ITALY TO TURKEY

We will do nothing much else but eat and drink for the next 36 hours as we ply the Mediterranean Sea to Izmir, Turkey.  Bet you didn't know that there are other seas within the Mediterranean?  For example, we are now in the Ionian Sea.

• 1 : Alboran Sea.
• 2 : Basin SW - Balearic Islands.
• 3 : Tyrrhenian Sea.
• 4 : The Western Mediterranean (Basin NE-NW)
• 5 : South-East and Malta.
• 6 : Ionian Sea.
• 7 : Adriatic Sea.
• 8 : Egeen sea-Rhodos.

We soon will reach the Aegean Sea.  Why stop at Izmir?

• Is the third largest city in Turkey, with a population of 4.4 million, more than 24 U.S. states.
• While there are scattered ancient ruins, the city is known for being quite westernized and modern, meaning that social norms are less restrictive.
• But there are bustling age-old markets and the usual attractions of this part of the world.
• Budget friendly compared to Istanbul and Cappadocia.  Keep in mind though that the Turkish Lira has fallen value, so alcohol in bars is almost by itself a scam.  Plus, you might not be served actual alcohol.
• Be careful, but this is a relatively safe city.
• Ephesus, the real ancient ruin site, is 48 miles away.

The star attraction of this stop is Ephesus, with tours there from the ship.

• Ephesus is a city from Ancient Greece, built in the 10th century BC, and occupied by the Romans in 129 BC.  Razed by Cimmerians in 650 BC.
• 
  Famous for the Temple of Artemis completed around 550 BC, one of the Ancient Seven Wonders of the World, where the Gospel of John might have been written from 90-100 AD.  Apostle Paul lived here from 52-54 AD.

• 
  Once stood 418 feet by 239 feet with over 100 marble pillars each 56 feet high.
• Today, only one inconspicuous column.
• Small pieces are now in the British Museum.
• At one time Ephesus had one of the most advanced aqueduct system in the world.

• 
  Alexander the Great in 334 BC liberated the city from Persian forces.
• Alexander was tutored by Aristotle and was undefeated in battle.
• Died at the age of 31.
• Mark Antony came in 33 BC with Cleopatra.
• When Augustus became emperor in 27 BC, he made Ephesus the capital of western Asia Minor.

• 
  In Roman times up to 225,000 people lived there.  NO ONE ANYMORE.
• The Goths destroyed the city and Temple in 263 AD, but  it was partially rebuilt by Emperor Constantine the Great.
  
• The closest town is Kusadasi.
• Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015.

But back to our cruise, evenings generally start with cocktails in one of the bars,

This night, it was to Prime 7, the steakhouse.

Crab, lobster and scallops.

Rack of lamb.

Dessert of popcorn sundae and blackberries.

Walked 1591 steps today.

Missed breakfast, but had a terrific Asian lunch, starting with three kinds of sashimi and kimchee.

The usual three drink lunch.

Good wine list at lunch.

An example of leftover decadance.

Then went to a lecture by Bill Cashell.

A great talk with a lot of info and music.  So much so that I am including a lot of his text slides.

It all starts with the Beatles in 1964.  However, they were back in Liverpool trying to get famous in 1961.

The American Billboard Top Ten in1961 and 1962.  No British contribution.

Maybe the JFK assassination was a reason for the invasion.  I'm trying better understand how suddenly another country dominated ours.  Maybe this tragedy was symptomatic.

Still mostly American in 1963 with something from Australia.

Beatles still at the Cavern Club in 1963.

Then on February 1, 1964 their I Want to Hold Your Hand reached #1 on Billboard.  This ship does not allow for You Tube.  Maybe I'll return some day and insert the link.

On February 9, 1964 they appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show.  That was more than 60 years ago.

The British Invasion.

Of course there were others.

The Dave Clark Five made 18 appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show.  Their Glad All Over knocked I Want to Hold Your Hand out of #1 in the UK.  The group was the first to tour America.

There were a few females, but no groups.

Petula Clark, who was a decade older than the about singers was the first British female to hit #1 on Billboard with Downtown.

The Yardbirds had a string of great guitarists.

Then came the Rolling Stones with two #1 hits in 1965, I Can't Get No Satisfaction and Get Off of My 
Cloud.  Just about 60 years later, they are still performing.

Then, of course others followed.

The Bee Gees arrived at #1 on Billboard in 1971 with How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.  Saturday Night Fever arrived in 1977.  The peak of disco happened the week of July 21, 1979, when the top six songs in the U.S. were disco tunes.

1 1 BAD GIRLS –•– Donna Summer (Casablanca)-9 (2 weeks at #1) (1)
2 2 RING MY BELL –•– Anita Ward (Juana)-11 (1)
3 3 HOT STUFF –•– Donna Summer (Casablanca)-14 (1)
4 13 GOOD TIMES –•– Chic (Atlantic)-6 (4)
5 7 MAKIN’ IT –•– David Naughton (RSO)-17 (5)
6 6 BOOGIE WONDERLAND –•– Earth, Wind and Fire with the Emotions (ARC)-11 (6)
7 8 I WANT YOU TO WANT ME –•– Cheap Trick (Epic)-14 (7)

As a final piece of British rock history, only few British songs reached the Billboard Top Ten before the Beatles.  In 1952 Vera Lynn's Auf Wiederseh'n and Acker Bilk's Stranger on the Shore hit #1.  Auf Winderseh'n came from Germany in 1949, and captured the hearts of those who remembered the war years. Dame Vera Lynn:

• Was very popular during World War II with a number of memorable songs:  We'll Meet Again, There'll Be Bluebirds Over the White Cliffs of Dover, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square and There'll Always be an England.
• In 2009, at the age of 92, she became the oldest living artist to top the UK Albums Chart with We'll Meet Again.
• She passed away in 2020 at the age of 103.

Also up there were Rock Island Line in 1955 and Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour on the Bedpost Overnight? in 1958, by Lonnie Donegan (left).  Laurie London had He's Got the Whole World in His Hands in 1958, Hayley Mill's Lets Get Together in 1961 (from the film Parent Trap), Telstar by The Tornados  and Midnight in Moscow by Kenny Ball in 1962.

Tomorrow Ismir, Turkey.

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