Jul '10 - Aug '10
A large earthquake in the 2nd century AD caused this Lycean port city to sink into the Mediterranean sea. Many of the buildings are submerged underwater as are the foundations of the old harbor.
Kale today is a city who's economy is primarily agricultural. Descending into the valley one can see greenhouses spreading for miles. Near the center of the city is the Church of St. Nicholas (yes Santa Claus). St. Nicholas was born in 300, became the bishop of Myra and died in 350. The church was... View full entry
I wasn't in the city long, I was using it as a base to visit a few other sites. The city used to be the primary naval base for Attalos II, the king of Pergamon's fleet in 150 BC. The port still functions for smaller boats, the walls surrounding it are now lined with shops and restaurants. View full entry
Fethiye is located on the site of the ancient Lycean city of Telmessos, the most important city of Lycia, dating from around the 5th century BC. The city is surrounded by mountains on all sides, these tombs were carved into the cliff face behind the town. Ignore the graffiti and smell of urine. View full entry
The city of Palmukkale "Cotton Castle", gets its name from the large travertines lining a nearby cliff. These travertines were formed over thousands of years of calcium carbonate impregnated water flowing from hot springs, down the face of the cliff. The warm, calcium rich waters have been bathed... View full entry
Efesus (more text later...) 25,000 seats! View full entry
Bergama is the modern name for the Greek city of Pergamon which flourished around 133 B.C. The Great Altar of Pergamon is now housed in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. The Asclepion was the Greeks' greatest hospital, known for its vast library as well as the healing waters of its sacred spring... View full entry
Went with a friend for a drive up the Bosphorus. Along the way we stopped at Rumeli Fortress, a fortress built over just 4 months in 1452 under the order of Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror for the final attack on Constantinople. The legend of Maiden's Tower - A sultan had a much beloved daughter. One... View full entry
The Hagia Sophia dates back to 532. It was ordered to be built by Justinian I, who chose the physicist Isidore of Miletus and the mathematician Anthemius of Tralles as his architects. The dome used to be round, strangely, renovation of the structure bent it out of shape, it is now roughly... View full entry
Very busy day. I started on the shore of the Bosphorus to see the Dolmabahce Palace, the palace was built for Sultan Abdülmecid I in 1856. It is a mix of architectural styles; Ottoman, Neoclassical, Baroque and Rococo (believe it or not). An incredible building, unfortunately, no pictures... View full entry
Overview of the city, looking across the Golden Horn. A street in the Beyoglu area. Istanbul Sirkeci Terminal This is the main train station of the European side of Istanbul, it currently serves the European train traffic coming into Istanbul. This will all change however, with the already... View full entry
Turkey is at the crossroads of the Middle East and Europe, to this day its unique geographic position has brought with it tremendous conflict. It has been occupied by such diverse civilizations as the Hittites, the Trojans, Lyceans, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantine and Ottomans, finally leading to the establishment of the modern Turkish state. In the wake of these periods of occupation, architecture from each has been deposited throughout the country.
