Last stop on the caravan route

The first picture is of a caravan stop that dates back to 1200. They are built like forts and have open centers where the caravan traders would stop, be admitted, and show there good to the merchants who occupied the booths to the left. We when on through the door at the other end and ended up in a room that had many arches and domes. We saw a ceremony of the Whirling Dervish who are a sect of the Sufie's. I couldn't take pictures during the ceremony but have some art to bring home and have been referred to a BBC program about the Sufies in northern Pakistan.
The other pictures are of an early morning balloon ride in Cappadonia where you can see the surreal landscape and our shadow on the side of one of the formations as our wild and great Spanish balloon driver took the balloon down into valleys. We loved every minute of it, even Bob.
We're in Istanbul now and have seen a few things but will post them tomorrow night. We're happy. Good night.

From Kas to Cappadocia

We drove all day yesterday, got lost a bunch of times and arrived at Pashahan Hotel around 11 p.m. We were lucky , we had no reservations, to find such a great hotel. I have included some pictures of the hotel both inside and out. We drove around and made a quick survey of various sites. This place is amazing. I have plenty of pictures and can assure you that the various cone formations have been inhabited by monks and early christians, to Greeks, Ottomans, and now us. We are staying in a cave room and it's really cool. We're sleeping with blankets and there is a heater on. We're going to stay here tonight and tomorrow night. We are going on a baloon ride in the morning at 5 a.m. and going to see a ceremony by the Sufie Whirling Durvish tomorrow night. There is also a city built underground that has goes down six or more floors. We'll visit a couple of floors tomorrow. Bob is holding up pretty well. He is asleep in anticipation of the baloon ride early tomorrow. Neither of us are morning people. We are having a wonderful time and I'm in the alcove to the left of the big bed sitting on turkish pillows and using this great wi fi. I'll report after the balloon ride. Good night all.

Last night in Kas, BooHoo

We are in Kas and leaving tomorrow for inland. The are some images from the trip so far. Some are at ruins and some are of the villa where we are staying here in Kas. I can truly say that staying here has been wonderful. I went diving this morning and came back for lunch then went down to the water and had a wonderful swim. I took a nap on a rock tht had some great shade and custains on it then when to the village for some great food. Life is good. Bob loves it.

I'm going diving in the Med today. Wonderful !!!!! Wonderful.!!!!!!!!

We are in Kas and everything is beautiful. Will Post pictures tonight.

This is an amazing place. The building that you see first on the left is the Burial place of Saint John's burial. It just happens to be out our window at the Hotel Bella in Selcuk, Turkey. And behind/and beside it is a sixth century fort. All of this is in the town of Selcuk but it is just an introduction to Ephesus which is probably the most famous and special ruin anywhere. The first date on Ephesus is 2,000 B.C. and built to it's glory about 400 to 600 B.C. under the Greeks and Romans. It is especially well known as the place the apostle John brought the Blessed Mary, wrote the fourth book of the New Testament, lived a long life here and died here and is buried right across from the hotel. Isn't that something? I have lots of images and will share when I come home. By the way, St. Paul also showed up here for a time but was ask to leave by a particularly pagan Roman ruler. I think Paul could be a bit obnoxious.
The storks are nesting outside our balcony. These are babies who have been growing so they're nest is becoming a bit crowded. I think they are cool and I wanted to have a life bird picture to commemorate the passing of my sister's parakeet this morning, in it's home in Lake Charles.
Life go on.
We're having a wonderful time, eating really good food, and seeing some great stuff. I'll get back with you tomorrow night after a big day tomorrow. Bob is having a great time too.
By the way, the building with the high front on it is the library at Ephesus. It was filled with three stories of scrolls. The kind the the scribes would record stuff on. I know you've seen scribes in the movies. Well, this is where they were kept. Good night from this scribe.

The pictures below are small glimpses into our day on the road yesterday. We stopped at a place along the coast for lunch and as we were leaving were stopped by a small parade of very manly men in fierce costumes followed by a group of boys in white angle dress. They were actually taking part in a parade where the boys are escorted to get circumcised. Their mother's were watching to make sure they don't take a run for it.
The two other pictures are of the next site we visited, Pergamum. As you can see the sites get better as we go along. This is a picture of the Temple of Trojan and a huge theater. Bob explained where the word scene came from and we took off for Foca, a small Greek fishing village. Foca is great so we decided to stay two nights. We have a suite on the water. The picture you see was taken from our balcony. Just lucked up and got the last room. We have been swimming and eating, fish of course, and will leave in the morning at 10 for Ephesus. The internet is very slow here. I have wireless in the room but everything is slow. Will sleep now. Good night.

On the road to Faco

We awoke Saturday morning and went up the mountain behind the hotel and little port to the village of Sehram Kale or Assos. As our car climbed to the top of the steep mountain I could certainly see why anyone who had a choice would built temples, palaces, schools, and in Ottoman times mosques atop this mountain. Assos reached it's glory when Aristotle founded a school here in 340 B.C. The Temple of Athens was here having been built in 600 B.C. by the Greeks. You can see the great view down the coast. You can see the Island of Lesbos behind the olive tree. The is a Greek island that is only 7 kilometers off the Turkish coast. The palace was built during Christian times and St. Paul actually started a church here. A mosque was built using the doors to the church at a later time. The mosque is still in use today.
Then we were back on the road again.

Assos in the morning then we hit the road

Left Assos yesterday and found Faco for two nights

I have a million mistakes in my past blogposts so I will try to correct some mistakes that one of my traveling companions suggested I use the spell check. I was so tired the last post that all I wanted to do was let you all know that we got here and are on the road. The place where the huge battle that I mentioned is Gallipoli and it is very impressive. I is very difficult to get a feel for the battles because the different landings and memorials are scattered across the peninsula. It is very impressive.
I was also told that I mispelled Marmara (sea) and Assos (ruin and small village). It is true and I have made my corrections.

The picture above is of a town and ruin called Asso. The island behind is a Greek Island. We drove off the beaten path the the ruins on the hill. These ruins date back to Plato. We will see more of them in the morning. We drove over the mountain and dropped into an escape place that is so picture perfect that it's hard to believe our luck the first night out. I went swimming in water that is blue and cold and wonderful. We're staying in the Grand Asso hotel which is directly on the little harbor. We had dinner outside to some lovely music and I found time to post my progress so far. Hope to have more to report tomorrow night. Bob is having a very good time and for that I am grateful. Good night

fun

A long day of Battlegrounds ends in a great place

We finally arrived in Istanbul and Sali met us at the airport and promptly took us to his parents summer villa on the Sea of Marmer.
I slept for 26 hours straight. They had a wonderful dinner for us when we arrived and they woke me the next night to feed me again. The food was great and the hospitality was greater. We left this morning and have been to the WWI battle grounds where the Turks laid many an ally to rest. I'll put in some pictures of today in what will be my last post.