Cruise excursions - Ephesus, Istanbul, Dubrovnik...

David here...(co-pilot of the blog...under strict instruction to stop watching X-Men, in Italian!)

As Chris has outlined, our "MSC Magnifica" cruise offered different excursions at each port...quite a variety in fact, given 3000 passengers & many language groups...most instructions/announcements given in Spanish, German, English, French,  & of course Italian! Several Cruise staff spoke all these languages fluently!

First 2 ports were Bari (SE coast of Italy) & then Katakolon (Peleponese coast, Greece). We stayed on board, relaxing & resting after the busy tour of Spain, Portugal, Morocco. Of interest in Bari would have been the visit to Sassi, where Mel Gibson's "The Passion" was filmed. In Katakolon the feature was a visit to Olympia (very popular) but we had spent time there in 2002, so saved our money & enjoyed a less populated ship for the day.


Ephesus road toward the Library (facade)
where St Paul frequented! Stunning!



Our first tour was to Ephesus, from the Turkish port of Izmir. We had no idea how large this continuing excavation was.....truly amazing. We were walking on Roman roads where Christians, including St Paul would have walked, buildings they occupied, public toilets they s--t on(!) 

One of my worst nightmares (Chris) of being
on the toilet in public!!! Obviously not a
problem in Ephesus!

At first viewing the area off the road was simply "more ruins"...ancient & interesting, but it was when we walked in further & around corner...down hill...that the remarkable expanse of this excavation opened up. Significant remains of temples, statues, inscriptions, marble everywhere, including marble roads of the "classy" suburbs, merchants' areas, the magnificant facade of the Library, brothels, wells & water pipes, pre christian Roman walls & cemetaries, faint but visible fescoes, tiled areas & a huge Roman sport/gymnasium stadium (where in recent years major concerts have been held...Chris deBurgh, Enrique Ingelsias etc...) Money raisers?

This was unlike most ancient sites we have visited in that we were able to walk among the ruins, touch, sit, even explore a little.....there was a distinct lack of restriction (surprising given the historical significance). Our guide explained that there is still much more to be excavated under the hills, including 100's of noble homes they have identified. We gathered it was a trade off between publicising/getting people in, financing the extensive work (various international Universities involved) and protecting antiquities. We sensed this dilemma in our guide who was both passionate about our future generations experiencing the magnificence of Ephesus & disturbed by the lack of respect some tourists display.

Mary's house!

We also visited (& entered) the home of Mary, mother of Christ, in the hills high above Ephesus. This small, humble, very simple, 3 roomed home is where the apostle John is supposed to have taken Mary to live out her life. This is a major Catholic pilgrimage site, as you can imagine.....fascinating!

On to Istanbul, which we were really looking forward to and where we decided to take the most expensive, but extensive tour, given we were only there for a day. Early start, The Blue Mosque, (very significant in the Islamic world & this secular Muslim nation) then Hagia Sophia (first built by Constantine, 360AD as Christian Church ..destroyed...rebuilt 6th century-1500 yrs ago!.. magnificent... then taken over by Turks at the fall of Constantinople 1453 & used as a mosque... still beautiful & in remarkable condition, well restored, although clearly "labelled" with huge strategically placed Muslim disks around the base of the huge magnificently decorated dome. Now a museum... although I couldn't help but pray in this place of enormous Christian & religious history!

Blue Mosque..so named because of it's blue tiles inside!

Turkish Carpet & jewellery wholesaler....Leather jacket for David....The Bazaar....New suitcase for Chris!....(Whoo hoo - Chris!)

Turkish Banquet for lunch at one of the beautifully restored Royal Palaces on the banks of the Bospherus...

The Blue Mosque's blue tiles, which are "priceless" as the
technology has been lost to make these.

Ferry ride across the Bospherus to the Topkapi Palace....palacial home & headquarters for the many Sultans of the 400 yr long Ottoman Empire...walled palaces, mosques...harems... treasuries (immense wealth, priceless gems & ancient artifacts of great beauty), beautiful archetecture...gardens, views over the Bospherus.... all now museum & open to public. What a day!!

Final port before returning to Venice....Dobrovnik (Croatia)!





 

The marble of the Hagia Sofia...
which has been cut and
becomes a mirror image.
Quiz - howis the marble cut!
There might be a prize!!



Dubrovnik..what a wonderful city!

The final tour of our cruise was in the Croatian port of Dubrovnik on the Dalmatian coast. We knew very little about Dubrovnik except for a bit we had heard of the war back in 1991 with the Serbs. We were taken to the old walled city by bus- a little way from the port. Now we understand why it has been called the "Pearl of the Adriatic".

The guide our group had was "Jack". He was excellent. He spoke of the past glories of this very sophisticated city republic. Founded in 7th century, major Mediterranean sea power from 13th century on, significant destruction during huge earthquake of 1667, and then the war of 1991!! Now a UNESCO World Heritage listed site, this late medieval walled city includes wonderful history- several monasteries, (one includes the oldest running pharmacy in Europe!) ancient churches, a complex water system which brings water underground from a distant river, beautiful old buildings, streets& lanes, and almost all the buildings still bear scars from the Serbian bombardments of 1991-95.

There is even a 30+cm hole in the very thick stone wall of the Franciscan monastery, caused by a Serbian armor piercing missile during one shelling episode in this siege. Both the hole & the damage on the opposite wall have been left by the Franciscans as a reminder of this awful chapter in their recent history-& Gods protection. We could easily see the high hills above the city (often up through the tiny lane-ways) from where the Serbs bombarded the city. A sobering picture.

Our guide Jack served in the "army" to defend Dubrovnik for 3 years-at first with just his own shotgun! We quickly sensed his deep sadness, grief & brokenness as he spoke of this "unfortunate war" & the difficulties of recovery for this beautiful city.

As Jack farewelled us he blessed us and we him, as we pray for the recovering folk of Dubrovnik. Chris & I are keen to return to this "Pearl of the Adriatic" on the Dalmatian coast.


Inside the Hagia Sofia...Cathedral cum Mosque
...cum museum. Christian frescoes alongside
Muslim symbols. Fascinating!



Queen Farouk in the Palace having lunch over looking
the Bospherous! Luxury!!!!!



Topkapi Palace! Huge!