Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 from the Anatolian remnants of the defeated Ottoman Empire by national hero Mustafa KEMAL, who was later honored with the title Ataturk, or "Father of the Turks."

Just 30 years ago Kusadasi was a sleepy, traditional Turkish seaside village, dependent for its living on fish, farming and honey production. Since then, though, the double-edged sword of mass tourism has brought wealth (its main street sidewalks are now finished in marble!) and, with that, mass commercialization.

Thronged with traffic and lined with ever more expensive carpet and jewelry shops, you can still find pockets of old-style Turkey amidst the narrow, winding streets of its old town, which house vibrant markets and traditional Turkish baths, and offer a chance to bargain for Oriental carpets.

Kusadasi means "Bird Island" and the town takes its name from the little island (whose name in Turkish means "Pigeon island" or "Dove Island") that is in the harbour and is now connected by a causeway to the shore.This lovely marine city is near Izmir. The cruise ships have established Kusadasi as a major port over the last 15 to 20 years, and as a result, the once sleepy fishing village has evolved into a first-class resort with a full infrastructure of hotels, restaurants, shops and nightlife. Many interesting sites south of Kusadasi can be explored from the town. Such as Ephesus (Efes),House of Virgin Mary.Kusadasi is just 18 km away from Ephesus, also reachable to others: Priene, Miletos, Didyma a few hours away from the Kusadasi.

Being The third largest city of Turkey, and with Izmir and Izmir airport being so close, many local tourists keep coming to Kusadasi even in winter time. Bayrams (religious festivals), new year, Christmas, it's not much different than summer months. A few cruise ships still dock at Kusadasi Harbour in winter and shops near the harbour will be open on them days.
Kusadasi has built a lovely new cruise terminal that's also a modern mini-mall called Scala Nuova; indoors you'll find Western-style shops (sometimes the boutiques are actually western chains such as The Body Shop, Diesel and Longchamps), but there are also some intriguing Turkish boutiques (one selling olive oil, another showcasing European fashions).

A trip to Ephesus; it's the best-preserved ancient city in the Eastern Mediterranean and a magical place that enthralls even those who normally find rubbernecking around ruins a bore. The Virgin Mary is believed to have visited here between 37 and 45 A.D., and the fabulous Temple of Cybele at Artemis -- which Alexander the Great visited during its construction in 334 B.C. -- was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Located just eight miles from Kusadasi, Ephesus at one time was the most important commercial center in the region. The city was built on the river Cayster -- a strategic trade route to Anatolia. The ruins range from a theater and library to private terrace houses with magnificent mosaics and frescoes

try a trip to the beach. Kadinlar Denizi (Ladies Beach) lies 2.5 km south of Kusadasi (you can take a minibus/taxi from the port along the waterfront road) and is a pleasant place to bathe and soak up some sun, but it does get crowded in peak season.

Another option is to take a brisk walk to Guversin Adasi (Pigeon Island), which is reachable via a causeway and topped by a small stone fort. Here, you can stroll through scenic woodland to a hilltop cafe offering snacks and alfresco lunch with a view

This post has been edited by Billie: May 31 2007, 11:15 PM