... and the Shrine to Mary, the mother of Jesus

We left Patmos, returned to the boat and took off for Ephesus. As we traveled along, we approached a spot where we could see both Greece and Turkey, one country on either side of the ship. We realized we were about to enter Asia - without a passport! We had submitted them to the port authorities in Athens - and they would not be returned til we entered the port once again in Athens. Yikes!

When we disembarked, we again met our local guide, this time a muslim woman, as Turkey is a muslim country.

First stop on the way to the excavated Ephesus was the alledged home of Mary, the mother of Jesus. This was an important site for muslims as well as Christians, for they believe if barren women will come here and be prayed for, they will most likely get pregnant. There were many muslims visiting the shrine when we were there.

The hole is where believers were baptised during Mary's time at the house. It is also used as a cistern. No pictures were

allowed inside the house.

Many visitors were there the day we began our tour of Ephesus here at the shrine for Mary. It also was the only time we saw automatic machine guns on our trip; a soldier stationed near the parking lot brandished one sternly.

There are two unique stops after one leaves the house. One is a place where spigots can be turned on and believers can receive holy water; a pope had visited and blessed the water which will flow out of the pipes.

The other is a wall of prayer requests - prayers are printed on napkins or any other paper at hand and then put into the crevices of the wall - much like the wailing wall in Jerusalem, I expect.

Last day - Patmos

We arose and left the ship early, before light, to take a launch to the island of Patmos, where the Apostle John was exiled and wrote The Revelation.

We met our local guide and boarded a coach for the ride up to the whitewashed church and place that has been the traditional site of John's cave. The place on the rock where he is to have laid his head to pray and the notch where he was to have put his hand to stand, were both lined in silver.

There was a service going on when we arrived - several men were gathered in a circle, chanting in the area outside the small room in which the priest stood praying and preparing for the service. The songs were moving and inspirational. No pictures were allowed, so we bought cards from vendors as we walked down the hill to the parking area. The sun was coming up as we exited the church - glorious!

The Island of Rhodes - October 18

Rhodes - In Acts 21, we read that the apostle Paul made his way to this very island Rhodes after his visit to Samos and Miletus when he was informed of the state of affairs in Ephesus by his envoys.  We also read of his being on Rhodes in 2nd Corinthians and Romans.

The harbor of Rhodes was once guarded by one of the wonders of the ancient world, the Colossus of Rhodes - but now stags have taken his place, on pillars on either side of the entrance of the harbor.

 Picture of the Colossus of Rhodes at the Colossus Beach Resort.   

The old fortified city was built by the Knights of St. John,  has changed little since medieval days; this beautiful city was revealed to us on a walking tour.   Carefully preserved, the road had been torn up 

to take care of water problems in the last few years and the rocks were meticulusly washed and replaced when the work was completed.  

             

The plan of the city looks like an amphitheater.

Scenes from inside the fortified city:

  

     

Nancy alongside a former well.

                                                            The crest at the French embassy.     

       

After a too-short time in Rhodes city, we boarded a coach with our guide and headed south, to the seaside city of Lindos.  On the way, we learned much of this island.  The history stretches back to the 11th century BC and in the 5th century BC, merchants and sailors built one of the first cities.  Rhodes is the capitol of a group of twelve islands and it's the largest of these islands.  Rhodes is the 4th largest of all Greek islands.  The ppulation is 120,000 with half of the population found in the city of Rhodes.  In the months of July and August, this is the destination of 100,000 tourists.  Tourism is the main industry.  Rhodes is named for the rose - the pomegranate flower.  Also, it was named after snakes - the island of the snakes.  Deer were imported - odor out of deer horns repels snakes!  Also - some trivia - tequila is made from the century plant that is seen over this arid island!  

The island gained international prominence from the presence of Anthony Quinn and the film, The Guns of Navaronne which was filmed in Rhodes.

As we made our way south, we passed a golf course filled with scattered olive trees!  (how would you like to play in such a setting, Matt?)

 

 On our way to Lindos, we given the treat of watching a potter at work ( his activity brought to mind passage in Jeremiah 18 about the potter and the clay ) at the Bonis Pottery factory.   Many beautiful pieces were bought by our group after seeing the hand carved and painted plates in various stages of creation.  The patriarch of the pottery family developed the special glazing on terra cotta which is this factory's signature style.

The seaside town of Lindos was a shopper's paradise!  Nancy and Marty decided against trekking up the acropolis here and instead headed for the market.  For those who wanted to go to the highest point in the city, donkeys were available! 

  We bargained (yeah!) our way to wonderful gifts for the family at home here and in Rhodes city.  (Getting the hang of it)  

Mosaics galore over this little town 

and beautiful alleyways and vistas!    

Lunch was at the  Louis Colossos Beach resort owned by the same company as our cruise line, and being at the beach gave us an up

close and personal look at the beautiful clear water in the Agean Sea.  

We had our lunch on an open porch and enjoyed typical Greek fare.  The warm day drew all of us to the beach, wading, collecting rocks and eager to stay much longer than time allowed!  Also gave us a vivid opportunity to see how sun bathing differs between Greek women and American women!!!

        

Regretfully leaving this wonderful beach, we loaded up and headed back to the city of Rhodes and last minute wandering the old city and market before boarding the ship.  

On to the isles; MYKONOS - Friday October 17

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ELIZABETH!!!  

                         5 YEARS OLD TODAY!

We left our Athens hotel at 9 Friday morning via coach and headed to the port of Piraeus, the largest in Greece.  After arrival, we were walked through the boarding regulations, got our ID pass and got settled in our cabins.  

Then we went exploring and found Kay, Ann, Jane, Louis and Melissa having a cuppa up top by the pool, then participated in the safety exercises with our life preservers, etc.  

The Aquamarine is a smaller, older cruise ship, formerly of the Royal Carribean Line.  Our stateroom is simple, but ample; two porthole windows are a plus!   Lunch with Penny and Bob.

Our group had a session with John in which he helped us get a grasp of a timeline from the neolithic age 5,000 - 3,ooo BC to the Herodian age 90BC.  He meshed Greece's timeline into that of Bible timeline which was very helpful in developing a framework of understanding of what happened when, and the influence of the major characters in this country.

Wayne, Connie and Melissa take notes (l)

          

We disembarked at Mykonos - probably one of the most typical Greek islands - early that evening after sailing from Athens for several hours, where we were met by our guide for a walking tour of Chora, the island's capitol.  The beauty of the island - whitewashed houses (twice yearly) against the blue of the sky and water - attracts thousands of tourists annually.  

Curiously, there were no 2nd story entry from the interior of the house.  Thus each house had stairs up to the entry on the outside of the house - usually colorfully painted.  Riots of colorful bougainvillea vines covered much of the buildings.

As we walked along listening to the story of this island, we began to hear band music and down one alleyway to find a band practice underway.  The sound of middle schoolers tackling band music!

Mid-way in the tour, we stopped at the Marco Polo Greek Taverna for the brave of our group to a taste of the country's noted ( or notorious ) Ouzo!   

Later in the evening, we hiked up a hill to get a photo of the much-photographed windmills of Mykolos.

 Then, as we made our way back down to the Tourlos Bay harbor, and back to the ship, we spied the famous pelican that can often be seen strolling around the area - Petros.  This bird is definitely one of the largest pelicans I have ever seen!

Truly, this is a real bird!