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Travel Pictures - TURKEY - 1991

All images © Ron Miller

          Turkey provided me with a friendly introduction to the Middle East as well as my
     first in-depth experience with the unfamiliar culture of Islam. I discovered first-hand
     that one need not search for the culture in Turkey because it reaches out and grabs
     you. I was pleasantly surprised by the friendliness of the Turks (well, most of the
     Turks!), and I was awed by the country's historical sites in addition to the magnificent
     and varied landscapes - especially the stunning coastline.

I met these travelers immediately upon entering Turkey. However, they had just spent several weeks exploring the far reaches of the country.
I had taken a liking to Turkish cuisine with its many meat and vegetable dishes seasoned to perfection and I insisted that we eat at one of
Istanbul's Turkish restaurants. Meanwhile, the British travelers were homesick and longing for western food and insisted that we eat at the
only McDonald's in Turkey. We ate that evening at McDonald's! When traveling overseas, one of the most dangerous locations
is between a homesick foreigner and the nearest McDonald's -
Blue Mosque; Istanbul, Turkey

The Grand Bazaar, which claims to house more than 4,000 shops, is the world's capital for unwanted attention. Every foreign visitor
is barraged by vendors shouting "Excuse me my friend, you like carpet?" and "Hello, hello ... cheap price, special for you price" -
Istanbul, Turkey

Ephesus, one of the premier cities of the ancient world, had a population of 225,000 during its peak from 1 to 4 A.D.
The city was home to one of the seven churches mentioned in the book of Revelation and is thought to have been
the final home for Mary, the mother of Jesus. The above photo shows the ancient stones of Arcadian Street
that lead directly to Asia Minor's largest Roman theatre -
Ephesus, Turkey

My Israeli friend, Danny, standing in the cheap seats of The Grand Theater which could seat 25,000 spectators.
The silted harbor can be seen beyond the Arcadian Way -
Ephesus, Turkey

The Celsus Library was constructed in 117 A.D. and could house up to 17,000 scrolls. The construction had a
double-walled system to protect parchments and papyri from mildew and pests by isolating the interior from
extremes of temperature and humidity. Today, only the facade remains of the two-story building -
Ephesus, Turkey

Danny on the boat ride to the ruins of Kaunos -
Marmaris, Turkey

The ancient city of Kaunos is believed to date to 3,000 B.C. The Lycian rock tombs,
with facades carved in the form of temples, were the last resting place for kings -
Kaunos, Turkey

Me and Danny at the mud bath -
Kaunos, Turkey

Sunrise view as the overnight ferry approaches the harbor of Girne in northern Cyprus. I entered the island nation hoping to cross into
southern Cyprus in order to catch a boat to Israel. However, I encountered something commonly referred to as the "Blue Line" -
a major road block for some travelers -
Girne, Cyprus

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