|
At first glance, this is a picture one hardly expects to see in Turkey. A lovely, unspoiled lake teeming with fish, a lush marshy delta, verdant farmlands, a lazy, reed-fringed river meandering into the sea. And a lonely, deserted beach where sea turtles lay their eggs. But the sea is an incredibly clear blue, and on the bottom are ruins of an ancient civilization. On shore, you can see ruins of the Lycian city of Caunos, with its basilica and fortifications looming over the green marsh where endangered Caretta loggerhead turtles hatch in the spring. |
|
You cannot escape the feeling on Delos that the Greek gods are hovering just out of sight, or that Apollo might step out of some ruin at any moment, casting his radiance once again over ancient Delos. Uninhabited today as always, Delos is the hub of the "wheel" for which the Cyclades are named. The Sacred Way, bordered by temples, altars and shrines dedicated to Greek, Roman and Egyptian deities, attests to the religious importance in ancient times. |
|
|
It looks barren and rocky, but the narrow harbor of Hydra hides a surprise, a town of stately mansions all built around 1800 by blockade runners who had made fortunes outwitting the British during the Napoleonic Wars. Many of Hydra's merchants were also celebrated naval heroes during the Greek fight for independence from Turkey in the 1820s. Another surprise is that there are no cars, so if you want to see the spectacular view from the Monastery of Ilias you'll have to ride a donkey to the top. |
|
Kusadasi is a popular Turkish port of call for cruise ships, as not only is it a bustling resort town full of shops, bars and restaurants, but it is also the main access point for the famous archeological site at Ephesus, where extensive excavations have revealed an ancient city through which visitors can now wander and observe the wonders of a bygone civilization. |
|
|
<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 4 5 Next > End >>
|
|
Page 2 of 5 |
