Dakili & Ephesus

Dakili, Turkey
15th August
Thirty one years ago we drove past the entrance of Ephesus and didn't go in and I have regretted it ever since. I wasn't going to miss out this time. Unfortunately we picked the day when there were also 4,000 passengers off cruise ships berthed in nearby Izmir who happened to be visiting as well. It's not like Petra or Hampi where that number would be spread over a large area, Ephesus is pretty small. They drop you at the top of the ruins and walk down to the car park at the bottom. Perhaps the photo gives you an idea of the crowd. It was interesting but I am more attracted to Greek antiquity and most of what was on display was from the Roman era. The temple of Artemis used to be there, one of the 7 wonders of the world, but only the foundations are left. The statues of Artemis in the nearby museum were interesting though, she was the goddess of hunting and fertlity.
We travelled on to this place Dakili afterwards. The camp site is on the sea, it is a summer destination for lower and middle class Turks. Quite interesting really. The bedooms are enclosed inside but the living area is open to the rest of the camp area apart from a low wall. This building continues along the 2 sides of the site. We were the only foreigners there apart from a couple of French and Italian vans.
16th August. The Dardanelles
Our last day in Asia. Quite sad to leave really. We took the ferry to the Gallipoli Peninsula and are spending the night near the town of Gallipoli camped on the edge of the Sea of Marmaris. We will pay our homage at Anzac Cove before crossing into Northern Greece in the afternoon.