----- Ephesus, Turkey ---------------

I arrived in Izmir, Turkey or modern day Smyrna. The city is large and mainly industrial. There was not much to see in this city, but an hour's drive south of Izmir leads to one of the best preserved ruins in the world, Ancient Ephesus. Ancient Ephesus was home to one of the 7 Wonders of the ancient world, the Temple of Artemis. Ephesus was a city dedicated to Artemis, but was home to the first century Christians. Obviously this would cause some tensions in the city due to such contrasting beliefs among the inhabitants.

Ephesus is located in a beautiful spot along a mountain ridge overlooking a fertile plain below. The city's large amphitheatre had great views looking out into the valley. The ruins were amazing, and I was surprised how well preserved this city was. Although the site was swarmed by tourists and finding good camera shots without people in them was extremely difficult, I must say that my visit to the ancient city was well worth it.

Turkish girl in traditional garb	Beautiful rugged mountains	Fertile plains of Turkey
Pillars w/ mountain backdrop	Small uphill amphitheatre	The large amphitheatre
Where the Apostle Paul preached	Relief work of Artemis	Ruins behind the bushes
Massive crowds visiting Ephesus	More ruins in the distance	Best preserved struture in Ephesus