EMBARKATION: SAMOS
DISEMBARKATION: RHODES
SAMOS is the closest of the Greek islands to Turkey - just a mile across. Thick pine forests cover most of the lower slopes and villages perch precariously on small plateaus. There is a grandeur and grace to Samos unequalled elsewhere. In ancient times Samos was knows as Parthenarroussa for its beauty, Dryoussa for its oaks, Anthemis for its flowers, and Hydrele for its abundant springs. Although an island ravaged and pillaged by corsairs is years gone by it is neither run down nor poor in spirit. On the contrary, the island leaves you with a feeling of happiness and friendliness.
KUSADASI (Turkey) is a booming tourist town built on the site of ancient Neapolis of which nothing remains. With numerous carpet shops, souvenir shops, and restaurants it is the gateway to the nearby ancient ruins of Ephesus. The ruins are Hellenistic with a Roman overlay after Rome made Ephesus the capital of the province. The site is impressive for its size and for the clarity with which you can picture the ancient city. You can walk down the Marble Street and see the ruins of a theater, the agora, library, odeon, stadium, gymnasium, and even a so- called brothel.
DIDYMA was a religious sanctuary to Apollo, famed for its oracle, long before that at Delphi became prominent. Didyma was famed for its huge temple which was destroyed by the Persian Darius in 494 B.C. and until Alexander the Great arrived, lay in ruins. What is left of the Ionic temple toady dates from 300 B.C., and the sufficient columns that remain in place give a powerful impression of its size.
ASIN BAY an almost land-locked cove was the ancient harbor for Iassus. A short walk will take you to the ruins of ancient Iassus that lie amongst olive groves with donkeys and cows grazing in the ancient agora and temple. The city was supposed to have been founded by Peloponnesians from Argos. The fort on the top of the craggy hump was built by the Knights of St. John. The site is enchanting.
BODRUM is an enchanting and thoroughly likable town. It has something of a reputation as a Bohemian town, a reputation it acquired when a number of dissident artists and writers were exiled here. The castle of St. Peter dominates the town and houses the excellent Hall of Underwater Archaeology which has finds from wrecks around the coast from the Bronze Age to the Ottoman period. The ancient name for the city is Halicarnassus. Herodotus, the father of written history, was a native of the city.
KNIDOS was renowned for two things: its statue of Aphrodite and the scientist Eudoxos. The statue of Aphrodite was by Praxitelis, one of the greatest Greek sculptors. In the 4th century B.C. the statue was one of the first of a naked woman. Eudoxos was an astronomer and mathematician of the 4th century and is considered one of the founding fathers of Greek geometry. The solitary ruins of Knidos are scattered about the slopes above the ancient harbor in a delightful setting.
DATCA is a pleasant sleepy little spot. It was the capital of the peninsula until the strategic position of Knidos was realized and it became the capital. There are a few ruins of the ancient city to the north of the present village.
MARMARIS is a booming tourist resort. The setting in the pine clad triangular bay is magnificent. The town of Marmaris was devastated by an earthquake in 1958. What little remains of the old village and a medieval fortress built around a rocky knoll, is picturesque.
RHODES is an island that hums and bustles as only the most important tourist centers in Greece can. Hotels stretch along the coasts from Rhodes city where sun and sandy beaches create an irresistible lure for sun-starved visitors. The city consisted of two distinct parts - the old city surrounded by walls built by the Knights and the new town largely built by the Italians during their occupation of the island. Mandraki harbor was probably used by the Knights to keep their swift galleys in. Here in ancient times the Colossus of Rhodes may have stood - the bronze statue of Helios the sun-god, one of seven wonders of the world. Lindos, with its small winding streets between medieval houses and the castle perched on a rock summit, is uniquely beautiful.