There are two reasons to come to Selçuk:  

One: it isn’t the hell-hole neon clad port town of Kusandasi

Two: it is the nearest town to the ruins at Ephesus

 

Our boat chugged across the choppy aegean from Samos and moored in the tackiest town on earth - Kusandasi. Escaping on the next available mini bus we arrived in Selcuk, a pleasant little place with a more soul and fewer menu-muggers than the coast. The most impressive thing about the area is Ephesus.  About 10km inland it’s surreal to think that it used to be a major harbour and squashed between ‘Aqualand’ theme park and a huge resort, it’s even more bizarre to think that this used to be the Roman capital of Asia Minor.  Once you’re in, the site is impressive - more marble sculptures and colonnades than your local garden centre. Walking around the ancient offices, libraries, toilets and market places you could almost imagine scenes of life here, or maybe that’s just because I’ve seen The Life of Brian too many times. Genuine fake watch sellers crowd the exit gates throwing the 21st century and all its tat straight back in your face. Maybe they should sort that out. But then again - what did the Romans ever do for us?

 

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