This post It was the best of times, it was the worst of times... has moved to journojohnson.com

Dickens famous sentence at the start of 'A tale of two cities', could not describe our holiday better, for that's exactly what it was, the best and the worst of times.

Best in some of the views of the lovely countryside we saw.

The ancient Roman city of Ephesus was even more fascinating and interesting. Perhaps not quite on the same scale as Pompeii but well preserved and a large ancient city, a part of both Roman
This huge two storey library shows that the Romans had a great love of books.


and Biblical history -
This arena where there was a disturbance after Paul had preached in the Synagogue. His companions, Gaius and Aristarchus where taken here but Paul's other followers wouldn't let him go fearing some harm would come to him. In the end the disturbance was settled by the town clerk and Paul's two companions were released. (Acts 19 v 29-41)

All these things denoted the best of times and things.

However too many of our tour party - 20 out of 43 went down with the Norovirus or diarrhoea and sickness bug and as a consequence saw far too much of these -


Although the modern rather than the Roman equivalent!

But I would say in all this, although many of us missed a number of meals and sites (personally grieved to have missed Pumakala or the white terraces and thermal pools) it did bring us all together in a positive way, looking out for one another.


Suffice it to say, however, I'll not be returning to Turkey again in a hurry.

Labels: