http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Aegean/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Middle East , Turkey , Aegean en-us Thu, 10 Dec 09 20:29:02 +0000 Thu, 10 Dec 09 20:29:02 +0000 Ephesus once a Greek port town on the Aegean sea now lies several kilometers inland so our tour started at the port city of Kusadasi Bird Island. Kusadasi 25 years ago we were told was a small fishing village but with the number of tourist the city is much larger and busier.This was our second of two tours with the group of twenty. After another day at sea our tour guide Levent was originally s http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Aegean/Ephesus/blog-455175.html After several emails and phone calls the rendezvous with Derek and Jane aboard Stroller was set for Knidos in Turkey. Only 2 things to do before then fix the blocked toilet pipe and make our formal entrance into Turkey. Neither was easy but both were completed successfully one significantly less smelly than the other. Bodrum was our port of entry and we enjoyed our day there we will go bac http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Aegean/blog-453335.html omg didnt realise it had been so long since i been on here tut tut slapped wrists the meeting was a day from hell and finished 3 hours later than it was supposed to followed by more talking and people asking questions followed by working until 4am wot fun.I've been so busy with one thing and another between the kids each day working on my site working at my job the site is finally starting to t http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Aegean/Marmaris/blog-448409.html October 2 2009Fortunately in Kusadasi Turkey the cruise ships can dock without tendering. This makes it much easier to get off the ship and starting doing stuff. We easily found our guide from Trans Balkan Tours for a day long tour of the nearby sights. Our driver Hassein showed up with a nice mid sized car and the four of us took off for the home of the VIrgin Mary.Although still contested to http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Aegean/Kusadasi/blog-442127.html Spent 2 weeks in Turunc Turkey hanging in the sun taking in the sights and enjoying the culture. We visited Efes home of the Temple of Artemis Pamukkale calcium deposit mountain and a beach where sea turtles lay their eggs. Awesome time http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Aegean/Marmaris/blog-441526.html After conferring with our Turkish hosts we decided to head north to Assos. Assos was founded in 8th century BC by colonists from the island of Lesvos. Under the rule of Hermeias a onetime student of Plato the city enjoyed great prosperity. Hermeias encouraged philosophers live in Assos and Aristotle himself lived there for about 3 years and married Hermeiaslsquo niece Phythia. Unfortunat http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Aegean/Ayvalik/blog-440347.html Today was our last day in the Selchuk area. We enjoyed a relaxing morning had one last lunch and one last stroll around town before heading on our way. We really felt at home here. Selchuk has a population of little more than 27000 so it was very manageable and like all of our experiences people were very friendly and kind.Big confession is coming. Perhaps we should have forgone our stroll http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Aegean/Sel-uk/blog-440345.html Continuing on south to the ancient town of Miletus we were pretty exhausted but gathered up enough energy to scramble among more ruins. Miletus was a grand city in its time 700BCAD700. Their theatre boasted a seating capacity of 15000. The ruins of it are almost 2000 years old. I have some photos of the ruins theatre Great Harbour Monument and my personal favorite the Nymphaeum the http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Aegean/Didyma/blog-440068.html Today we headed for Priene and Miletus. Once important seaports theyrsquore both several kilometers from the Aegean because the river Menderes has been depositing silt and building up the shoreline. Note my referral of the Harbour Monument in Miletus. On the way we drove past Kusudasi and saw the beautiful vacation homes and cruise ships docked in the harbor. The Aegean looked wonderful wi http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Aegean/Didyma/blog-440062.html I have my interent back yayyyyyy. Its been like having no hands this last week i havent had a bill for 3months and so of course typical they cut me off on a weekend and to make it worse its been the end of ramazan so everything was closed until Wednesday so finally back online and full of a cold and loads of work to catch up on. I couldnt get the time off work so i had to sit in the village until http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Aegean/Marmaris/blog-439601.html At our hotel we met and became friends with another American and her two boys. She moved to Istanbul a year ago and is teaching at a Turkish prep school. She is a fountain of information and her command of the language is amazing. Together we went to explore Efes and had a great day.Efes is remarkable. Not just the ruins which are spectacular but also the information that is readily laid out http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Aegean/Ephesus/blog-439537.html After a good nightrsquos sleep and a hearty breakfast we headed for the town of little Sirence. The story goes that a group of Greek slaves settled here in the 15th century and called the village Cirkince Ugliness to deter others from following them. In 1926 a govenor of Izmir decreed that the name be changed to the more honest Sirence Pleasantness. A century ago it was inhabited by Ottam http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Aegean/Sel-uk/blog-439403.html Today we headed from Istanbul to Selcuk pronounced Selchuk. It took us 2 ferries and most of the day driving. Thank you Richard. I was a great navigator and fountain of information in that I read aloud from our Lonely Planet travel guide.The ride was easy and made the more pleasant by a chance encounter with a family run produce stand. They spoke no English we no understandable Turkish y http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Aegean/Sel-uk/blog-438274.html Dear friendsSome days ago I came back from the Mediterranean cruise it was the first time we make the cruise trip and it was very amazingThere is a lot to tell but first of all I would like to tell some words about Ephesus tour we take part in after arrival in Kusadasi port. We found a travel agency through Internet searching they were very flexible regarding the tour programm and the paymen http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Aegean/Ephesus/blog-437305.html This Blog Linked From Here The Web This Blog Linked From Here The Web Monday September 14 2009day 20 well im tired done 2 shifts til 4am one left to go tonight yayyy fort id be able to get early night thursday but now i have to help out somewhere else so be least 2am when get to sleep if i knock myself out lol so next early night now.....hmm next tuesday only 8days away keep going. http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Aegean/Marmaris/blog-436424.html This Blog Linked From Here The Web This Blog Linked From Here The Web Saturday September 12 2009day18 anddd a good time was had by all me and my hubby had a great night out.I managed to go out and make some cash too so even better.we enjoyed a good couple of hours together then we had a couple of drinks wi my mate she's fantastic then we moved on to the next bar and saw some of ja http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Aegean/Marmaris/blog-435987.html There is so much to see in Turkey we are still here. We are currently spending the night camping on the coast of the Dead SeaBlue Lagoon. We have rounded the most Southern tip of Turkey and are headed along the Western Coast towards Greece. We spent last night and most of today in KekovaSimena. We found this Jewel of a spot and did not want to leave. You can only get to this spot by boat or pa http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Aegean/Fethiye/blog-435734.html Friday September 11 2009day 17 well im shocked......its raining and thundering nooooo lol.im shattered and my head is banging lol. just come back from shopping in the main town as its market day and my mate who is staying wanted a dress she got that and loads more even i decided for once to grab a bargain 15lira for 1 dress 7tops and 2 pairs of 34 pants wooohooo happy bunny lol. not muc http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Aegean/Marmaris/blog-435700.html Tuesday September 8 2009day 15 ive not been on for 5days oopswell i've been so busy last few days what with my mate here so been working on my site working for last 3 nights until 4am and getting up at 8am yukkk.had a really long day yesterday doing all the buses it takes to get to Dalyan bus from here to village village to town town to dalyan just to go see my dvd guy i neeeed harry po http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Aegean/Marmaris/blog-434892.html Location Kusadasi and EphesusWeather Sunny 34CThe ruins of Ephesus are a beautiful example of ancient Greek architecture. Yes Trish I found the brothel but not the sign advertising it The Ancient Greeks used marble everywhere when building Ephesus which makes it blinding and hot in the summer sun I wish they still ran water down the marble streets to cool the city like they did in ancient http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Aegean/Ephesus/blog-434399.html