Today we took a taxi around the Roman ruins at Bergama. These tend to be a little overlooked next to the ruins at Ephesus but we decided to see them, as our son recommended it and we had seen the temple that the Germans had transported from here to the Pergamum museum in Berlin. And we are very glad we did!!
The ruins of the Acropolis sit on top of a very high hill on the edge of town and are fascinating and impressive. At its height the acropolis was home to 150,000 people. It had an amphitheatre (that could seat 10,000 people) on the side of the hill to take advantage of the spectacular view and to conserve space on top.
Down on the flat section of a hill closer to town are the remains of an ancient medical centre (the Asklepion) which was also of impressive dimensions with its own amphitheatre, temple and library. Treatments included mud baths, herbs and ointments, enemas and sunbathing. Diagnosis was often by dream analysis. All in all it was a great deal ahead of its time really.
I could go on but that would just bore everyone. I'll let the photos tell the story.
Our hotel room is quite good this time although very small - there is nowhere to hang clothes or put them away, so it's literally living out of a suitcase. On the positive side it includes a Turkish breakfast which is very good (a boiled egg, slices of tomato and cucumber, cheese, sliced banana with honey, toast and tea and coffee). Also the bathroom has been newly refurbished - we know this because the bar codes are still on the window and the handbasin.
Tomorrow we go to see the ruins at Ephesus and are staying at a seaside town called Kusadasi. After that we are going to slow the sight-seeing right down and chill out for a time.
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