Oosterdam European Adventure, Kusadasi, Turkey...

Our good friend Mehmet picked us up at the ship and we started our tour around the Turkish countryside on the hunt for archaeological sites at Priene, Miletus and Didyma. Driving out of Kusadasi, we were surprised how spread out and modern the city is definitely not the image you get from the cruise port area. Our first stop was Didim and the Temple of Apollo, one of the most sacred sanctuaries of the ancient world. An absolutely stunning place to visit to absorb some of the ancient culture of the country. The size and scale of the ruins cannot fail to impress. The colossal columns and ruins that remain reveal the awe-inspiring craftsmanship of the Hellenistic era. A great stop and we had the ruins to ourselves. Next, we drove to the ancient city of Miletus, our first stop was the building, known as the "Great Mosque" or "Friday Mosque", the mosque was built in 1404 created during the Emirate period. The mosque was stunning and in very good shape and stands out with its rich stone decor. The next stop in Miletus was gigantic 25,000-seat Hellenistic theater, reconstructed by the Romans and perhaps the most impressive theater structure we have ever seen. I climbed to the top for a great view. Unfortunately, they were filming at the site and I was unable to enter some of the rooms in this amazing structure. Our final archaeological stop was Priene. Priene is famous for its dramatic setting on flat table land overlooking the broad expanse of the Meander River flood plain with the steep rock of Mount Mykale at its back. This ancient Ionian city dates back to the 4th century BC. We climbed about ten minutes uphill until you come to a very tall stone stair case that brings you to the first terrace of the city. Priene was the first city designed in the grid fashion and you can still see the outline of many of the streets. The town has ruins that contain a theater and council chamber, and the remains of its grand Temple of Athena. The inscription in the temple says that the sanctuary is dedicated to the goddess Athena. This inscription is in the British Museum today. You can only imagine the bustling life that once thrived within these walls. Next, we stopped for a snack some local flavors, which the included a Turkish favorite, Gözleme, Kasar cheese in filo pastry…absolutely delicious. Mehmet dropped us back at the cruise terminal and we said our goodbyes. We had a wonderful day with Mehmet, catching up and seeing new sites in his beautiful country. We are excited for tomorrow as we disembark in Athens for our next 14-day adventure to the Balkans.