Turkish Mosaic circuit. Day 1 (200 kilometre distance covered).

4th of October 2010

Turkey 
Antalya - Perge - Aspendos - Alanya

We have flown in from Lyon last night (or rather early morning today) to gather with a group of 33 other travellers flying in from Paris, Nantes and Lyon and we are expected to "cross" the country in 14 consecutive days on this Nouvelles Frontières adventure circuit.

We have today visited Perge by the Aksu river and its magnificient Roman city remains.  Having been a particularly rich city, decayed during the Bizantine period, it is said to have been ultimately abandoned during the VII century. The huge stadium caught my attention and so did the Helenic columns, which set the entrance to the city.

Perge stadium remains (Left). Agora column detail (Right).

We then proceeded eastward onto Aspendos, ancient city in Pamphylia, Asia Minor, which was founded around 1.000 B.C., having surrendered to the Romans in190 B.C.

It has the best preserved Theatre of antiquity, built in 155 by a Greek architect, during the rule of Marcus Aurelius, with a diametre of 96 metres providing around 7.000 seats.

It is really impressive because of its grandiosity, but it is only when one walks up and sees it down in full perspective, that one realises how majestic it is. I have seen quite a few Roman Theatres within European territory, but I must admit this is the one which has impressed me the most.

Aspendos Theatre (Left). Detail of one of the Teatre stage  walls (Right).

We had lunch at a local restaurant by a river, whose view stimulated one's appetite instantaneously, though the choice was not very appealling (roasted chicken, grilled trout or fried meat balls) ... a choice we would be confronted with on and on along the circuit.

Restaurant on the way to Alanya

We then continued towards Alanya, an ancient stronghold for many Mediterranean-based Empires, amongst which were the Seleunic, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman, for reasons of natural strategic position, once it is located on a small peninsula into the Mediterranean sea.

We visited Alanya castle, a Seljuk era citadel dating from 1226 and within it a Byzantine era church. The current castle was built over existing fortifications and served the double purpose of having been a palace and a defensive structure, in case of attack.

Alanya citadel walls (Left). VI century Bizantine church remains within the walls (Right)

The manificient view one has from these citadel walls is breathtaking ... to one side the harbour city centre and to the other kilometres of beaches.

Views from the  Alanya Citadel walls

As I was walking down from the citadel walls, I came across an old embroideress, whose magical hands  must have made one the most beautiful  silk embroidered square table cloths I have ever seen, ... so I didn't hesitate ... nor even a second and soon found myself proudly walking  towards the harbour area with my first handicrafted "piece of Art".

We have a buffet dinner waiting for us at the Hotel and tomorrow we are expected to leave at 07:00 ..., but I am already looking forward to it.