Ephesus and What Came After: When the Journey Starts to Test You

The day begins on the southern coast of the Çeşme Peninsula. From the air, the place looks like paradise — turquoise water, a wide beach, and sand-colored cliffs — but the reality is far less kind. The rocky, slippery seabed, covered in crustaceans, makes any thought of a relaxing swim almost laughable. So instead, I practice flying my FPV drone — getting more stable, braver, and lower with each flight… until I even manage to fly straight through the middle of our campsite. Marta? Doesn’t flinch. After a slow morning, we continue the journey — through İzmir and all the way to the gates of Ephesus. We explore one of the largest and best-preserved ancient cities in the Mediterranean: the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre, the Church of the Virgin Mary, the Curetes Street… and many other places that have survived thousands of years of history. My 360 camera struggles a bit after the previous sea bath, but I still share the footage with you — these ruins are worth immersing yourself in. In the evening, we descend back toward the sea — hoping to wash off the day and unwind. And it’s there, in the soft light of sunset, that we have our first serious argument. Tension built up over several days finally spills out. The phrase “because the water was too salty” suddenly takes on a whole new meaning… The next day, a bit calmer, we pick up the repaired drone from the service center in İzmir. We refill our drinking water tanks, and finally head back into the mountains — easing once more into the rhythm of travel. We spend the night in a spot where golden evening light sets the hills ablaze with color. But the next morning, after a peaceful start, the trail — which seemed simple enough — starts to throw surprises our way…