Hays Travelogue

Most tourists travel to Selçuk to see Ephesus, but we had been there on our trip to Turkey in 2003. This time, we wanted to see some other sights. We arrived in the afternoon and checked in at the Rebetika Hotel, almost across the street from the Isa Bey Mosque on Ayasoluk Hill. Our room was big, clean, and comfortable with a nice balcony. The owners were friendly, helpful, and patient with our Turkish. Here are four things we enjoyed in and near Selçuk during the afternoon.

Sirince

Sirince, a small town a few kilometers away, is famous for its fruit wines. There is a nice market area with typical textiles, olive oil soaps, olive oils, olives, and wines. We had a good lunch in the garden of a nice restaurant amid pomegranate and quince trees.

Basilica of St John

According to legend, St John accompanied Mary to Ephesus, and it is there that he wrote the gospel. The story goes on to say that he died, or maybe just fell asleep, on this hill and that his grave is here in the Basilica, now in ruins.

Efes Museum

The Efes Museum is small and inexpensive, but lovely. It contains items from houses, fountains, and temples at Ephesus including this cult statue of Artemis.

Isa Bey Mosque

This 14th century mosque next to the Basilica of St John is worth a visit. These tombstones (below) are in the courtyard.

Following the recommendation of our hotelier, we ate dinner at the Amazon Cafe Bistro, just down the street from the mosque and our hotel. They specialize in traditional Turkish food with ingredients collected from the mountains. We tried a selection of cold appetizers and then Shepherd’s Delight, a mix of sauteed meat and vegetables served on a brazier. You can play chess or backgammon and then relax with a good dinner, jazz on the sound system, and warmth from the pot belly stove.

Tags:   Basilica of St John · Efes Museum · Isa Bey Mosque · Selçuk · Sirince · TurkeyNo Comments