After moving to a better room I found my way to Side, Turkey (a 5 minute drive). They let us off at a bazaar area and I checked out the booths. I didn't buy much because they really start harrassing you (in a friendly way) until you made a sale. I even had to lie when they asked if I was alone--my husband was back at the hotel ;). Here is the infamous Turkish eye:
It was all over!
I got to see a lots of ruins. They were even excavating some "houses" as I walked by and you could see the mosaic floors still with their designs. This is a picture of one of the main "streets" with columns on either side.
This one is of the amplitheater:
The Great Gate (you can see the fountain which is the arch with two columns close by):
The library:
Some camels "sleeping" by some ruins.
It is hard to tell, but this is a sharp cliff.
I found a little path and walked along the edge until I came to more shops then to this:
The Roman Temple of Apollo (erected about 2nd century A.D):
See if you can match the pictures above in this map:
It is amazing how advanced they were with aquaducts, cisterns and fountains.
After getting back to the hotel and having dinner, the dessert buffet was waiting:
One evening they had a gigantic baked alaska (ice cream with meringue insulating it while it is baked briefly) and I wished I had run back to my room for the camera. As long as I am mentioning food and eating, I must say there was a down side to being alone during dinners--when I left my table (on the veranda) to go get my dessert they cleared the plate and drink and someone else was sitting in my place so I had to go find another place to sit. I was a bit embarrassed when a host asked if I was ONLY eating dessert! I had my fill of people watching, mainly at meal times. I would see if I could match which people belonged together as they walked to their tables. It was fun.
On the way back to the airport I snapped a few pictures. I wanted people to see the mountains here.
Also, this is a common site--skeleton buildings that have never been finished.
And that ends your tour, hope to see you again!
(And sadly ends my holiday).
Gorgeous! Their mountains look a LOT like Utah mountains (from the pics you showed). I loved all the pictures of the ruins and of Apollo's temple. SWEET! Sounds like an amazing trip. Sooo glad you got to go. And for my own selfish reasons, I'm glad you're back!! You were missed. Love you lots. Jeni
Posted by: Jeni at November 11, 2008 12:26 AMYou have a great camera! Was the sky truly that deep blue color? If so, then you went at a perfect time of year. I wonder how similar the cities are to Jerusalem. I'm learning in my studies how King Hezekiah built up aquaducts and other fortifications similar to what you saw. I think Golden Corral is trying to mimic the dessert buffet you had. Where do you start? Ha! It all looks scrumptious. Too bad Scott missed all this when he was bunked up with 150 other servicemen in a converted handball court on some base in Turkey.
Posted by: Dana at November 11, 2008 01:53 AMCan I just say that a vacation to someplace like that all ALONE sounds like absolute HEAVEN! How did you get so lucky to have a husband who encourages that? I might get to go to a scrapbook weekend at a cabin with my friends but Michael would never ok a trip to a luxury resort all by myself -- he'd want to come too. :) As much as I love my husband, I'd LOVE a vacation all alone to do as I wish for a number of days. (sigh)
LOVE the photos and loved the temple of Apollo. That's right up my alley! Wonderful!
Posted by: Heidi at November 11, 2008 06:43 AM