A nice, sunny day in Bodrum

Monday, June 9, 2014

Hello!

Temple of Zeus at Euromos

A very quiet night here in Bodrum.  It turns out that while our hotel is entered off a busy side street, you wind around a bit before coming to the actual location.  And, while the occasional rooster crows in the morning, nothing else is really heard at all!  Definitely a nice place!  The breakfast here isn’t really up to normal Turkish standards, which is surprising, although they do have real orange juice, which is nice.  R says the coffee is terrible!

Out about 9 for a trip into the local mountains in search of several ruins.  Our first stop, about an hour’s drive away, was Euromos and their impressive Corinthian Temple of Zeus – built by the Carians and then supposedly requisitioned by Hadrian.  It was really quite lovely, and quite a bit was still standing.  Much less was their theatre, a short distance away.  

Not much left to their theatre!

From there, we decided to find Labranda, listed in the Rough Guide as “arguably the most beautifully located, and least visited, archeological zone of ancient Caria.”  I never can resist a challenge!  However, this almost did it, as when we initially followed the signs, they truly wound us around in a very large circle, right back where we’d come from.  So, decided to keep on following one of the very narrow roads heading up the hill that, for some reason we could not see, had an incredible parade of semi-trailers running in both directions.  At times, it was like driving next to a freight train. 

View from Labranda

Definitely a remote site!

What in the world were they hauling?  Eventually, some kilometers later, voila, Labranda!  It must have been the same guide book that actually brought four other people here at the same time!  R wonders how many visitors they receive per month.  SO much more fun having sites all to ourselves.  The flies at this site were really obnoxious – we almost felt like we were back in OZ!  But Labranda was really well worth the trip.  It started in the Chalcolithic time (early Bronze Age) with a shrine at a spring that is still flowing!  It was later expanded by other cultures: Karians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines.  Wandered over the site admiring the stones as well as the view.  

As it was after noon, we decided to head back to Bodrum to get lunch.  Very nice drive along the coastline, but wow, there are some truly amazing resorts around here – all built with huge entrance gates and private security – they look like one would never have to leave; what a sad way to see Turkey!

One of the natural springs in the area!

Back to the hotel – and still as difficult to get to the parking lot as it was yesterday.  I just love turning left at the “no left turn” arrow with a slash through it…then down into town for some lunch.

We found a little sidewalk place where I was able to get a cheeseburger and French fries, and Robert had a pepperoni, cheese and tomato “toast” with fries.  Actually not at all bad, surprisingly! 

R's "toast" and chips!

My cheeseburger and chips!

Then we walked along the marina looking at restaurants – we may eat here at the hotel tonight, as nothing terribly impressive!  Then bank and finally, back up the street to Su Hotel.  We were both ready for the COLD pool by the time we got back; it’s just really nice to cool off!  Then inside for naps…a very lovely day!  Definitely more pictures than prose!

Tomorrow, we are off to Selcuk and the Hotel Nyla, where we stayed two years ago.  Very much looking forward to seeing how things have changed, as well as getting a second look at Ephesus!

More later!

m

xxx