Blogs from Bergama, Aegean, Turkey, Middle East
July 12th 2011
There are several of us in the group that are getting all columned out. These ruins are starting to blend altogether and it is getting difficult to keep it all straight. We are all still so appreciative and thankful to be here, I mean, it is a good problem to have, all in all. Even our leader was saying the other day that it will take a while for us to process it all and I’m agreeing with her 100%. The first stop today on July 11 was to Bergama and the Acropolis. There is a new tram in place to take us to the top of the mountain. The most impressive ruin to me was the 10,000 seat theater. It was very vertical and if I had the time, I don’t think I would have ... read more
February 23rd 2010
Yesterday we made our way up the coast of the Aegean to Bergama (Pergamum). We are travelling to Canakkale and this was a good way to break up that journey, while offering us the opportunity to visit the spectacular Acropolis. Pergamum was one of the ancient world's major powers during the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC. Lysimachus, one of Alexander the Great's generals and friend, stored his lootings up here. The old city is perched high on a hill and has a spectacular view of the surrounding plains - it would be easy to see it's appeal for defensive purposes, and in fact Pergamum was able to hold off the Gauls here making them quite celebrated during Hellenic times. For some reason, the ruler Attalus III (Lysimachus' son) bequeathed Pergamum to Rome on his death in ... read more
June 14th 2009
After riding for the last 9 days it was nice to have a break and do tourist stuff. The tourist stuff being wandering around the ruins of Bergama. These are both extensive and impressive. We took many photographs. I was wondering why people go to visit these places. I'm pretty sure that I know why I do. I am interested in history. I am particularly interested in classical and pre-classical history. I like to wander round ruins and soak up the atmosphere, trying to imagine what it was like to live there, live through the events we know from history. I don't know why other people go. We went to the acropolis then strolled down to where they are excavating 'ordinary' buildings. We went into the mosaic house and were extremely impressed by the mosaics - ... read more
June 13th 2009
Today was all excitement. We had a glass of tea at the tea garden then headed for the bike to discover we had a flat front tyre. There was a wedding last night and we guess it was some kind of high jinx. The empty panniers were also opened. Some men came by with a hand pump and the tyre has stayed inflated. The first part of the road was as hairy on the way back as it was on the way out. Then we got a smooth run. After stopping at Behramkale / Assos for a quick take in of the view we found the old coast road beyond Ayvacic, which is attractive although in places all you have to your right is a short vertical drop to the sea. We found a place serving ... read more
March 14th 2009
From 3rd Century BC to the 1st Century AD, Pergamum was one of the Middle East's most powerful kingdoms. The Asclepion of Pergamum (or Pergamon) was among the world's earliest and greatest medical centers. Here the great physician named Galen laid down the basic rules for all the doctors who would come after him for centuries.Complete today with the Monumental Way, large baths, underground tunnels and Theatre, it was spectacular to see. Above the town, perched on a hilltop, is the Acropolis. Just amazing with a 10,000 seat Theatre overlooking valley. The columned Temple of Trajan built by Emporers Trajan and Hadrian in the 2nd Century. Looking down across the valley I could see aquaduct remains making there way across the countryside. Except for the ripoff taxi ride up here, this was incredible!... read more
September 12th 2008
Pergamum - The City of the Snakes Athena Pension, Bergama - September 12th, Afternoon A shortish entry today, you'll be relieved to hear, as I'm a little short on sleep and frankly there isn't a great deal that I can add to the photographs and the history books. Lofted away from the gentle breezes of the Ionian coast, the town of Bergama is about as arid as I have ever seen. The air is desiccated, the people dry, and even the vegetation seems to be out to get you. I am unsurprised that the book of Revelations insistently places the seat of the Devil in the basilica here: "To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. I know where you live - where ... read more
September 11th 2008
A Passage to Turkey Hotel Athena, Pergamon - September 11th Yesterday, I took what Milton would have called a "gaudy day." Cheerfully bobbing around in Ayvalýk's harbour are any number of large-ish boats offering a day's tour of the bay, with lunch and swimming thrown in, for the stingier part of seven pounds. Travel may bring out the snobbery in us all, but there are some things about which it is hard to be a snob, and sea-swimming is one of them. I decided to stand up Sappho and Alcaeus and have a day without thinking for once, lest I should end up like Bernard of Clairvaux, whose mind was so abstracted that he failed to notice Lake Geneva standing in front of him. And although the contents of a package tour descended on the boat, ... read more
August 12th 2008
Day 45 (approx) - Tuesday (I thınk) Backtrackıng a bıt...we arrıved ın Turkey on Frıday at Kusadası, a very slıck port developed for the cruıse shıp market.( There ıs a monstous 5 star tourıst coast all around here....hotels, gated resorts and ghastly euro-dısney-style fun parks for package tourısts...luckıly they stay wıthın theır resorts!) As quıckly as we could we fled by dolmus (mınıbus taxı) to Selcuk. Thıs proved to be a delıghtful town whıch ıs prpsperous wıthout beıng overly affected by tourısm, despıte beıng only about 15 mınutes away from the glorıous ruıns of Ephesus. The roads are all paved wıth brıcks . The Saturday market was the most ımpressıve I've ever seen...beats Venıce easıly....so artıstıc and clean and ınvıtıng. Wısh I could brıng the town offıcıals from that poor lıttle town ın Cambodıa here to ... read more
April 8th 2008
Well we have had a couple of busy days here in Turkey. On Sunday we spent the whole morning at the Archaeological museum. It is possibly the best museum I have ever seen. There was so much there! I couldn’t believe how similar it was to the Cairo museum. Lots of old tombs and statues, all in almost perfect condition. It was amazing! And our guide that we have in Turkey is awesome. He doesn’t talk a lot about one thing, he just says a little about everything. So that’s really nice because we are able to see a lot and it’s not a lot of waiting around. My favorite thing there was probably the sarcophagi (old tombs). They were in such good shape and so intricate. Most of them were around 2,500 years old. The ... read more
April 26th 2007
Acropolis. Simple concept: Acro = top, polis = city… yep it’s a city on a hill. But its not until you get there, that you realise Akropol, as its known here, is so much more than a mere city on a hill. This ancient city, once ruled by one of Alexander the Great’s generals, has a number of important artefacts and ruins, including the alter of Zeus (mostly sitting in a museum somewhere), the temple of Athena and the temple of Trajan which still has part of the marble columns standing. More remarkably, a massive 10,000 seat theatre was constructed in the steep hillside, and due to the geography they had to build the theatre to an impressive height, as they couldn’t build it any wider. As you walked down the stairs, you felt that one ... read more
