Ephesus

Today we had an optional tour of the ruins of Ephesus, which was a seaport city, mainly taken over by the Romans, but all sorts of different types of invaders had occupied the city from 1000 BC! Most of the ruins were examples of a busy roman city, with an amazing ampitheatre for gladiators (think Spartacus!) with main streets, library, whorehouses, toilets, gymnasium etc. What was impressive was the engineering feats of some of these buidings! the ampitheatre sat 25,000 and each seat had a little hole in the front. You bought a stone token with a number on it, and then you had to find it by counting the rows up and seats across! just like today! On the way back we called in at Mary's house, which was (they think) the place where St. John took the Virgin Mary to, after jesus died, to keep her safe from the Romans. then he wrote his gospel at a nearby castle. This little cottage has been visited by at least 3 popes (they had left presents like rosary beads) and good Catholics come for pilgrimages to pray there. I was impressed by the care the local Muslims have taken of it - tho app. she is mentioned at least 7 times in the Koran, so they worship her too! funny world! they have a wishing wall, you put something on it and make a wish - so I did!