Turkey (or a big proportion of Anatolia of the ancient land) has many hidden gems and never fail to surprise with its link to ancient stories and cities. Lying on the eastern side of the country are the cities of Selcuk and Kusadasi, each with its long trail of history and beautiful remnants from the ancient times.
Ephesus Ancient City is well-known for the Temple of Artemis, considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Selcuk city is the entrance to this beautiful ancient city. The city ruins are partly preserved, showcasing the wonders of ancient architecture & engineering. Once you set foot on the ancient city, you will continuously be amazed with how the ancient society build such wonderful and lasting city.
The actual Temple of Artemis is left with very little of its previous glory. The minimum foundations and ruins are still in sights, leaving for the imagination to take over.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephesus
Going atop Kusadasi city provides a hilltop view of the surrounding area, with chilly winds blowing.
Access to Turkey is usually via Istanbul, a modern city famous on its own for many attractions, especially the Bosphorus River which “split” between the east and west. Previously we got to Selchuk and Kusadasi via private transfer as it was a private tour. Road travel is comfortable even a decade ago.
Turkish Lira has undergone some significant changes from the days of my visits. Pre-2007, the old Turkish Lira has been replaced with the newer currency notes. Hyperinflation seems to be a recurring theme for Turkey, hence keeping the notes may not be a good idea. I still have notes from 2005, which is probably not in circulation nor useable!
It is also interesting to note that in my first visit, Turkey as a country was eager to be part of the European Union. That changes in my second visit as Turkey perseveres to move forward on its own, carving out a niche for itself.
Cheng's Musings 