Turkey - Part 4

I am now safely back in Ankara having visited Selçuk and İstanbul since my last post. Selçuk was a very nice town, and I was able to tour the Artemision, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world (not so much now, sadly) and the site of Ephesus, a bit overrun with tourists but cool nevertheless. I also undertook a complicated dolmuş journey to the town of Didim, which contains the Temple of Apollo at Didyma. The temple was wonderful with columns huge beyond belief although the equally complicated trip back to Selçuk was not quite so much fun.

Derek and I took another over-night coach to İstanbul (a 10-hour journey), and spent a few days there visiting the fabulous archaeological museum, the Haghia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and admiring the Grand Bazaar and the seaside fish markets. We also watched a performance Whirling Dervish at a little outdoor cafe and had a bit of fun with the other, mostly international, students and tourists at our hostel. We took an afternoon bus to Ankara on Thursday (only a 7-hour trip), and will probably spend our remaining time finishing up research in the British Institute library. Derek has another week or so here, but I'm returning to Bristol this coming Tuesday and then going on the States on June 16th.