Day 10 - Cruise - Kusadasi to Patmos

We pulled in to Kusadasi this morning whilst it was still dark so with the fort light up it was a spectacular sight. As we are doing Ephesus during our Turkey tour Noel and I decided to sleep in and do a tour of the town ourselves whilst Mark and Donna thought they would still go out to the ancient city. Kusadasi is a popular tourist town 90km south of Izmir. It is famous for its long sandy beaches on the adjoining coasts. It is a lively harbour port with a bazaar selling leather, lamps and original copy handbags, t-shirts etc. we enjoyed our walk around the city before returning to the ship around 11.30.

 We had a group cocktail party to collect our excursion tickets then after lunch we all hung out at the pool for some sunshine on our way to Patmos.
 

 Patmos is a small island which is rocky and barren but is famous for the Monastery of St John the Theologian. It has been a place of pilgrimage ever since it was discovered that St John the Divine was said to have written the book of Revelations. Only 2500 people live on the island which relies on tourism. We did a tour of the cave called the Sacred Grotto. It is here that St John wrote the book of revelation that was sent unto the seven churches. We the did a walk through the upper village and visited the windmills. You were allowed to go inside and up the stairs to see the Cog working which was nifty. After a drive around the island we headed back to the port for a drink an wander before heading back in the tender boats to the ship.
 

After another huge dinner this time we shared with a couple from Pennsylvania Sue and Joe. We hit the sack as we have a big day ahead in Rhodes. Rhodes is 112 nautical miles away and we will sail there overnight. Still 49, J&N