Didyma

One of the ports on our cruise was at Kusadasi, Turkey, where there are lots of options for viewing nearby ancient Turkish ruins. Although the most impressive ruins are probably at Ephesus, we were put off by all the photos we'd seen showing hordes of people at that site, so we chose to visit three other sets of ruins instead: Priene, Miletus and Didyma.

Our excursion included lunch and we were delighted when we were taken to the restaurant above, overlooking the ruins of Didyma. We had a wonderful meal that included a huge buffet of delicious Turkish dishes and were then served an entree of sea bass. Afterwards, we walked to the ruins and explored them with our guide.

Photo by Steve Bohn

This photo shows the Temple of Apollo, the main structure at Didyma. By walking through stone tunnels, you reach a lower level of the temple. It's a very impressive sight and fun to explore.

Fishing at Eminonu

Fishing along the Eminonu waterfront is a popular pastime in Istanbul. We passed these fishermen as we walked back to our cruise ship (to the right above) docked in Karakoy across the Galata Bridge. This part of Turkey is known as the Golden Horn.

I've added a texture from Shadowhouse Creations.

Sunken Cistern

This is a view of the largest of many ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul. This one was built during the reign of Emperor Justinian during the 6th century. The ceiling is supported by 336 marble columns, each 30 feet high.  Currently there is only a few feet of water in the cistern and very small fish and coins can be seen in spots where the dim lights penetrate the water. Descending and exploring this damp space can feel very mysterious, despite the fact that it is a popular attraction for both tourists and locals.

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Sailing to Byzantium



Photo by Steve Bohn

 Byzantium was the original name of Istanbul, back when the Greeks founded it in 667 BC. It was later renamed Constantinople and was the capital of the Roman Empire until it was captured by the Ottoman Turks in 1453. In 1930 it was renamed Istanbul.

Sailing into Istanbul was very exciting because the city straddles both Europe and Asia. The city is also a mix of ancient and modern and its people are very proud of their history. This mosque in this image is the famous Hagia Sophia

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House on Santorini

This lovely house is located in Oia on the beautiful island of Santorini, in the Greek Cyclades island group. We spent a fun day on Santorini, walking around Oia and Thira and visiting a winery before taking the funicular back down to the port to return to our cruise ship. I wouldn't mind going back and spending a few days there someday.

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Mykonos Windmill

Most of the iconic windmills of Mykonos were built by the Venetians in the 16th century and primarily used to grind wheat. There are currently 16 windmills on the island. Some of them have been restored and used as dwellings. One has been converted to a museum.

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May Day in Venice




Photo by Steve Bohn

This picture of the San Marco area of Venice was taken as our cruise ship sailed through the Giudecca Canal on its way to the Mediterranean Sea.

May Day is a holiday in Italy and throughout much of Europe and celebrates International Workers Day.

Photo by Steve Bohn

And here is another view from our ship, taken a little further along the canal.

I've added textures from Shadowhouse Creations for an aged effect.