Thursday, January 30, 2014

Hold the Presses!

For:  Turkish Times Herald Tribune, 36 POINT, Bold Caps 

Man and Woman from US Nabbed in the Act at Ephesus

Remember Ephesus from my blog a few days ago?  It’s where Paul the Apostle of Jesus was headquartered as he tried to spread the Word in 60 A.D. or so. It was the home of those Ephesians, as in Paul's Letter (Epistle) to the Ephesians.  It’s where the council of 431 A.D. decided on things like the godliness of the Virgin Mary.  It’s where both Mary and John the Evangelist are said to be buried.  It’s where the “tomb of Luke” (you know, the Luke of Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John) sits behind the parking lot and Cop Sis and souvenirs sellers.  It’s where we got caught in the wrong place at the wrong time by the authorities today.

Last night we decided that if the weather was good we would return to Ephesus after a good night’s sleep at Homeros guesthouse in Selcuk.  The ancient city of Ephesus is no more than 5 minutes by car from our guesthouse.  Sandy wanted to get in some pen and ink drawing time and I wanted time to roam, to photograph, and to explore the nooks and crannies of Ephesus.

We arrived at the north entrance by 9:00 AM, purchased our tickets, said no to the guys trying to sell us guidebooks and audio guides (after all, we were here just a few days ago and we must we know this place well enough to give the tour ourselves – ha), and proceeded on our merry way down the road traveled by many for thousands of years.

Here are some nooks and crannies.

Sandy spotted a place that suited her fancy.  She sat herself upon her down jacket on a plinth like a true goddess and began her work.  I wandered off, saying I would meet up with her at an indeterminate time somewhere between her current pedestal and the Library of Celsus.  Being hardened and experienced veteran travelers (one previous day) of the streets of Ephesus, we both knew where that was, of course.  You can’t miss it, it’s the big tall building at the end of the road.  It’s lit up like a billboard by the morning sun.

Ephesus is filled with miracles!  Two hours later we actually did reconnect as planned.  I had poked my nose into every little space I could and Sandy had explored one little space in the detail of a drawing.

Then, while I examined the huge Celsus Library building from every possible angle, Sandy produced another fine drawing.

Following this, she found yet another spot to draw near the amphitheater (seating up to 30,000 folks) where, legend has it, Paul was shouted down by the crowds for two straight hours, and I informed Sandy that I was going to try to get to the old harbor (now swamp), the ancient road to which was cordoned off from where we stood.

I took a road (muddy dirt path) less traveled and got to the harbor with only one wet foot.  

On the way, I passed the gymnasium, a building sticking up from the ground and toppled in all directions.  It was fascinating and there were no barriers or cordoned off areas that I had to negotiate to get there.  What a perfect spot, and nobody in sight.  I was also at the far end of the marble paved, column lined ancient road that was blocked at its origin.  How could this be?  I had to tell Sandy about this.

Unlikely as it might seem, Sandy and I met up at again with no problem.  I told her of my adventure at and near the harbor.  She said, “me too, let’s go”.

We did.

But this time we got caught by the “secretary” of something-or-other (he showed us his ID), but not before we had made a thorough inspection of the (off limits) gymnasium complex and the (off limits) far end of the marble paved, column lined ancient road.  What a treat, and we did not land in jail.  Our punishment was a leisurely stroll up the road to the back side of the cordon, all the time looking at and photographing the amphitheater in front of us in the distance and the things along the way that most other tourists did not get to see. 

But, we probably won’t make the headlines of the Turkish Times, or even the front page.