Selcuk Off The Beaten Path

If you walk south from the Isa Bey Mosque towards the Ephesus Museum, you'll pass by many guesthouses and some older buildings. One I passed by was this old library which was built in the 14th century.

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Do you think I went off the excursion routs in Selcuk and decided to have a rest from Ancient sights and watch amazing sheep somewhere off the beaten paths?

No! This pics have been taken just in the centre of Artemis Temple where sheep walked around and ate grass while tourist crowds were watching this Seventh Wonder of the world, haha!

Unlike Istanbul, I felt and experienced a sense of security in hanging out with the locals in Selcuk. The carpet dealers often enjoy just having a conversation with you, or teaching you about carpets. I enjoyed lunch a couple of occassions with a couple local Turkish guys, who are especially interested in the newest pick up lines from America. They may have some great advice for you as a traveler, and should be considered a great resource. Just use your regular common sense

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Çetin dolls museum is a private collection of realistic-looking dolls, animals and houses picturing life of typical Anatolian village 50 years ago. The dolls' heights are about 30 and not one detail is missed! They all are maid by Ayhan Çetin, retired teacher who own the museum, and his wife. Must see number one! From Selcuk, take minibus to Kusadasi and get out 300 meter after the road turns to Kusadasi. You'll the the billboard saying "Maket Koy"

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Storks of Selcuk... I like watching them; how they feed their chidren, how they teach how to fly.... It's so much fun! They comes on April and leaves on August. Acuaducts from Byzantine period are the best places for them to live :)

Sirince is located 12 km from Ephesus. It was originally called Cirkince (Ugly) by the locals to hide the beauty of the town from outsiders.

It is a pretty little town exemplifying the wonderful Turkish-Greek culture. In the 15th Century, there were a number of freed Greek slaves settling in Sirince.

In the 1920s, Turkey and Greece had a population exchange program with many more Greeks settling in Sirince.

The Greek culture can be seen in the white-washed houses that dot the hilly landscape.

Women line the narrow cobbled streets selling handicrafts and other knick-knacks.

Sirince is known for it's wine. There are many Sarap Evler (wine houses) in Sirince where wine tastings are available. The best are the fruit wines such as blackberry, kiwi, peach.

It is easy to get to Sirince from Selcuk on a dolmus (local shared bus). Selcuk to Sirince is about 15 minutes. It is about 1 YTL for a one-way trip.

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Pamucak Beach is situated on the Aegean Coast of Turkey. It is 7 km west of Selçuk and 4 km west of Ephesus.

Most of the beach is open to the public, however, there are some big hotel resorts on it's Southern End.

I was at Pamucak Beach near the end of the day. Romantics take note: I saw one of the most beautiful sunsets ever.

It was just relaxing to walk along the beach and look at the beautiful view.

Can easily get a taxi or a dolmus to Pamucak Beach.

Pamucak Beach is located at 7 km west of Selcuk and 4 km of Ephesus.

Most of the beach is public, but there are also private parts available only for the big resort hotel complexes in the area.

The beach is very nice, with soft sand and very clean and we’ve been lucky enough to stay at a club nearby.

Near the beach is also Aqua Fantasy Water Park.