Fantasia Kusadasi

... in France during the NATO conference in April and these were obviously government security and secret service. Never one to be shy, I left my group and walked right up to a Kalashnikov carrying soldier in full battle gear and asked him what was going on? He gave me the once over and said what sounded like, 'That's the Italian president, Napolitano'. Wow! So I then went up to a secret service guy and asked him. Same answer. I asked which one it was and he pointed ...

... He spoke all through the tour about the extensive history of the place with pride and passion.<br><br>The ruins are buried under layers of earth and this process whereby a thriving community gets lost over centuries by being interred is a mystery to us really. The quality of the stonework at Ephesus mirrored that we had seen in Greece and the expertise of the stone workers astonished us. Also the extent of the complex with its way down to what used to be the Aegean Sea until ...

... couples because apparently we don't look like we have much money to spend on carpets. They were right of course and we were able to slip by the merchants and out into the street. I couldn't find a patch for my backpack so instead of being hassled to buy something, we spent the afternoon on the beach.<br>(Whitney)<br> <br>Ephesus was amazing. Usually, I am not really one for history, but this site was so intact it was easy to imagine ...

... a half pipe that they drop you off about a 90 degree drop I went on it once and did not like it and I also went on one where you have a rubber ring thing and I fell off it and slid all the way down the slide on my **** with the rubber ring on my head not fun!!!!<br><br>We went to pick up our washing that we had taken in the day before and got it all pressed and baged it smelt amazing and cost about a tenner for 2 big bags full. Then we went back to the room to ...

... s and I ended up buyýng a beautýful Turkýsh Carpet from Alý Baba, no pressure actually, but we got caught up wýth the whole ýdea and thought what the hell and now we are the proud owners of a Turkýsh Carpet!! The next dy we ran ýnto Tom and Denýse agaýn at the local market so we strolled around checkýng out the mutant cabbages (ý tell ya they were huuuge) and other local wares, before sayýng goodbye and checkýng out the ru ...

... finally ended, the host held up some pieces of leather and in a loud, angry voice told us that we are not obligated to buy anything and that he was just educating us about Turkish leather in case anyone wanted to purchase a jacket today or some time in the future. After his lecture he welcomed us upstairs to look at their inventory. Everyone gave the coats a quick obligatory "once-over" before racing out the exit door. The prices started at around $400 and ...

... as the parks whých we výsýted have polýce wýth machýne guns gardýng the tulýps. when people try and touch them the polýce come runnýng blowýng on theýr whýstles. the next day we had a turkýsh bath. whých was an ýnterestýng experýence. there was dýfferent sectýons for males and females. the turkýsh bath ýnvolved changýng ýnto a cloth to wrap around you and wearýng paýr of slýpper. ýn the maýn room/hot room,whých ýs called a hararet, there`s a ...

... lots of floating chunks in it). Anyhow, she's real nice, but can't speak a word of english, so it's fun! Tomorrow I'm off on my biggest travel stint to date. I'm heading 3 hours to Pamukkale where I'll spend the day, then board the bus again at 10pm overnight to Goreme.. Anyhow, I've had lot's of time to sit and think about this whole Turkey trip and I'm already cooking up my return trip... it ...

... talked about growing up and other life stuff. We came to the conclusion that I am totally running away from growing up, such a great feeling. We came to the conclusion that she is doing the opposite and wants to get a kick ass job so that she can feel grown up and accomplished something (wonder what that would feel like) + relaxing evening of watching the sunset, listening to bob Marley and doing some reading.

In the ancient ruins of Ephesus, once the largest and most virulent city of the Roman Empire, we encounter a place graced by Alexander, Cleopatra and Antony, countless Roman emperors, one Wonder of the World, John the Evangelist and, if rumors can be believed, the Mother Mary herself.