tunnel had (and still does) running water, the sound of which fills the tunnel. There are holes in the roof along the tunnel, and the patients would be talked to via these holes. To them it would have felt like God was speaking to them. The spring still runs and tasted fine – we are hoping that the water has rejuvenating properties.

Photos from Asklepion. There were poppies everywhere. It was a special place to visit.

After more driving through countryside that varied from large cities and towns, to flat farmland, salt ponds, high hills with castle ruins on them and water views, all while travelling on very impressively modern and free flowing motorways, we arrived at Ephesus and the House of Virgin Mary. This was apparently the house where Mary spent the final years of her life. The house is not original from the time of Mary but is apparently built on the same foundations. The area around the house is very serene with forest and songbirds. St John was tasked with her protection after the crucifixion, and his tomb is at Ephesus (which we will visit tomorrow – so more then). Along with some accounts from the first century there is a rather compelling case for this to be her last dwelling place.

Some photos from our drive today. The bottom photo shows the cardboard cop cars that are found on the sides of the road, most with flashing lights. Top right is the House of Virgin Mary. Middle right photo is of our hotel view - awesome! Did you notice the horse and cart in the top left photo? Horse and carts were also seen travelling on the motorways, along with tractors, including one tractor reversing with a trailer on the wrong side of the road.

Tonight we are staying at Kuşadasi directly overlooking the Aegean Sea, with views out over the marina. How lucky are we?! Dinner tonight is at a local seafood restaurant.