5000kms to Ephesus.

Finally we've clocked up 5000kms of riding and it took 14 countries to achieve. 

Today was a rest day and like usual it usually involved running around and checking out historical sites.  Today was no different to many others.  After breakfast we caught a taxi out to see the House of The Virgin Mary, high up in the mountains above Ephesus. Now there is an enormous amount of history surrounding the house and how St John and Mary lived in the house and eventaully died in the region of Selcuk/Ephesus.

The brief history is that St John the Apostle brought Mother Mary with him to Ephesus where she remained in her house on Nightingale Mountain until her death.  On the 26th July 1967 Pope Paul VI visited the house of the Virgin Mary.  He led the Liturgy and gave a bronze candle holder as a gift. On the 30th November 1979 Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass and declared the House of the Virgin Mary as a place of worship. On the 29th November 2006 Pope Benedict XVI visited the House of the Virgin Mary and celebrated Mass.

Today there was so many people waiting to get into the Virgin Mary's house we decided to go the back way and jump the queue.  I saw a priest who I introduced myself to and found out his name was father Ezio who came from Italy.  He had lived in South Africa for 10 years and Ethiopia for about 5.  We had a good chat about Italy and of our cycling journey through eastern Europe. There was a security guy checking on people coming in the wrong way, but with a wink and a nod from father Ezio, we were in line and about 5 metres to the entrance to the house.  Unfortunately we couldn't take any photos, but it didn't matter, I was walking through history and loved every minute of it.

The photo above is myself and father Ezio out the front of the Virgin Mary's home.

It was time to roll back down the hill and check out the site that was bigger than the Parthenon in Athens. We were travelling back down the mountain to visited the Ephesus Archaeological Site. It would be impossible to go through the history of this site, and cover all the amazing features this place has to offer.  From the walkways, to the harbour to a huge amphitheater that could seat over 25,000 people. This place even had a house of ill repute.  How cool is that? 

The above photo is of the library of Celsus.  To stand in front of this monument is just breathtaking. Now for a brief history of this site that should be placed on your list of places to see before leaving planet earth.
Ephesus was an ancient Greek city, and later a major Roman city, on the coast of Ionia, near present-day Selcuk, Izmir Province, Turkey. It was one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League during the Classical Greek era. In the Roman period Ephesus had a population of 33,600 to 56,000 people, making it the third largest city of Roman Asia Minor after Sardis and Alexandria Troas.


The city was famed for the Temple of Artemis (completed around 550 BC), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In 268 AD, the Temple was destroyed or damaged in a raid by the Goths It may have been rebuilt or repaired but this is uncertain, as its later history is not clear Emperor Constantine I rebuilt much of the city and erected new public baths. Following the Edict of Thessalonica from emperor  Theodosius I, what remained of the temple was destroyed in 401 AD by a mob led by St. John Chrysostom.

The town was partially destroyed by an earthquake in 614 AD. The city's importance as a commercial center declined as the harbor was slowly silted up by the Cayster River. Ephesus was one of the seven churches of Asia that are cited in the  Book of Revelation. The Gospel of John may have been written here.The city was the site of several 5th-century Christian Councils, It is also the site of a large gladiators graveyard.

It took us about 3 hours to walk around the entire complex with our trusted audio guide in our ears.  I should say the having Len with us was a huge help to us.  If you want to know more about the site, I suggest you go to google.

The photo below is of Peter and I sitting on the steps of the Great Theatre which seats over 25,000 people.  We are giving the 5000km sign. 

After walking around the complex it was time to go into town and see the carpet man.  The photo below is the guy that sold Peter and Len a beautiful carpet.  And Yes I didn't buy one.  Before you say what a tight ass, Graciella had recently bought one for the house.  That saved me a bundle of money. 

After buying a carpet we went and visited the sacred site where it is believed that St John was buried.  I took some photos but I think I've said enough for one. day.

Tomorrow we're riding to Kusadasi for a coffee and cake at the seaside.  Then coming back to do some work on the route north which commences on Thursday. 

Until tomorrow, safe riding.