May 21 Kushadasi

The main activities for the Kushadasi port are visiting the ancient port city of Ephesus and purchasing Turkish rugs.  Since this was our 3rd visit to this Turkish port and we don't need rugs, we took the Oceania excursion to Miletus and Didyma, in keeping with the theme of this cruise: old ruins.

Arrival in Kushadasi, grey warships and pastel houses

 The city of Miletus dates back to the 19th century BC.  Most of the ruins are from the Greek and Roman periods.  Here's the Roman stadium.

 The Roman baths

 Our guide did not translate this sign, just outside the entrance to the baths.  One of our fellow tourists suggested that it said, "Men on the left, women on the right."

 İlyas Bey Külliyesi from 1403 at the edge of the Miletus site.  In this context, a very new Mosque.

 Not sure why these building pieces were lying in the creek near the bus pickup point.

 Didyma temple and Oracle of Apollo.  You went here to get your questions answered.  The priests who interpreted the Oracle's response were quite clever in phrasing the replies so that whatever happened, they could assert it was the correct prediction.

 

 After the hot temple, a refreshing beverage, orijinal tat.

 Part of the gift shop outside the oracle

  Miletus was a port city in antiquity and is now several kilometers inland.  The Meander river (and it does meander) deposits a meter of new shoreline every year, more or less.

 Typical of most house roofs we saw.  Water heaters and dish tv.