"My trip to Anatolia": first day experience with Medes Tour Travel

I recently came back from a press tour in Anatolia, organized by Medes Tour Travel. A beautiful experience that I have decided to storytell, fragmenting it within 4 days of my stay in Turkey. I discovered a beautiful country, rich  in cultural contrasts, full of charm and opportunities for economic development.

I was staying in a small friendly hotel called Hotel Nicea in Selcuk, located in a strategic position in order to visit the towns of Sirince, Ephesus, Pamukkahle and Kusadasi the following few days.

I woke up early in the morning and left the hotel to reach Sirince, a small town perched on the mountains, which is reached in about one hour via a curvy road. The scenery along the climb to the village of Sirince is idyllic. Silvery green olive trees everywhere and  orange spots thanks to the cultivation of oranges as well as  tangerines. The landscape brought me back memories about the South of Italy, so as it was a few decades ago. A peaceful atmosphere, Mediterranean and sunny, a small rural paradise.

Once in Sirince you can test the locally produced wines, that are well known all over Turkey. The village enjoys the influence of the Greek population, who lived here until the second World War. It was later occupied by the Turkish population from Thessaloniki, but it preserves the traces of Hellenic culture. The old houses have been restored in perfect Aegean style and are amazing.

I really enjoyed walking along the cobblestones, but you better wear comfortable shoes because climbs are steep.  You will be meeting cats, a lot of cats everywhere. And if you love the traditions, you can observe "common ovens”, where residents still bake their bread in common with neighborhood families. If I were you I would taste a pomegranate juice. Pomegranates in Turkey are really gigantic and they are aphrodisiac, did you know it?

You will arrive at Saint John the Baptist Church, built on a terrace overlooking the village. According to reports at the entrance, the church was completed with the support of the Archbishop of Helliopolis in September 1805. It was restored the first time in 1988-93 and then again in 2015-16. Now it seems perfectly preserved, and enjoyment to the public is also guaranteed through concerts that are held from time to time.

The village comes alive in the early afternoon, when the tour buses start coming: many souvenir shops are available for shopping in main streets. What to buy? I suggest you the scented olive oil soap. I enjoy the atmosphere that reigns in the town, but it's time for me to move by car and reach "Seven Sleepers", an archaeological site in the city of Ephesus.

It is a cave, known as the "Seven Sleepers", the center of a legendary story common to both the Christian and Muslim tradition. It is quoted in the "Golden Legend", but also in the eighteenth sura of the Koran, "the cave of the sura". In winter you can park easily, the site is surrounded by a mystical atmosphere and you will notice the "Wish Tree" as you get in. This is the right place to hang a card and asks for a wish to be fulfilled, they say it will come true.

The site consists of a small cave located on a side road leading from the ancient Ephesus to Selcuk. According to legend there were walled up alive seven young Christian believers in Ephesus during the persecution of Emperor Decius in 250 A.D., after they refused to worship the pagan gods of the place. They fell asleep waiting for death, and they were awakened by a group of bricklayers who wanted to turn the cave into fold: to the surprise of seven, they founded out  two hundred years had gone by. One of the seven sleepers, Malco, returned to Ephesus and discovered to his astonishment that Christianity was not only tolerated by then, but the Empire had become even religion. According to tradition, the young people died on the same day and the Emperor Theodosius II buried them in the same place covering the grave with golden stones, from which the name "Golden Legend", the name by which the story is well known all over the world.

On the square near the parking area, you will find a small restaurant, where I tested "gozleme": traditional Anatolian food made of bread, cheese and wild herbs, accompanied by tea. I recommend it.

About a ten minute drive and you will be at "The House of the Virgin Mary". According to Christian tradition, Mary was brought to Ephesus by the Apostle John, after the resurrection of Christ and lived here his last days. The church that you can visit today was built on the foundations of her house and its authenticity was confirmed by Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II.

At the park entrance you will suffer police controls, but it is inevitable these days. The site is a place of pilgrimage by Christians and Muslims. The gardens surrounding the building are quiet and well maintained.

What striked me mostly was the holly atmosphere, and the fact that this is transcultural. I met more Muslims than Christians, to be honest, and I was impressed by this fact. Inside the church you cannot take pictures or make videos. Thus ends up my story about the first day of my stay in Turkey. Stay tuned, other posts and magnificent photos are coming soon. It has been nice to explore Anatolia with Medes Tour Travel, a young travel organization from Turkey, offering personalized services of high quality, to find out the authenticity of the place and enjoy the contact with local people.