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Published: February 16th 2017
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Woolly says – the weeks have been flying past and in between catching up with my hordes of fans and checking the nut supplies, I have taken to integrating a little more with our Turkish neighbours, why Jo seemed to have a problem with this I will never know! Possibly because throwing pistachio shells over the balcony is more likely to annoy the neighbours! Woolly says – I’m sure they don’t have a problem with the extra sweeping! The days have been warm and having padded my way round the harbour and sat admiring the views from my special place at the castle, I decided that the women would benefit from a day out, it seemed logical to find somewhere that was accessible by bus, not wanting to trust Jo’s driving on the busy Turkish roads and a new place to take Zoe to. My decision was greeted warmly and with the shops filled with roses I could only hope that I would get through Valentines day without having to kiss or hug anyone. The bus journey seemed to involve lots of nudging in my ribs from my small friend as he noted each and every change on the road to Side.
Woolly says – New hotels to admire and I noted several buildings that have been under construction for years, now appeared to be completed and in use, I sighed happily as the bus pulled into the busy town of Manavgat. It’s been a while since buses have featured in my world and having jumped down onto the tarmac it appeared that this trip would be a doddle as the small shuttle bus pulled up right next to me and I climbed aboard for the short journey into the ancient Roman city of Side. Before the mammoth could start his usual history lesson I pointed out that we have already written about Side (The Smallest Tour Guide in Turkey.... Part Two),
Zoe’s face lit up at the reprieve as we set off to show her the sights. Woolly says – Having glared at Jo and debated leaving them to it for their ingratitude I quickly realised that she was carrying my snacks and supplies as well as moving further and further away from me. I trotted past the Nymphaeum and the grand colonnaded road catching up with them as they were passing the tiny shop ruins that would have once lined the road. Given the size of them it seemed impossible that they had much stock to trade when the whole trading area is smaller than my bed!
As my small friend galloped across the sand dunes we caught up with him in the ruins that would have once been the cities library, but instead of seeing him admiring the architecture and discoursing on all things Roman, he was standing eye to eye with a rather sweet looking camel whilst the camel’s owner encouraged him to climb on board for a ride. Woolly says – Even with the reduced rate I had haggled over it appeared that Jo wasn’t going to be paying for me to experience the delights of being a nomad, having tutted my indignation I led the way through the small streets towards the harbour and the reason that so many people visit the area each year, Apollo’s Temple. Rising high above me it doesn’t matter how many times I see it it’s still hugely impressive and but as the girls captured the sight on camera I could feel my tummy rumbling.
He wasn’t the only one that was hungry, with the sun warming us through we shared a rather good pizza and enjoyed watching the pretty harbour being repaved ready for the coming season. Woolly says – with bellies full I considered the slight problem that the repaving had given me, huge piles of sand, massive holes and cables everywhere didn’t seem a safe way of traversing the street, but going back they way we had come would add miles onto our route, I sat scratching my trunk and deliberating on the best approach to the problem. The usually pretty street was a mess but with no issues regarding health and safety...this is Turkey after all, I picked up the smallest member of the group and navigated through the devastation. Woolly says – She can be quite nice sometimes! I was eager to show Zoe the beautiful amphitheatre, having trotted under the barrier and climbed up the steps my heart fluttered gently in delight as I sat looking down at arena, pointing out the gates that would have opened to let the Gladiators into the space to Zoe, she seemed more than happy to sit and imagine how incredible it would have once been when filled with the 15,000 spectators cheering on their favourite fighter. Having taken our fill we had one last place to show off to her having discovered the enclosed Roman baths on our last visit.
The baths were an impressive sight and although the roof had been renovated in the 1960’s it gives an incredible chance to see how the baths would have been in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Woolly says – I could almost hear the chatter as the Romans gathered in their toga’s for the social event of bathing, plunging in and out of the hot and cold pools with screek’s of anguish as the cold tingled their toes before being replaced with the warmer water once more. It must have been an incredible spectacle. With the photo’s taken and the videoing done we wandered slowly back towards the bus stop, it might not be the most romantic of valentines for the girls but it had saved me a fortune in flowers and chocolates and as we sat on the bus I realised that Zoe hadn’t had my historical lecture on St Valentine and the Romans............
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D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
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