Ephesis, Leather & Silk Carpets - Yvonne et al

After meeting our guide Yassir, we drove through Kasadasi to Ephesis. Our first stop was the Virgin Mary's house up in the hills. 

Virgin Mary's Final Home

It consisted of 3 rooms, lots of stone, and an altar. It was very small, about 500 sq. ft.

Our next stop was the city of Ephesis. What a wonder to behold!
It used to be a very important port city and the sea was right there. The sea has since receded and dry land remains but the ruins have been excavated and through studying the ruins, Roman days can be brought to life.

The Streets of Ancient Ephesis. (Above)

After Ephesis, we went to have lunch in a Turkish Carpet school. Of course, after lunch, we were given a tour and were shown how the carpets were made. 

The extraction of the threads from the cocoon of the silk worms was most interesting.
The silk threads in a carpet are made from 1200 strands of silk. Very, very strong. 

The cocoons are soaked to free the fine filaments of silk. (Above)

 We were then shown many beautiful carpets.  (Below) Lucie and Gerry Resisted the Carpet Salesman and his many assistants.

I 'm sure they were hoping we'd buy some but no. Our minds were on leather!
So off to the leather factory. The salesmen swarmed us!
But Joyce bought one there.

Back to the ship for sailing. On the way, in

shops near the ship Yvonne found THE leather coat for her.

and we all bought some little turkish purses.  

Bruce at the ship.