Our journey from Hierapolis through the fertile Meandros Valley to Miletus moved us closer to the end of our tour. As we crisscrossed traditional villages, steady rain slowed our progress, however the weather cleared whenever we alighted the bus to tour ancient temples and theatres. It will be sad to farewell the friends we have made and to finish our time travelling together. Have we been given a glimpse into the emotions of the Ephesian elders who travelled fif...

In the late afternoon sun we travelled to the ancient Ionian city of Priene. Sitting high above the Meander River on the southern slopes of Mount Mykale, it's remarkable not simply for its backdrop - a towering rock face casts its protective shadow over the site - but because of its design. Though the topography slopes downward, the city is planned with a Greco Roman grid pattern. It was an ordered city, and in its temple the goddess Athena was worshipped to main...