A day off

May 11, 2014 102 0 0

Didyma, Priene

After weeks of hard work getting Berkeley East ready to sail, we decided to give ourselves a day off and do some touring. We knew that Turkey was full of ancient sites, but we had no idea there were so many interesting places within a short drive of the marina.

First stop was to load up on Turkish Lira. As we have traveled throughout Europe, we chose ATM machines with care, always selecting the bank that we felt was most reputable and secure. Here in Turkey, we pick an ATM by color: red, orange, blue or green, depending on our mood that day, or which machine happens to work.

Didyma

Next was the Temple of Apollo, just ten minutes up the hill from D-Marin. The temple was built in the 7th century BC to honor the god of prophecy and oracles. In its heyday, the Temple of Apollo featured 108 Ionic columns, only three of which are still intact. This fact may discourage some people from visiting, but walking among the remaining stumps is incredibly impressive, a very unique opportunity. We also stopped by a local restaurant where they played Bob Marley music videos and served “Calamary.”

Ephesus

Considered one of the greatest ruined cities in the western world, Ephesus was founded in the 4th century BC, eventually becoming the chief port in the Aegean until the harbor silted. It then played an important role in the spread of Christianity. The ancient city of Ephesus is just 90 minutes from our marina, but after nearly a month in the boatyard, we were not prepared for such civilization. We arrived just in time to mix with busloads of tourists from all over the world, more people than we had seen in weeks. But the city is so vast and interesting that even crowds could not dampen the experience.

It is said that the Virgin Mary spent her last days in a house nearby so we visited the “House of Mary.”

Priene

In contrast to the warmth of inland Ephesus, the ancient city of Priene is set in the shade of pines trees, between a river valley and a mountain, with winding paths and spectacular views. Designed by architect Hippodamos in about 450 BC, it is one of the most intact Hellenistic settlements and provided us a peaceful environment for an afternoon stroll.