A Day in Ephesus

Today, I will tell you about a day I spent in Ephesus. We were going on a school-organized tour, which was optional. First, I took the bus to school. Then, shortly after arriving at school, my friends and I boarded the bus for the trip. The journey took about an hour. Meanwhile, our guide provided information about our destination, and our teachers handed out food to eat on the bus.

Our first stop was the House of the Virgin Mary, which was decided on suddenly. There were many Christians present. I was very excited to see so many different people and to meet individuals of various races and religions. Candles were lit throughout the House of the Virgin Mary and outside as well. We had to wait in a long line to enter. At that point, our guide shared information, saying that a nun had a dream about the Virgin Mary, and this rumour spread widely, prompting many people, especially Christians, to visit this place. There are articles discussing this event, and they have been translated into many languages, from Spanish to English and Chinese to Arabic. Excursions are typically organized by tour guides.

Now, let’s move on to the main point: visiting Ephesus. This site is regarded as a place where people lived in the past. Both old and new stories are shared. We took many photos there. Since this was an ancient city, there are houses of some wealthy residents and bazaars opposite those houses. At the entrance of Ephesus, there are ice cream stands, cold drink vendors, ethnic clothing shops, jewellery stores, and various goods. My friends and I bought ice cream there, and it was delicious. Overall, I must say that Ephesus is a truly beautiful place, and I recommend everyone visit because it is filled with diverse people, cultures, and beliefs. Ephesus has a universal appeal.

Everyone was very hungry after visiting Ephesus, so the driver recommended a meatball restaurant. My friend and I couldn’t eat because we were full, but we had the opportunity to sit and rest. Then, we went to Şirince since we had time. This village attracts many tourists. We bought natural soap from there; I chose the one with pomegranate. Then we got on the bus and went back to school. When I got home, I was very tired, but it was nice to have been there.

Azra ACAR