4,000,000 people – 10,000 years old. Muslim. It has been controlled by invaders until 1928 when Turkey became a monarchy republic. Number one hazelnut producer in the world.

The 6 lane divided highway through the country side was lined by vast fields of corn and tomatoes for as far as your eye could see.

We went to Ephesus the largest most dramatic, yet 80% still covered, ruins. Thousand of years old – Jesus, the Virgin Mary, Paul and John (not the Beatles) were there – Antony and Cleopatra chose it for their honeymoon. One of the 7 churches in the Book of Revelations.

It stretches at a right angle for a couple of miles with a theater at each end – the largest of which seats 44,000. Just down the street is the Church of the Virgin Mary visited by 3 popes.

We learned the secret of the Christian fish symbol…

It is Ramadan –  adults fast during the day and can only eat before sunrise and after  sunset. The restaurants are hurting during the day but are packed at night.

From Smyrna Agora – one of the churches in the Book of Revelations