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The temple that we see today was not the original structure. An earthquake in approximately 494BC ruined that. Reconstruction started shortly after, mainly overseen by Alexander the Great but the temple was never completely finished.Over hundreds of years, building work stopped and started but eventually Christianity spread throughout the region, making the concept of mythical gods redundant. Historians often surmise that had the construction of the temple finished, it would have rivalled its counterpart, the oracle of Delphi in Greece.People travelled from miles around just to have a consultation with the high priestess of the temple but often poor people could not afford the sacrifice needed, leaving only the wealthy to take advantage of a prediction for the future.Throughout the grounds that the temple is located in, ancient stones sit among green grass and daisy flowers and the most photographed is the mystic head of Medusa with the snarling snakes.

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Bafa Lake has become a bird sanctuary and an open-air museum of sorts, where the flora and fauna are nearly as impressive as the region's 8,000-year-old history as evidenced by the wide presence of ancient cave drawings, temples, churches, monasteries and tombs that are sprinkled throughout the lake region. Small islets inside the lake serve as bird breeding grounds coupled with ancient remnants of stone walls and archways of ancient structures visible from the shore.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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Doganbey is a former Greek village located by the ancient Mykale Mountains across the Greek Island of Samos, the birth place of famous mathematician Phytogoras. In 1924 there was an exchange of populations between Greece and Turkey. Turks living in Greece were exchanged with the Greeks living inTurkey. This is one of the rare exchange villages. Former Greek name was 'Domatia''. Approximately 300 houses were located in this village. After this exchange in 1924 the village was hit by an earthquake in 1959 and abondoned. The villagers founded a new settlement and named as ''Yeni Doganbey" meaning the ''New Doganbey''. Today the villages stone homes are restored by their new owners from big Turkish cities who can afford to restore the ruined homes.

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Dilek Peninsula National Park covering 10.985 hectare area at Dilek Peninsula is situated on the south of Kusadasi (Kuşadası) near Davutlar and Guzelcamli (Güzelçamlı) in the province of Aydin (Aydın). This mountainous land is divided with canyons and valleys. Dilek Peninsula including sandy, pebbled, horizontal and high coastal formations as well as such canyons and valleys, embrace natural, historical and cultural values. Besides its interesting geological formation, Dilek Peninsula National Park has a rare Mediterranean flora.There are many beaches to choose from, the Kalamaki beaches count of several bays the most important ones being – Icmeler, Kavakli and Karapinar. All beaches of Dilek Peninsula National Park are worth seeing beauty.Dilek Peninsula National ParkThere are also some endangered species in the national park. Anadolu Pars is the most typical example of these species. There are not only many reptile, mammal and bird species in the park, but also almost all fish species and sea turtles of Mediterranean live and breed here. Monk seals protected in Mediterranean countries are also among habitants of the area. Guzelcamli village was used as the assembly place for the political and scientific centre of Ionia in the 9th and 8th centuries BC.

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Located in southwestern Turkey, in the upper valley of the Morsynus River, the site consists of two components: the archaeological site of Aphrodisias and the marble quarries northeast of the city. The temple of Aphrodite dates from the 3rd century BC and the city was built one century later. The wealth of Aphrodisias came from the marble quarries and the art produced by its sculptors. The city streets are arranged around several large civic structures, which include temples, a theatre, an agora and two bath complexes.

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Just like the Ephesus, Miletus had been founded as a port, but since its harbour silted up with alluvium carried by the Meander River, it is away from the sea today. The well-designed grid-plan of the city is famous. The tourist attractions of Miletus include the theatre with a seating capacity of 15,000, dating from the Roman Period, that is being repaired, the Roman baths built in the 1st century AD, the Delphinion that was a sacred place, the North Agora, the Ionic stoa dating from the 2nd century AD, the Capito baths, the Gymnasium, the Bouleuterion built in the 2nd century AD, the South Agora that covers an area of 164x196 m, and the Faustina Bath built in the 2nd century AD.

