"Confucius about Ephesus" a Ephesus Travel Page by Confucius

If you type the word "toilet" into a VT keyword search then you will get over 9000 results (as of October 10, 2006). In fact, if you add an "s" then there is a total of over 15,000 tips on VT about toilets. There are tips on toilets from modern Tokyo to remote Vanuatu, so it is obviously an extremely popular topic among global travellers. In fact, one distinguished VT member in Israel even created a shrine to global toilet reviews on her homepage: See haiamisa

Of all the important archaeological discoveries and interesting Bible anecdotes involving Ephesus, which area do you suppose most fascinates tour groups as the unique eighth wonder of the world?

As soon as the tour guide brings the long row of ancient toilets to people's attention, the mad "musical chairs" scramble ensues as tourists jostle in a rush to occupy each available seat.

Therefore I decided that I would dedicate my Ephesus intro to the highlight of everybody's tour, and bury those biblical bits in the travelogues below.

The sign says: "Only 50 cent is enough to feel the magic atmosphere"

Are you wondering what the magic atmosphere feels like? I didn't go because I didn't have to go, but other members of my tour group reported feeling very refreshed after using the facilities inside. Maybe it feels better because they paid for the experience? There must be something magical about that.

Use of the ancient latrine featured above also involved a fee, and was restricted to men only. Little has changed in Ephesus after 2000 years, except that women are now allowed to feel the magic atmosphere too and you can't see the tourist seated next to you!

While touring the sites of ancient Ephesus, it is easy to forget which country you are visiting. For me, the "magic atmosphere" involved the notion that I was perhaps still in Greece. Of course we all know that this part of Asia Minor did in fact once belong to the Greeks, but it is not until you reach the row of tourist stalls after the tour that the red flags of Turkey wave you back to reality.

Well aware that most cruise passengers on a day trip from the Aegean will likely not see any other part of their country, Turkish touts hawk their wares wildly while tourists wander and wonder what to do with their remaining 8 minutes before boarding their nearby bus. There should be time allocated for shopping in Kusadasi but some people seem to do a lot of their bargain hunting here. I like the musical instruments hanging like octopus out in the sun to dry.