Turkish Delights #4 - Kuşadası

"Where there is ruin, there is hope for treasure." – Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi

Intro:

Turkey is an amazing country, blessed with diversity in its landscapes, traditions, cuisine and history. The country has more than 8,000 km of coastline, including the Black Sea (Karadeniz) to the north, the Mediterranean Sea (Akdeniz) to the south, and the Aegean Sea (Ege Denizi) to the west. There are also many vast inland bodies of water; stunning lakes and beautiful rivers throughout. From mountains to seaside, rural to urban, Turkey is a country with so much to offer, and so much to explore.

Every now and again I am fortunate enough to venture out into different regions. I hope one day that I am able to take one year to discover all of its treasures - but in the meantime I hope to post some of the photos I take on my occasional journeys.

Kuşadası

This Turkey post takes us to Kuşadası located in the province of Aydın on the Aegean coast, south of İzmir.

The name Kuşadası, meaning “Bird Island” in Turkish, was given because the island looks like a bird's head when viewed from the sea. The tiny island, just off the coast of the eponymous resort, can be accessed via a short walk along the connecting breakwall.

The local economy here is primarily driven by tourism. The costal road is lined with hotels, and the port receives luxury cruise liners on a regular basis. The district is conveniently located between İzmir and Bodrum, so it serves as a port of call for tourists who wish to visit all three destinations via land or sea, as well as some of the nearby historical sites including Selçuk, Meryem Ana and Ephesus.

Meryem Ana is said to be where the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus, spent her last days. Ephesus is one of the locations which is claimed to be where the ‘Sleepers of the Cave' sought refuge from the tyrannical Roman emperor Decius, a pagan ruler who persecuted the people for their beliefs. The Sleepers of the Cave are revered in both Christianity and Islam.

[K1] Kuşadası Island

[K2] Kuşadası Island 2

[K3] Harbour View

[K4] Park and Cruise Liner

[K5] Selçuk Castle

[K6] Selcuk Castle 2

[K7] Meryem Ana

[K8] Meryem Ana 2

[K9] Meryem Ana 3

Please reply below to let me know which (if any) of the photos you like the most.

I am not a photographer, and most of my photos are taken with an iPhone 6, so I realise my limitations. I would be really grateful for advice, suggestions and/or recommendations that the community has to offer with respect to technique, composition, equipment etc.

Thanks for taking the time to look over my post. Please follow to see the next location.

All the best!

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