Priene and Miletus

Once again, I have taken loads of photos but simply haven't got time to go through them all in the short time between getting back to the hotel and going for dinner.  Today we visited the rival cities of Priene and Miletus.  Both were port cities situated on opposite sides of the bay into which the River Meander flowed.  However, the river was slow and winding (giving it's name to the English word 'meander') and gradually silted up the bay meaning ships could no longer reach them.  Today both sites are around 9km inland separated by a wide alluvial plain.

Both were Hellenistic cities, with Priene being built on a grid system even though it was on a steep slope.  My picture is of the theatre at Miletus, but in between the two also visited the rather magnificent Temple of Apollo at Didyma, where we had lunch.

Last full day tomorrow, and we will finish on a high with a visit to Ephesus.  It's been an incredibly busy but interesting holiday, but I'll be glad to get home and put my feet up!