Ephesus at Kusadasi, Turkey - Ancient Ruins & Turkish Delight

A stopover in Kusadasi, Turkey during our 22 day Mediterranean Cruise (2015) visiting 18 ports in 6 countries provided an opportunity to discover some of the oldest ruins recorded and indulge in the sweetest of treats - Turkish Delight.

Kusadasi in a very popular port with cruise ships docked alongside each other as their guests explore this interesting and delicious port.

Ataturk's letter to ANZAC mothers is very emotional, moving

and on display at the Port for all to read

Hiring a car we headed out to locate a local Turkish Delight factory

So many flavours

The rest of our day was dedicated to exploring the remarkable ruins at Ephesus assisted by an effective self guided tour using a headset and hand held guidance system.

Ephesus may ultimately derive from Hittite an ancient Greek city on the coast of Ionia, 3 kms southwest of present-day Selcuk in Izmir Province, Turkey. It was built in the 10th century BC on the site of the former Arzawan capital by Attic and Ioninan Greek colonists. During the Classical Greek era it was one of the 12 cities of the Ionian League. The city flourished after it came under the control of the Roman Republic in 129 BC.

The city was famed for the nearby Temple of Artemis completed around 550 BC, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.  Among many other monumental buildings are the Library of Celsus and a theatre capable of holding 25,000 spectators.

Ephesus was one of the 7 churches of Asia cited in the Book of Revelation. The Gospel of St John may have been written here. 

Stone carving of the Goddess Nike

The city was destroyed by the Goths in 263, and although rebuilt, the city's importance as a commercial centre declined as the harbour was slowly silted up by the Kucukmenderes River. It was partially destroyed by an earthquake in AD 614.

The Library of Celsus

The ruins of Ephesus are a favourite international and local tourist attraction, partly owing to their easy access from Adnan Menderes Airport or from the cruise ship port of Kusadasi some 30 km to the South.

Fresh local produce stalls

However we're in search of authentic leather goods

Clearly we managed to locate hand bags plus leather coats.  Getting home with all this shopping is going to be a team effort .... as we later discovered.