This past October 2023, we
had the trip of a life-time! Our original plan was a cruise to the Holy Land
but a week before we were scheduled to set sail, war broke out in Israel. Our
hearts were broken for the people; the devastation, death and destruction seemed
unbelievable. We had talked about canceling but decided to continue with the
cruise even though it would be different. Celebrity Cruise Lines added more
stops along the Greek Isles and two stops in Turkey. I’m glad we made the
decision to continue with our journey. We had a great time but our hearts continue
to hurt for those affected by the war.
Here's a little bit of our journey…first stop Athens Greece we stayed and toured here a few days before we board the ship for our official cruise. We did the touristy thing and road the Hop on – Hop off bus but we stayed on for the round trip.
Athens is the capital of Greece. It was also at the heart of Ancient Greece, a powerful civilization and empire. The city is still dominated by 5th-century BC landmarks, including the Acropolis, a hilltop citadel topped with ancient buildings like the colonnaded Parthenon temple.
The next day we had a private tour of Corinth, our guide was somewhat lacking in the “guide” department. He left us on our own at each stop along the way, my husband contacted to tour company and made an official complaint. Our final day in Athens we did a walking tour of the Acropolis and the Temple of Olympian Zeus which wasn’t too far from our hotel.
This is my artistic take on the goddess Artemis.
Now, it was time to say
good-bye to Athens until we returned to board the plane back to the States and
then home.
Next stop will be Santorini.
Cyprus was our 85th country, a cruise stop in the port city of Limassol.
Cyprus is the third-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and has been
influenced by various civilizations, including the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines,
and Ottomans. The island is divided into the Republic of Cyprus in the south,
predominantly Greek, and the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
It is famous for its beautiful beaches, historic sites, and the picturesque
town of Paphos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We hope to return and spend more
time exploring this beautiful island.
Ancient Ephesus city ruins is located in western
Turkey in Selcuk, Izmir Kusadasi is the closest holiday resort to
Ephesus and known as Ephesus port. It is also considered as one of the precious,
ancient sites by its rich history and great cultural background. It is said
that this city of Ephesus was created by Androclos. He is known to be the son
of the king of Athens. The city of Ephesus also attracts people with
religious interest. It is the city where there is the Temple of Artemis. This is the shrine of the
goddess Artemis. Moreover, Christians also visit because it is a place
where Christianity spread. A number of points of interests in Ephesus include
the House of the Virgin Mary, as well as the St. John Basilica.
We toured the ancient city of Ephesus, on the west coast of modern-day Turkey. It is a significant location in early Christian history, as the Apostle Paul wrote the Epistle of the Ephesians, and the city had a substantial role in spreading Christian faith worldwide. It was also a significant center of trade, culture, and learning during its peak from around the 1st century BC to nearly the 3rd century AD. Ephesus is renowned for its well-preserved archaeological ruins, including the iconic Library of Celsus (pictured above), the magnificent Great Theatre, and the Temple of Artemis.
Thank you for stopping by my blog and I hope you’ve enjoyed exploring with me! Until next time “Happy Travels!”
#ephesus #turkey #ancientcity #apostlepaul #ephesians #libraryofcelsus
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