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Published: February 27th 2013
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Taking the D400 in an easterly direction we opened the car windows and sped towards Perge. Passing hundreds of road side sellers with succulent strawberries and huge bags of oranges there was plenty to see. From the hotel complexes to the small one room dwellings and the lone cows on any piece of grass. The traffic lights fascinated Woolly.
Woolly says – They count down!!!! When red they count down to when they turn to green and vice versa, will have to recommend them to Mr Cameron, it would save a lot of road rage!!!!
Taking the turning to Perge we rounded a bend to the most splendid sight of an amphitheatre, pulling into the car park we could see remains in all directions. Paying our 15TL each (approximately £6.20 GBP), expensive for Turkey, we entered the ancient city of Perge……..
Woolly says - !!!!!!???????!!!!!!!
The Mammoth was speechless and to be fair so were we. Incredible, amazing, awesome, huge, EPIC we ran out of adjectives, it really is worth a visit and words cannot describe what we saw, we can but try……
Woolly says – all around us were
huge columns disappearing for miles into the distance, buildings sprouted through the undergrowth, there were miles and miles of sites to see. With some areas dating back to the Bronze Age a large part of the city was constructed during the 1
st century – we were walking on pure history! Excavation and restoration began in 1946 and continues today, there are areas fenced off that show recent work in progress and given another ten years or so you might need to spend a week here to walk round, we only had a day so we set out and found so much. Perge is famous by the fact that when Saint Paul started his journeys, he visited Perge in 46 A.D. and preached his first sermon here.
With Woolly in melt down and Ian clicking away with his camera, we followed what appeared to be a dirt track.
Woolly says – there were large buildings along the track and as we turned a corner we found a recently excavated site with no signage on, possibly a large dwelling with courtyard, taking the path to the left we were met by the sight of The Nymphaeum, Jo told
me this meant fountains and was nothing to do with Nymphs! It served as the gate to the Acropolis but more importantly it provided the water for the city which would flow down the central channel – I looked but there was no water now. Turning our backs to the fountain we feasted our eyes on a colonnaded street with what would have been shops, I found writings on the pieces on the ground, not sure what they said but they were clear and easy to make out. The street runs for 480 metres and parts of it were constructed by Hadrian who I thought was in North of England…
It’s the same bloke Woolly, he was a busy man
Woolly says – He was pretty good at building in my book. I could imagine the hustle and bustle of the market street as it would have been and now so quiet, almost silent. Jo and I sat for a few minutes and absorbed the atmosphere and then we found TADPOLES!!!! I got very excited and nearly fell into the water with them.
Having rescued Woolly and taken a picture of the tadpoles – there
will be thousands of frogs there soon, we carried on to the Agora.
Woolly says – this was awesome, a round building surrounded by columns, Jo told me that it would have been used to sell the luxury goods of the time, Harrods of many centuries ago, very cool. We walked further and further, I found that my fur was getting a little sweaty by now but it was worth it.
I thought that Woolly could do with a bath…..
Woolly says – in front of us was the Bath House, just as I thought it couldn’t get any better it did, in spades. With no towels or shower gel we entered what would have been the changing room area, wandering through to the Natatio or open air pool I considered a swim, a bit too green and slimy to be fair, thought I would give it a miss. More and more rooms and areas unfolded, the cold baths, the warm baths, the hot baths - boy did these dudes like their baths! You could see where the underground heating system would have been and the steps down into the separate pools, imagining it covered in marble
and mosaics it must have been beautiful.
They were truly amazing, began in 69AD, the skill and craftsmanship really is a sight to behold.
Woolly says – but there was more, the Round towers standing proud against the landscape, these formed the symbol of Perge, with their bronze statues and the intricate carvings they must have been……hmmm EPIC. Turning we saw the Basilica, although not much remains the area it covered was the size of Wembley, pretty big. As my paws were getting sore and the need for a drink became a necessity we came to the Roman City Gate, my breath was taken away again……
This was one of the last parts of Perge to be constructed, originally built to protect the city, it was covered in jewels and gold’s…..
Woolly says - …. It must have been the grandest thing in the world, I so wish I could have seen it in all its glory.
Having walked for miles in the sun, I picked Woolly up, collected Ian from his photographic heaven and begged for a coffee.
Woolly says – following a coke (coffee really!!!), Ian led the way to the car
park, by-passing the car and kept going. Before I knew it I was beside the stadium shops, with huge arches and inscriptions as to the wares being sold still to be seen, we passed through a passage way and well……
I do like it when Woolly is too shocked for words! Laid out before us was the Stadium, one of Turkeys best preserved pieces of history, although damaged due to an earthquake. Rows and rows of seats surrounding a mammoth (not Woolly) oval where chariots would have raced, festivals to the Gods would have taken place and all sporting events would have been held. It was impressive to say the least.
Woolly says – impressive doesn’t even start to describe it, I only wish I had my Jeep with me I could have had hours of fun driving round with it! Ian called us over and we found further riches, the carvings and sculptures from the amphitheatre and across the road the theatre rising high above us, unfortunately it is still being excavated and restored and we couldn’t go in – well worth coming back for in the future. Making our way back to the car we sat
in stunned silence for a while before joining the D400 and heading to Kemer..
Driving through mountain views, and the horrendous traffic of Antalya we arrived at Kemer, Woolly admitted defeat and went to sleep while Ian and I wandered the harbour, admiring the views of the mountainous back drop, a lovely little town with glorious views a calm and tranquil sea, the only downside being a very pebbly beach and everywhere seemed to shut at 6!!!!!
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