Kusadasi Shore Excursion

This is post number 9 in our “Greek Isles Cruise and Rome Adventure” series. In this chapter, we continue our journey through Turkey and share the second half of our Kusadasi shore excursion, a cultural detour full of handcrafted rugs, friendly locals, and one very unexpected meal. The first half included a tour of the Virgin Mary’s home and the ancient city of Ephesus. If you haven’t read previous posts in this series, you can start from the beginning here.

Exploring Local Culture on Our Kusadasi Shore Excursion

After our tour of Ephesus, we boarded the bus and headed back toward Kusadasi. The next stop on our excursion was a Turkish rug store. We weren’t in the market for a rug, but we were intrigued to see how they are made and to experience a bit of local culture.

The ride back to town was pleasant, and soon the bus dropped us off within walking distance of the shop. From the outside, the building looked rather ordinary, part of a cluster of covered storefronts, a bit like a strip mall. But once we stepped inside, a grand staircase led up to the second level and into a spacious showroom.

Demi and I immediately spotted a beautiful, large rug in shimmering shades of blue and silver. We looked at each other and said, “This would look great in the house!” Suddenly, the idea of buying a rug in Turkey and having it shipped home didn’t seem so far-fetched.

Before we could get too ahead of ourselves on ordering a rug for every room in the house, our group gathered around a loom where one woman was quietly at work. We watched for just a short while as she tied each delicate knot by hand. It is a slow, steady, and precise process. It gave the entire group just enough of a glimpse to appreciate how much patience and artistry go into each piece. Surrounded by finished rugs in every color and pattern imaginable, it was easy to see why they’re so highly valued.

Turkish rugs, oh my!

Next came the real show. We were led into a large room, served wine and small treats, and seated along the walls. One by one, rugs were unfurled across the floor, large, medium, and small, each one seemingly more beautiful than the last. The silk ones stole the spotlight. Their colors shifted in the light and changed depending on the angle. Assistants would toss the smaller rugs into the air and let them land gracefully on the floor, to our applause. It was quite the performance!

When it was over, we couldn’t resist asking about that gorgeous, large, blue silk rug. The answer: $20,000. Beautiful, yes, but not quite in our souvenir budget. So, no rug from Turkey would be making its way home with us this time.

In all the excitement, neither of us took any photos of the rugs! So, unfortunately, there’s nothing to share here.

After leaving the rug shop, we wandered the streets near the Kusadasi port. The area was lively and welcoming. We mostly window-shopped, and although some store owners called out friendly invitations to come inside, there was no pushy sales pitch, just warm hospitality.

Lunch in Kusadasi: A Surprisingly Delicious Find

After a bit of exploring, we realized we were getting hungry and started looking for a spot to grab a bite before heading back to the ship. We settled on Nova Port Café, a nice place just outside the port entry gates. And of all things, we ordered a vegetable pizza. I had a Turkish beer, Efes Pilsen, and Demi had a glass of rosé. The pizza was wood-fired with a thin, crispy crust and fresh vegetables, and it was delicious. We ate every bite. I never expected to have pizza in Turkey, but it turned out to be a perfect surprise.

After settling the bill, we strolled back to the ship, full and happy, the day’s sights (and silk rugs) still spinning in our minds.

Thanks for following along! This wraps up our Kusadasi shore excursion. In the next post, we set sail again, this time for the whitewashed beauty of Mykonos.

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