30/4 St Johns Basilica

In Selcuk (was Ephasus)

Bit of a disturbed sleep.  I seem to have gotten a cold. Phoebe provided a nasal spray, a strepsil and a couple of panadol. A slow start to the day.

E-signed my tax.

Walked up the road to St Johns Basilica.

A basilica is a church that has special importance for worship or history, while a cathedral is the seat of a bishop.

John is the John who wrote John's Gospel, the books John 1,2 & 3 and revelation was buried here.  He apparently protected Mary and had her living in a house on a nearby hill.  The Basilica was built by the Emperor Junstinian in the 6th century that 500AD +   

https://muze.gov.tr/muze-detay?sectionId=STJ01&distId=STJ

Constructed 6th century. ie AD500+

Bizintine emperor.

On the site where John is believed to be buried. Died at the age of 98.

1304 Selcuk Turks converted to mosque. 

1402 mongols destroyed

Mid 20th century Austrian archaeologists began restoration.

They have done some restoration work.  Enough to make it a Tourist draw card.  (Pardon my sarcasm)

And boy do they come

There's lovely feeling of connection and relaxation traveling with someone you love and who loves you.

I think the cold was beginning to drain me.  It was a beautiful sunny day so laid down in the sun and rested.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were about 30 Catholic priests from Austria having a retreat.  When we arrived they were sitting in this amphitheater having a worship service.  Then they dispersed for private reflection, prayer and study.  

Then we walked up to the fort at the top of the hill.
The fort was built to protect the Basilica.

The view is awe inspiring

This is another cistern for water storage.  Water storage cisterns seems to be a feature of Turkey.

 

 

29 Sirence

We took the mini bus to Sirince. 

It's another tourist engine.  Sunday market on steroids. Steep narrow cobblestone streets.  Two churches.  Stalls and shops selling ice cream, bling, wine and food. 

On the bus,  met a fellow Chris from Tasmania. He's a poet and has interests in world affairs,  history and agritec. 

 

 

A good lesson in negotiating - Keep the deal simple.
We went to a little back street bar / bottle shop.

We wanted two glasses of red wine so that was what we asked for. The fellow offered a wine tasting. So far so good.

Then he wanted to sell us a bottle. Then it progresses to the price for the bottle TRY1000. That's AU$50. And a glass is TRY400. AU$20. So two glasses are close to the price of a bottle.

Too complicated and felt expensive. So we walked out.

Now if he'd done nothing, he'd have sold us two glasses and put TRY800 in his pocket.

We might complain about the cost when it came to paying but with no reference point it would not be deep or long.

 

 

 

 

 

Lunch - Shared a toasted sandwich.

We strolled around the town and made it past the tourist focused bit.

This is such a typical picture.  Cobblestones, 2 story houses, looking ancient but with satellite TV.

The whole place is a market.  An engine fed with tourist dollars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 CHURCH # 1

 

Chatting again with Chris

 CHURCH 2

 

 A power point?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 After the second church we had tea at this stylish little coffee shop.  Followed by yet another example of Turkish hospitality.  When we were 50 yards down the path an old lady sitting nearby called out to us.  We turned and she pointed and here was the coffee shop lady running after us with my hat in her hands.

 

 

 

 

19 Ephasis

Started the day with a breakfast of bread,  cheese, various spreads.  A dish of scrambled egg and tomato etc arrived. Several cups of black coffee. 

Walked around town. Phoebe bought a recorder.  Found the museum. More heads on stands and headless bodies.  A couple of overerly endowed fellows complemented those who've had theirs knocked off. 

Mini bus to Sirince.  TRY50pp AU$2.50

Walked around. Two churches. 

Mini bus back. 

The road is very very steep and windy.  As in many sharp corners.

Back in Ephasis and now the focus is on locating the toilet. Done. 

Coffee at the hipster joint. 

 

 

 

Stone heads and headless statues are a feature of all museums.

Modeled on Frank at a party

Zeus

I don't think Google translate has a good grasp of ancient Greek (or whatever)

Fruit of the loin.

The woman with many boobs shows up a lot.  Need to research why.