Meryemana (The Virgin Mary's House) Ephesus

The Virgin Mary's House
After leaving the ruins of Ephesus, I decided that I had enough energy left in me to visit the "house of the Virgin Mary". I started back through the parking lot. I asked around and found out that I could walk it if I wanted to. It was about 8 miles away. I decided that I would just walk after finding out that the taxi's wanted 60 Lira and they don't even turn on the meter. They are making a fortune because they know that most people after walking all around the ruins of Ephesus will just pay the money and go. I thought to myself that they're not getting more of my money today and I began walking. Well I walked about 60 feet and said, NOT> I turned around and went and made a deal with a cabby. How about 50 Lira for 40 minutes. He agreed and we were off. I am so glad that I did because the walk up would have just done me in. I found out later that it was 8 miles up an extremely steep, windy and twisty road. There were a lot of tour buses along the way. As we were approaching, I noticed off to the right side of the road, a very large bronze statue of the Virgin Mary with her arms outstretched. I told the cabbie that on the way back I wanted to stop and have my picture taken with her. Upon approach again there were lots of vendors hawking their wares. Since I only had 40 minutes, I hurried along the path and up the few steps and into Mary's house. From the outside it does not look like much. There is a sign that say, "This is a holy and sacred site, please dress appropriately. I through the door and found a seat right by the door where I noticed that a nun was in attendance though she looked like she didn't like her job very much. She had this scowl looking demeanor about her. I sat there looking around at the candles and the alter and all of a sudden I started bawling like a baby. I was praying and thanking her for bearing my savior. I sat there immobile. I looked up and lo and behold there was a group of people who came in. I noticed right away a couple of young girls. I saw that what they were wearing and something like a hurt-animal sound came up out of my throat. I could not believe my eyes. Evidently they had not read the sign because they had on Hoochie-Mama shorts. I mean you could see all kind of bottoms hanging out. They acted like they didn't care. I noticed that the nun had these scarves that she was passing out and she didn't give them one. I continued to stare in disbelief. When I h ad the presence of mind to gather my wits about me they had already left. I got up and gathered my candles. I went outside the little house and light my candles and placed them in the metal trough. I had read that there was a tree that Mary used to sit under that had become a sort of memorial with all kinds of tokens of thanks-giving to her. I did not find the tree. I then walked along the pathway and down a few steps. I turned the corner and then saw the most amazing wall. I am not sure of how long it is but it seemed to go on forever. There is a ledge just opposite the wall where you can sit and reflect. I had bought all the way from Seattle Washington some read ribbon and a string of tiny white beads (which looked like pearls) that I wanted to put on the wall. Red for the blood of Christ and Pearls because I wanted her to have some pearls. After I fashioned my note to her and wrap them up I went to the wall and placed them on a blue piece of fabric and had my picture taken. I only had a few moments before meeting my ride back. I did want to stop and get a few trinkets for my grand-daughter but they wanted Euros and I only had Lira. I was miffed. (In turkey they use 3 different kinds of money. USA, LIRA and Euros. What kind of system is that I ask you? I found out that they get more Liras for the Euro that they turn into the banks. Go figure. Needless to say I left without purchasing anything and met up with my cabby and off we headed back down the hill. I saw the bronze statue of Mary and he remembered to pull over. I gave him my camera and he took my picture. A few moments later I watched from the back seat as a man herded his goats our over the street to a pasture. The cabby was so nice that he even took me all the way back to the bus station which was really nice because by now I was really tired. I look at those pictures often and think back to that place and time and am so glad I was able to make that trip.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TravelPod member and not of TravelPod.com.