BEEN THERE, DONE THAT!

For the past week I've been thinking about how in the world I am going to describe the feelings of finally visiting the two places I've most wanted to see in the whole world – The Acropolis in Athens, Greece & the ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus near Kusadasi, Turkey. The only word that comes to mind is “WOW!” I know, I know - pretty trite, but true.

I saw them on consecutive days & it rained both days, of course. It was the only rain on the whole trip. We were quite rushed on the Acropolis & a little rushed in Ephesus since we were on guided tours. BUT you know what? I didn’t care because I was there, I saw them both & they were spectacular!

Seeing a picture of something is great. I've seen countless photos of the Parthenon on the Acropolis. But when you actually see the real thing, there is something magical about it. Athens is a huge city but you can see the Parthenon perched atop the hill from all over the city where it dominates the landscape.

The weather report for Athens showed partly cloudy & highs in the 70s, but while we were in the New Acropolis Museum the skies opened up. Our guide assured us the rain would pass soon, but she was wrong. It kept raining. We had brought our umbrellas but left them in the bus while in the museum. Our jackets were in the bus, too. The bus was now about 3 blocks away so I put my camera under my shirt & took off running. The stone walkway was slippery & I immediately decided that I needed to slow down & not fall or I’d never climb the Acropolis. I resembled a drowned rat by the time I made it to the bus.

Armed with our umbrellas & cameras, about half the people on the tour trekked up the Acropolis with the guide, the others remained in the bus. As I climbed over the rubble from the ruins & entered the area of the Parthenon, it kind of took my breath away. There has been so much destruction to the temple over the years yet it is still a regal fortress presiding over the city.

We only had about 20 minutes of free time after the guide's talk. I circled the entire Parthenon taking photos from every angle. The wind was whipping, my umbrella was hard to control, & my hair was dripping. I was holding the umbrella, keeping my camera dry & doing my best to get some good shots between the crowds. But I didn't mind at all – because I was right there, gazing at the Parthenon, the crowning glory of the Acropolis, just like I said I would be back when I was a teenager. Whoa!

I would have liked some more time to just sit & contemplate it all – preferably not in the rain – but that wasn't to be. I chose to make the most of it. The rain, the puddles, the slick footing didn't matter. For about five minutes I just stood & stared at it, not really thinking anything, just taking it all in. I made it! I was standing next to the Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens, Greece! Oddly, it was far less emotional that I had anticipated but far more awe-inspiring.

Me, in front of the Parthenon, looking like something the cat dragged in.

The next day we journeyed to Ephesus where Paul preached & wrote his letter to the Ephesians. Where Antony & Cleopatra traveled down Harbour Way to the Great Theatre & sat among the 24,000 spectators. I literally walked where they walked. The ruins of Ephesus blew me away! It was incredible & actually EXCEEDED my expectations.

Beginning at the top of the hill, your guide describes things as you descend through the city. It gets better & better as you pass through the marketplace, down the Curetes Way, past temple after temple, even the ancient bathroom was amazing. Using the toilet was a social event in the outhouse that could seat about 30 people side by side.

The Library of Celsius has been partially reconstructed around ruins that were uncovered & it is an imposing site. The Great Theatre is near the bottom of the city & it, too, was breathtaking. The first of the ruins of Ephesus were discovered in the late 1800s. The library was unearthed in 1958 & the ancient city opened as a tourist attraction about 30 years ago. Now, upwards of 20 million people a year visit.

I tried to imagine the city in it's hey day, full of people in togas, laughing & drinking. The structures must have been magnificent. It would be incredible to be a fly on the wall & travel back in time to quietly observe their everyday life. But, alas, I had to do my daydreaming with masses of other tourists.

Me, on the Curetes Way in Ephesus, about to visit the Library of Celsius in the distance.

I'm pretty sure I've done a lousy job of trying to convey my thoughts & feelings after visiting these places. They say a picture is worth a thousand words so you might want to check out my “Travels Near & Far” blog: http://www.kat-silver.blogspot.com/ to see a few more photos of what I'm attempting to describe.