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It was founded within the borders of today's Aydın. According to the myths, it was established by the Argostians and the barbarian Tralleissians. However, it should have been a city before used by the Karians.After it was occupied by Alexander in 334 BC, dominants of the city had frequently changed among the Hellenistic Kingdoms. It progressed in sculpture in the Bergama kingdom period and the two famous sculptors Apolloio and Tauriskos grew here. The only building that still remains standing in the city, described by Strabon, is a ruin of gymnasion built in the 2nd century AD and called Üçgözler by Aydın people. Necropolis lies in modern Aydın, at northern side of the city. It is being understood from the inscriptions found in the digs and from the articles of ancient period authors that the Zeus Larasios tempest and the Zeus Larasios cult existed in the Hellenistic Period. However, its exact location is not known yet. Besides, an agora, a theatre and a stagium are the other structures of the city.

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This cave is in the region of Güzelçamlı and attracts hundreds of visitors every day. It is surrounded by trees, plants and flowers and hidden from view which gives it a secret and mystical feel.
At the entrance is a wish tree that people tie pieces of material and ribbons to in the belief that their wishes will be granted.

Inside there is sparkling clear deep water that forms a unique pool in which you can swim and tastes like carbonated mineral water as spring water from the mountains mixes with the salty sea water. Ironically it is freezing cold in the summer and warm in the winter and is popular with the local teenagers and tourists.
This is the last stop on the jeep safaris that go through Dilek National Park and as explained by the mayor of Güzelçamlı “According to legend, when Zeus provoked and annoyed his brother Poseidon (the God of the Sea), he would hide safely in the calm waters of the cave while Poseidon during his wrath and anger would make the seas storm and rise”. When the sea is rough and not good for swimming the people come here instead of the beach and are reminded of this legend.

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Magnesia ad Meandrum is located on the Ortaklar - Söke Highway, within the borders of Tekin village in Ortaklar quarter of the Germencik District of Aydın. According to the ancient resources and the myths, the city was established by a tribe which came from Thessalia and were called the Magnets. Nobody knows the exact location of first Magnesia, which was founded by Magnets who landed at today's Bafa Lake that was a small bay under the leadership of Leukippos and divination of Apollo; but it was estimated that it was located at the edge of the Menderes River.

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Priene was an ancient Greek holy city and home of the Temple of Athena and is 35km south of Kusadasi. The site lies 200m just west of Güllübahce village and the ruins dating from around 350 BC include columns of the Temple of Athena, large parts of the city wall, a council chamber (the most intact to be found in Turkey) and a very well preserved theatre.
Priene was originally a port city but because of the continuous silting from the Meander River access to the sea was eventually blocked and the new city relocated further inland where it sits today. Priene has one of the best preserved Hellenistic townscapes in Ionia, under the guidance of architect Hippodamus; it was built in a grid pattern made up of various rectangular units (insule) approximately 42m by 35m with four private homes within each rectangle. Sitting in this sheltered peaceful location there are a number of unique streets and structures and it is a major source of information about ancient Greek town planning.

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Pigeon Island is actually a peninsula at the end of the bay and was the area for the seasonal migration of birds and known as “Bird Island” and during Ottoman times the island was given to the town and the town became known as Kuşadaşı (Bird Island).
The island was renamed Pigeon Island and was originally used as a strategic defence against sea attacks and the Ottoman’s used it for military purposes.
Pirate Castle that stands on the rocks was built in Byzantine times as a defence against pirates and from where you can see yachts sailing on the dazzling blue waters of Kuşadası .
There are many shoreline restaurants to dine at and taste fresh sea-food and other delicious local produce.

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It is one of Karia cities, which is founded at Araphisar village that is 7 km far from theÇine District of Aydın. According to Stephanos from Byzantium, the king Kar gave this name to the city upon his son Alabadros's victory in a horse race. We all learned from Strabon that the people of Alabanda were very rich, lived in luxury and all girls in the city played harp. The foundations of two temples were found during the digs carried out by Mr. Halil Ethem. One of the important works in the city is a bouleuterion. Besides, the tombs seen at the east are the indications that a necropolis existed here. A water arch and a theatre are the other buildings seen in the region.

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Hope I can travel to Turkey some day!
Ana Teresa