Next on to the amphitheatre.
It's impressive.
It's hard to imagine these original pavers are over 5000 years old.
We left Ephesus then on to a delightful lunch in a garden to sample the local fare.
Then, ah, the carpet and cultural demonstration. We'd been warned about the hard sell. It didn't disappoint.
Some of the carpets were stunning.
Like this blue one. It was so soft.
And this one of pure silk. It took five years to make.
But soon these two beauties were covered by rugs being flipped around the room like frisbees. Aladdin's magic carpets or whirling dervish perhaps?
I'd estimate maybe 50 rugs there.
What happened next was bizarre. A carpet expert would attach to each person or couple. This was after being provided with tea. They'd chat about your favourite rug which was the blue one for me. It wasn't silk so maybe not too $$?
Then each person was taken to a separate room "to discuss". Hmmm. I was told it was $8,000 USD. Then he asked what price I'd buy a similar carpet. Dude, I'm not buying here. He brought out smaller ones but the thing that attracted me was that colour blue. Thank God they didn't find another one.
I thanked them then went to find my group. As you walked past their presentation room for another group they'd close the door. I finally saw a family of our group who'd slipped into the rear courtyard. I'd escaped.
