1. We enter Turkey at Bodrum on December 1st then motor east ... completely alone
2. But an auspicious sign as Venus forms the Turkish flag for us, with Jupiter for company
3. Finally we arrive at our winter location at Karaca Söğüt, just north of Marmaris, with new friends at the Gokova Yacht 'Marinette'.
4. An unusual way to celebrate!
5. We are surrounded by citrus orchards – 50 Euro cents/kilo!
6. The Datca peninsula, west of Marmaris is gorgeous
7. A surprising native!
8. This hapless young bullock waits patiently for his demise on the first day of ‘Sacrifice Bayram’
9. We drove to Mugla; benign images of Ataturk are omnipresent; his post 1922 accomplishments are most impressive
10. Mugla’s small museum was our first of the excellent museums we are finding in Turkey ... Roman gladiatorial combat is a recurring theme
11. Selçuk was next stop (for 2 nights) - it turned suddenly very cold; the view from our hotel balcony.
12. One of the more spectacular (and photographed) finds from nearby Ephesus
13. Celsus’ library at Ephesus is a marvellous feat of restoration after 2000 years and numerous earthquakes, the main destructor of all the ruins throughout the region; a staggering almost 15,000 man-days of restoration work.
13. Celsus’ library at Ephesus is a marvellous feat of restoration after 2000 years and numerous earthquakes, the main destructor of all the ruins throughout the region; a staggering almost 15,000 man-days of restoration work.
14. We gave a lift from Selcuk to two young cheerful teachers from Abu Dhabi – we sit in the vast theatre, which seats nearly 25,000 (!) for gladiatorial contests
15. The city planning (it peaked at 200,000 inhabitants!) included impressive water services ...
16. Including communal latrines with running water!
17. the most spectacular restoration work is possibly on the truly sumptuous terrace of luxurious Roman houses.
18. Next day, further east, another library at Nysa – hidden amongst a deserted olive grove
19. Stopping at Pamukkale for the night to see the famous ‘travertine’ terraces – must have been heaven for the Romans to have an almost limitless supply of constantly forming building material, basically marble; so they built Hierapolis on top of it!
20. The healing baths are naturally warm and silky smooth, but at nearly 10 pounds to take a swim among the fallen pillars we decided to give it a miss
21. The Theatre restoration project is another marvel; this time by an Italian team working since 1958. In its heyday the stage could be filled and emptied of water for special effects and shows.
22. Next day we headed back home towards Marmaris, stopping at Aphrodisias – no avoiding the quaint and completely pointless charabanc; job creation we supposed.
23. Another excellent museum; here a typically superbly executed bas relief carving of the young Nero, with his mother tousling his hair. Disconcerting because he had her murdered some years later; nice chap!
24. The highlight at Aphrodisias maybe is this superbly intact Greek athletics stadium, later modified by the Romans at one end for gladiatorial combat. More cats!
25. So many beautiful carvings remain from the magnificent buildings – what to do with them all?!
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