Around Izmir, Turkey

Izmir is Turkey's third largest city, located along the country's west coast. It's an historic, old, port city with a pedestrian friendly core. Let's explore.

Mini overview. Old neighborhood with newer condos around the periphery.

Some fresh produce in the Kemeraltı Bazaar, the main, old shopping warren of small alleys. Government office, looking snazzy.

The Konak Cami, mosque. A cute, unusual octagonal-shaped building.

Izmir has a long history of being both a Muslim and Jewish city. This nicely carved facade of a public fountain speaks to both religions. A monument to Hasan Tahsin, who started the Turkish revolution in 1919, famously remembered as the "First shot."

Izmir's icon, landmark, symbol. An ornate clock tower in the middle of central Konak square.

House Of The Virgin Mary

She had to live somewhere, right? Barns are not a long-term solution. The house, located in western Turkey, near the ancient site of Ephesus, was discovered in 1881. Just a ruined house on hill. The place was found based on the visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich, a Roman Catholic nun. Good eyesight.

The Catholic Church has neither confirmed nor denied the authenticity of the home where Mary lived and reportedly died. The church likes a good pilgrimage site as much as the next religion. Good for business.

The cute house, now a shrine.

The rest of the site is a mishmash of paths and random sculptures. A Franciscan monk. Some metal plaques.

There's a little diorama of the Holy Family. Baby Jesus, looking a little green. Green as in new or green as in carsick? Donkey cart sick?

Proud parents.

Down the hill a bit from the house is a giant, gold statue of the Virgin Mary. Depending on the light and time of day, sometimes her back is her best side. Just radiating love.

Exploring Ephesus

Great lights, Greek city. Ephesus is one of the biggest ancient Greek cities in the world that one can visit. The sprawling complex, complete with impressive apartments for the rich folk, is located about an hour south of Izmir in western Turkey.

Ephesus may have started out Greek but morphed into Roman. New guests, new architecture. From 110 AD, built by the Romans, the impressive front facade of the Library of Celsus.

Sculpture remnants at the Memmius monument. One of the hills has a series of fancy terrace houses, most with mosaics on the floors and walls.

Looking through an arch at the ancient, intimate Odeon.

Field o' sarcophagi. Pensive bull.

The giant theater, capacity about 25,000, largest in the ancient world. Mulled wine by the case served.

Covering it up at the Odeon. Solid marble is more like a wrap. The pretty, delicate facade of the Temple of Hadrian.

Line up, grab a hole and relieve yourself.

Ahh, Alacati, Turkey

Alacati is a sleepy fishing town, on the west coast of Turkey, about an hour or so from the city of Izmir. The place has now been discovered as a great weekend getaway, a place to chill, stroll, eat, drink, pass out, and then do it again the next day. Let's visit.

Old stone windmills greet you, kind of the town's landmark.

Another landmark, the central mosque. Keeping things spiffy, a cobblestone crew working in the early morning chill. Light 'em, if you got 'em.

Alacati is a low slung town, filled with cute whitewashed houses, apartments with stone and bright color accents. Restored buildings next to ruins.

Muslim cemetery. Cool headstone with fez top.

Another example of the typical architecture, dreamy.

Some bling. Gold statue and over-sized lemon. Hand for scale.

A few minutes beyond the town is the Aegean Sea, sparkling.

Strolling Asklepion In Turkey

Asklepion is known as a sort of health and spa area for Greeks and Romans who were tired of perching at the nearby hilltop of Pergamon in Turkey. Come for the baths, the massages, the entertainment.

The grand boulevard to the complex. Pergamon is in the distance, up the hill.

Shaking things up a little in the column world, a little red sandstone. Frieze as propped prop.

The little theater.

To the baths. The complex is circular, partially still covered and in tact. Nice grotto double barrel interior vaults.

Everyone always wants to know where ancient civilizations went to the bathroom. OK, maybe just certain people. Everyone poops, right? Well, right there!

The Red Basilica In Bergama, Turkey

An early multi-purpose building? Temple, church, mosque, what do you need? It depends on the conquering party.

The ruins of the main temple, looking back from the altar area.

The original purpose of the temple was, perhaps, to worship the Egyptian god, Isis. Floral frieze fragment.

Another religion showing up, Hebrew text on a headstone.

The main temple is flanked by round rotundas, well preserved. One rotunda is an active mosque.

More work to do. Dig it, sort it and shelve it for another day, another decade.

The Ancient City Of Pergamon

What a nice bunch of rocks on a hill. Pergamon, in western Turkey, is a hilltop city established as far back as the 8th century BC and spans Greek, Roman, and Byzantine eras. Most of the architectural gems date to the Greek period.

The mighty temple of Trajan and Zeus.

A long procession of barrel vaults at the upper sanctuary. Big column base at the Dionysos temple.

Trajan and Zeus temple detail, showing how marble was used as a cladding. Vinyl siding, here we come.

Frieze and column pieces in need of a home. Plenty of work for future grad students.

The massive theater, built into the steep hillside. From the 3rd century BC and it could hold 10,000 spectators. Origin of the nosebleed?