Ruins, old and new

I have spent the last week or so looking at tons of old rocks. Piled high, looming on hillsides, scattered amid trees. I have to admit, I am a bit maxed out on ruins at this point. However, you may not be, so here are a few selected photos from Pergamon, Ephesus, Iasos and Olympos (whew!).


This theater is the best part of the ruins at Pergamon.



The ruins at Ephesus are truly impressive, and include, among other important buildings, a library and a public toilet.



The old fortress-city of Iasos was completely empty when I visited. It's not one of the huge restored sites, but the setting of this house with mosaic floors on a hill above a bay is beautiful.

Iasos is also the setting for a typical scene in Turkey, especially along the coast: development that mars the landscape but is never even completed. In this otherwise peaceful and quiet place, huge construction projects come and then suddenly go. I don't know how long this shell of a hotel has been here, but the weeds have grown thick over the abandoned materials.


Olympos: This is probably the coolest spot for a castle.

See? Now you're tired of ruins, too.