The Cube

I walked to the central Bodrum bus station, got on a bus and returned to main but station. Bus ticket can be paid with credit card, TL5. There were limited option of buses from Bodrum to Selçuk. My ticket departed Bodrum at 5:30pm, and the journey took about 3+ hours, TL120. 

I had lunch but wasn't organise enough to pack dinner or snack. I got a packet of biscuit and one of those cake in a packet from a service station on one of the toilet breaks. I rushed but unfortunately was the last person who walked to the bus. Last person who walked to the bus but not the last one who got on it because all the smokers were standing around the bus and getting their dose of cigarettes. So I wasn't late, maybe they were even hoping I took longer. I thought the conductor would do a round of head count as I saw they were marking on a piece of paper but one of the travellers I met told me that he almost got left behind when he took longer in the bathroom. Luckily his friend was on the bus. 

On arrival in Selçuk, I got my next bus ticket and walked to the hotel that I have made reservation. As I followed the route on Google maps, I felt that I have made a mistake with my choice of accommodation. When I was researching on Selçuk, I read that it was a nice place to walk around but my walk to the hotel were along a highway. I suspect maps must've prompted the Ephesus Archaeological Museum instead of the Ephesus Archaeological Site when I typed direction from Ephesus. Rookie mistake, especially so many of the shops have reference to the word Ephesus. 

From the initial 1km or so walk that I thought I have to make to Ephesus, it turned into 4km. I was told there are buses but I didn't seem to notice any on my walk but maps probably led me on a non bus route trail. 

I had 1.5 days in Selçuk and the only item on my itinerary was Ephesus Ancient City, which I gathered was more than enough. I would probably also have enough time to make a trip to Sirince, which I didn't end up going but were raved by the Australian boys I met later in Çanakkale.

My impression is that Turkish were super friendly. Usually my conversation with strangers stopped at greetings of good morning, but somehow the conversations I had with Turkish went longer. The reason I didn't have enough time to trek to Sirince was the longer than expected conversations I had with the locals, watching them playing backgammon and they tried to teach me unsuccessfully, they offered me tea, and Turkish coffees, dinner and Raki drinks and I tried to repay with some baklavas. This was when I realised when Turkishs buy baklava, they buy a lot! 

Although I didn't make it to Sirince, I did make it to Ephesus. 

Ephesus or Efes as it is known in Turkish is one of the greatest ruined city in the Western world. A Greek city was first built here in about 1000 BC. The city we see today was founded in the 4th century BC by Lysimachu, Alexander the Great's successor. Ephesus became the chief port of the Aegean under the Romans. It was also mentioned that Ephesus attracted Christian settlers, including St John, who supposedly settled here with the Virgin Mary after the death of Jesus and wrote his gospel here. 

I got a combined ticket, TL350 that covers entrance to the archaeological site, terrace houses, museum and Basilica of St. John. The main attraction that I want to go was the Terrace Houses but the ticket came in a bundle, single entry but valid for 72 hours from date of purchase. 

I entered via the Upper Gate (Magnesian Gate), just because the route I took is nearest to this gate. Here are some more notable sights. 

It was impossible to get a shot of the whole of the door without anyone standing in front of it, at least at the time of my visit. Temple of Hadrian was built to honour a visit by Emperor Hadrian in AD 123. The relief marble on the facade portrays mythical gods and goddesses. 

This was a roofed complex so the colour of the photos are more of yellowish hues. In this complex, there are 7 well-preserved Roman homes built on three terraces. Terraced Houses are homes of wealthy locals. It gives oe a glimpse into the everyday lives of ancient Ephesians. 

It was a one-way in and one-way out complex, on existing the area, one get an elevated view of Ephesus. 

 

This fortress is accessible with the same St. John of Basilica ticket, it kind of is within the same compund. Excavations done showed that there were castles on Ayasuluk Hill back in the Neolithic age. 

This post-Seljuk/pre-Ottoman mosque can be found at the southern base of Ayasuluk Hill. Said to be built in 1375. It wasn't open at the time of my visit which was in the morning, and I can't read to understand the sign put up. Photos were taken from outside the gate. 

After leaving the mosque, the plan was to visit the Temple of Artemis and then the Ephesus Museum before leaving Selçuk. The thing I found out about walking in Selçuk was everybody was so friendly that I kept on being stopped in my tracks. 

Someone said hi, I responded by a good morning. He asked if I was going to the Ephesus, I said no, but going to the Temple of Artemis. It went on to him wanting to introduce one of his guest from Australia to me who happened to be having a coffee at the coutyard of his hotel - Casa Kallinos. This then proceeded to him inviting me to have breakfast which I declined as I already had breakfast at the hotel, then he brought me promegranate juice and tea, also gave me a fresh fig to take away as someone had just delivered figs to his hotel. 

I visited this the morning before I left Selçuk, giving a full day to roam around Ephesus. On my walk to Ephesus, one of the locals struck a conversation with me. He told me he was heading to the Temple of Artermis and he sells books for work. At a turning, he went on his way to the Temple of Artermis and I continued to Ephesus. 

The next day, when I arrived at the Temple of Artemis, the very same person came to approach me and said hi. He was selling souvenir books! It also means that I am super recognisable. 

I was told that the spot where this single column is found wasn't the original locatoin for the initial temple. The initial temple was maybe about 500 metres away. I am not sure if this is true as I can't seem to find anything that mentioned this. 

I also made it to the Ephesus Museum, since I have already paid for it. It was an informative museum though I was a little surprise that it was smaller than what I expected. I even backtracked a little to make sure I didn't miss any room. 

One of the reasons why I selected Bodrum over other cities or towns by the Aegean Coast is because of the distance from Greece. This made a great day trip from Bodrum, a ferry ride of about 30 minutes and landed in Kos. 

One of the things I googled when tried to search for this day trip was how early in advance do I need to get the ferry ticket. If you are wondering of the same, I made this trip on 6th October 2022 and walked into Bodrum Feribot a day before and got a return ferry ticket on the spot, TL553. Ferry will depart Bodrum at 9:30am and return at 5:30pm the same day. I was told to be there 30 minutes before departure for customs check. Please remember to bring along your passport, it is an international border after all.

Custom check was fussed free. Once I got on Fahri Kaptan-5 and seated, one of the staffs came over to asked if I have been to Kos. I was handed a 'Discover Kos in a day' booklet on what I can do. I was told to return to passport control by 4:45pm to make the 5:30pm ferry. 

I attempted to do the Kos Downtown for Historical Path which was also included in the booklet. Attempted because a couple of the stops were missed possibly because I couldn't find them or I wasn't sure I was there. 

It was built at the beginning of 14th century A.D. by the Knights of St. John, using material from ancient sites.

Great view of the Government House with its white washed walls. 

Second in the list is 2. Hospitaller House of Count Francesco that I couldn't find. It was built by the Count of Kos and is the only secular building of the Knights period in Kos. Since I couldn't locate the building, I moved on to the third attraction. 

Near to the Castle of Neratzia is this age-old plane tree. According to legend, this was where Hippocrates, the father of medicine, sat under while teaching his students. However, this tree isn't the original tree based on age, but possibly could be a descendent of the original tree. 

Just behind the plane tree of Hippocrates is the Gazi Hassan Pasha Mosque (or the Haggi Hassan). It is said that this mosque boasts one of the most stunning minarets in the Dodecaneses. However, on my visit, the minaret was covered with scaffoldings.