Turkish Urinal Mystery Solved

Shortly after the release of A Loo with a View, I received an email telling me about a great urinal view at the House of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus, said to be the final residence of Mary, mother of Jesus.

The sender had visited Ephesus some 20 years previously and the loo had stuck in his mind.

I was intrigued. Was this toilet still operational? If so, did it still have a view? There were so many questions. But, most of all, I wondered if I would ever be lucky enough to see this mythical latrine or whether it would simply remain a memory?

Imagine my delight when some months later I received an email from Cole and Lynda Hardison, of Arlington Texas, with a picture. Hallelujah!

In 2009, they had been on Mediterranean Cruise which stopped at Ephesus and had visited the House of the Virgin Mary. After the tour, Cole stepped into the gents in the car park, was mightily impressed by the view (the best he had ever seen from a urinal), and took a picture.

Back in the US, Cole and Lynda happened to visit a cabin in Oklahoma that had a copy of my book in the restroom and they got in touch. Brilliant. Some things are meant to be...