Ephesus

After two years in the Levant, we have seen a lot of ruins. It takes more than a 2000 year old stadium or a Byzantine mosaic to get us excited.

Ephesus (or Efes - also name of local beer) is Turkey's best preserved (or restored) Roman city. Here is Dan in front of the library's facade.

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Ephesus had a colonnaded street like other Roman cities we have visited (see photos of Jerash, Beit Sheyan)

But what we actually liked best was the renovation work they are doing on Byzantine houses. The houses are on the side of a hill and they have built a shelter and protective walkways so you are walking over the houses and can see the frescos and mosaic and marble floors.

A friend served in Turkey and said this was a must see (especially knowing that we had seen other Roman ruins). Without that recommendation we would not have gone in because it cost another $10 (or so) on top of the $15 it already cost to get into Ephesus but was one of the coolest things we say on the trip. Under the shelter you could see active restoration projects as they pieces marble wall decorations back together.