August – WOW…I won’t even
say it.
It’s another early start for
us as we begin day 1 of 4 in Turkey. My first thought as I step onto the deck this
morning is how much I love Turkey. All it takes this morning is a little less
humidity and I’m in love all over again.
Forget anything I’ll see, smell, do, taste or hear…I FEEL love through
the mere fact that my skin isn’t glistening.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3r1jCW524M5yVtmIxjZxPlr32P9YbKIa-1gK-JWKhoIKGS0vOOwvGBzUY8mPHe9r8uWa8LJwhKZGH1o6RFtDOmWmMDDPWPQFTWvgImbJZsEOVlH-AkgNgIA4BRcho6bSg7txVyw/s1600/Ku%C5%9Fadasi,+Turkey+006.JPG) |
lion feet on theatre seats |
As we’ve been to Kuşadasi
before and saw the main attraction Ephesus
we opt for a more obscure less popular tour to 2 ancient sites.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrTdkelzIjvhokl9uFZ_7j5v09ZFNE-PQInM5_-r5zbQoyrOw8ySHQWnvJkGodmZlhsX3wGJzK846pFqiv0Jb33F4KIn18qcjT4svZWYhNagbS8M1dboLVTqChW-P64aWrJphNw/s1600/Ku%C5%9Fadasi,+Turkey+005.JPG) |
likely the only wildlife we'll see this trip |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfGmSz3koShg6Hj2zfLQPqD2tGjq8HJYKlA3uzSnzVG2P7mvUFPkJVd-oUtKGCEYbblC8ium2nGTIZ9yQEO2gz5qRdIDv9-O8HHQ2d9TUByhQk4dcBhf95dhm71M1td_Jv8S3Ig/s1600/Ku%C5%9Fadasi,+Turkey+003.JPG) |
Miletus theatre |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0icHWXekqXj20Vcy6_-kyDbL5xaIJaWoVYZO25iJaKEWj5GXs9KGNxJBjRiVNnFg0iAZLy4ym7QbpDbHshDeQxaTRCcJxJajXavxXPMfQZSV_Qdt_EevUbg_cxrt62GHWHqT1Q/s1600/Ku%C5%9Fadasi,+Turkey+018.JPG) |
ruins at Didyma |
The first of these 2 ancient
sties is Miletus. Miletus is an
ancient Greek city on the west coast of Turkey. The site we visit has been under excavation
since the 1960s, but only 10% of it has been uncovered – that is truly the
amazing part of the visit. Sure the site
is beautiful and interesting, but to think what we can see which seems vast is
only a small fraction compared to what is still under the ground is a bit mind
blowing. I suppose when the guide
describes this as a city where 100 thousand people used to live it makes a bit
more sense. Miletus was constructed in the third century
BC by the Greeks and expanded by the Romans in the second century AD. We (a group of 11) are pretty much the only
ones here – lovely especially given the fact that there are 300 tour buses
headed to Ephesus!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ05-WwMTc7G3cQOXKTFtKGa-XlZ7uxmfV0x-o5AzGtysOO3q6vHsHz9ogUxfw43_npBT8s8CQuMZBFtOzxHO5BLUqmaOrP9JjFuUHIU05LjxRwNwFr6N0UOwpagVq5lo9VBxCuQ/s1600/Ku%C5%9Fadasi,+Turkey+020.JPG) |
Medusa head |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfD3HdD2e6FbABfwnyOMGpR79_htCRMCwcMoykLEG7ObB5gKe_xrPAqKNHKTbiDIE8hzb102oU4qEAEOEpzD1ApGzlmC5luQhkopaajhV8HkHR64SgMx-0MXbllRE0ZGeyEi7NrQ/s1600/Ku%C5%9Fadasi,+Turkey+009.JPG) |
Roman baths |
Didyma is our next ancient
site. The name Didyma means twins – it
is the site of 2 temples and orcles of the twins Atremis (goddess of the hunt
and Apollo god of music and the arts.)
This site is a lot different than Miletus. This site is my definition of ancient ruins. It’s very much Greek – as the guide described
it…the area, Turkey and Greece were pretty much the same place except for
geography – gods were worshiped, temples were built, cities were constructed. Here we see the temple, wells where the
oracles spent time and carvings of griffins, Medusa and other figures of
mythology. It’s been pretty great to
hear as many stories as we have this trip about the Greeks and their god and
goddesses – while these are often bizarre stories they are highly entertaining.
The afternoon is lunch,
laundry, drinks at the pool, a nap, room service pre-dinner snacks and enjoying
the deck. At one point while out on the
deck about 8 fighter jets fly overhead…not exactly the same feeling as when
they fly over in Calgary
during the Stampede.
2 comments:
I would love that place even with the heat, Greek mythology is interesting...we'll see you soon
I had the same thought as you when I saw August 1st on my phone:)
Looks like another amazing day on your trip!!
Lori
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