Christmas Day in Bodrum (Halicarnasas) - a few days of R&R

Hugo and I are in Bodrum. We went to a crummy pansyon (Mylasa) for one night, didn't like it, and decided to switch today. Much better. Hugo woke up with a doozie of a cold this morning and then he twisted and put his back out. The weather is not so warm, but also not so cold - it is very windy today, though! Still, we decided to go up to see the castle. We really enjoyed it a lot. A very nice day.

The castle is the Castle of St. Peter and a showplace of medieval military architecture. It has five turrets named after the homelands of the knights (England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain). Inside the castle walls there is also a Museum of Underwater Archaeology that displays items found in shipwrecks in the area.

The wind was blowing hard through the masts of the yachts and making a very weird sound - maybe that's why there are so many ghost stories about haunted boats.

 Coats of arms (Plantagenets, d"Aubussons, etc)

 Theater masks....

 Peacocks ....

 Poinsettias....

 English Tower...

MEB training in Izmir

Just finished MEB training in Izmir - good formateurs, good participants, good time! Stayed at the MEB Karsiyaka Ogretmenevi.  On to Bodrum now for a break!

Pamukkale travertines

The weather was really fine at Pamukkale (too hot in summer!). We saw the travertines at last. The spring water here is warm (36 degrees centigrade - body temp) and contains high concentrates of calcium hydro carbonate.

Pamukkale - antient pool

The thermal water at Pamukkale is 36* centigrade (about body temperature). Ph is 5.8. It is supposed to be a healing water for all sorts of ills. The bottom of t his pool is full of columns and other ruins.

Pamukkale

We saw the many layered ruins at Pamukkale and the Heirapolis (Ionian Federation). These ruins are Roman, with an Apollo Temple, agora, a Byzantine church, and - near the top (wouthern) entrance a huge group (over 1000) of stone sarcophagi. Also Friggian ruins all around here. I remember coming here in 1973/ or '74 with Mom and Stan. Ayse was just aout 4 or maybe 5 years old.

St. John's church ruins in Selcuk

Standing in the St. John church, which is evidently undergoing reconstruction (looooong project...) by Pamukkale University. This church was built directly over what is believed to be St. John's grave. It woul dbe the 7th largest in the world if it were reconstructed.

From St John church on top of the hill near the castle in Selcuk (near Efes), overlooking the coutyard of the Isa Bey Cami. The mosque is more attractive from this point. Up close, it struck me as a bit of a hodge-podge.

Isa Bey Cami in Selcuk

The Isa Bey Mosque in Selcuk. A strange mosque with a variety of styles that seem to clash. hmmm

Archaeology museum in Selcuk

We were very happy to be able to get these photos of Artemis, Roman goddess of fertility, at the Efes Archaeology Museum in Selcuk very close to Ephesus.