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The transient nature of greatness is rarely
as clearly displayed as it is in Ephesus, a city
once renowned throughout the Classical world as
a major trading port, a metropolis of some 250,000
inhabitants and a religious and cultural center.
It was also the home of one of the Seven Wonders
of the Ancient World, the |
monumental
Temple of Artemis, known as Diana to the Romans. |
Ephesus holds an important place in the history of
the early Christian Church as it is here that St. Paul
preached and it was to the Ephesians that he addressed
some of his memorable epistles. Some 400 years after
St. Paul’s visits a great Ecumenical Council assembled
here to hold heated theological arguments and lay down
the law on important points of Christian doctrine. Nearby,
nestled on a mountain, is a tiny chapel built on the
spot where, according to tradition, stood the last home
of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. It is now a place of pilgrimage
and, you may be surprised to find, many Moslems
Adding another exotic port of call to your holiday in
Bodrum is easy: take a side trip to Rhodes, the largest
of the islands of the Greek Dodecanese archipelago,
the traditional site of the Colossus of Rhodes, one
of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and, in the
Middle Ages, the seat of the Order of the Knights of
St. John. The opulence of the restored palace of the
Grand Master may belie the vow of poverty required of
each knight upon entering the Order but makes it well-worth
a visit.
Today Rhodes is a popular tourist destination with many
attractions, particularly its reputation as the place
where fur coats for the ladies are “a good buy”.
The Old Town, the Valley of Butterflies and the picturesque
whitewashed little town of Lindos on the southeastern
coast are just a few of interesting tourist destinations
on the island. In summer months Rhodes hosts many events
of the performing arts, a treat if you happen to be
there at the right time.
A visit to our neighbors on the island of Cos will surely
add another dimension to your holiday, the Greek dimension.
From antiquity to the end of the Ottoman Empire there
were often close ties between Cos and Bodrum brought
about by geographic proximity and, at times, life under
the same government. Today each reflects many aspects
of the shared Mediterranean culture, but it’s
the differences that mostly interest the visitor.
In addition to being able to taste Greek national drinks
like ouzo, retsina and Metaxa brandy, the tourist can
take advantage of interesting shopping opportunities,
especially native Greek handicrafts. Also, strange as
it may seem when you consider the sunny climate, Cos
is the place to shop for umbrellas, not sun umbrellas
mind you, but those that shield you from rain.
The architecture of Cos bears many marks of the Italian
rule of the island between the two World Wars, but of
greater interest are the traces of antiquity. Did you
know, for example, that the Hippocratic Oath sworn by
physicians to this very day is attributed to the great
Hippocrates who, according to tradition, taught students
of the medical sciences under a plane tree on Cos?
The Blue Cruise, a yacht voyage of one or two
weeks enjoying and exploring the southern coast
of Turkey, originated in Bodrum, first in the
Gulf of Gokova and later broadening to include
more distant shores. Groups of friends, usually
writers, painters and others interested in nature
and history, hired fishing boats to spend some
days in unspoilt coves and explore sites of ancient
cities best accessible by sea. The Mini Blue Cruise
retraces some of these early voyages at a quicker
pace, allowing even an otherwise-busy holidaymaker
a taste such an experience. Gokova means a “Plain
in the Sky”, the name calling to mind the
myriad hues of blue reflected in the waves and
wavelets of the sea. |
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Gokova means a “Plain in the Sky”, the
name calling to mind the myriad hues of blue reflected
in the waves and wavelets of the sea. These effects
are particularly striking around the beach of an isle
popularly known as Cleopatra’s Island, one of
a group identified on nautical charts as Sehir (City)
or Sedir (Cedar) Islands, ancient Cedreae. According
to local lore sand was brought from the shores of Egypt
in Cleopatra’s galleys and deposited here so that
this extravagant queen could cavort comfortably on the
beach with her newest lover, Mark Anthony. True or not,
the fable adds mystery and spice to a visit to this
beautiful island.
No matter what route is taken, or which of the many
possible stops are included in your Mini Blue Cruise,
riding the waves of the “Plain in the Sky”
will be a highlight of your holiday.
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