Good bye Car

We rented this little four door Fiat while our friends were with us from Canada. I haven't done a lot of driving in Turkey and until the day they arrived I'd never driven in Istanbul (17 million people; 3 million registered cars). It's been ages since I've driven a standard on a daily basis. The rental company delivered the car to our door and we drove the driver to the ferry.  To return the car we drove it to the rental company's office in Canakkale and then took the ferry and the X-Trail home.

It was kind of tricky, with Cam and passengers in our X-Trail with the GPS and a cell phone giving instructions to my navigator (Thanks Johanna), while my front seat spotter (Thanks Chantal) kept an eye on the X-Trail and traffic hazards.  We had a couple of near misses with dogs and people on the road, but neither driver had any major problems. The Tom-Tom (GPS) randomly stopped working a couple of times. I'd updated it before we left, but it lost contact with the satellites and also wouldn't direct us to the right destination without some reboots.

Pergamum (Bergama)

Going up to the Pergamum Acropolis in the cable car.

Looking down on Bergama from Pergamumn.

For some reasons the signs were in difficult to reach places.  Cam used an audio guide.

Enormous theatre with an incredible view.

Staying out of the wind (brrr)

Johanna and Sam

Another view of the theatre.

Trying not to blow away.

Cam checking out the view.  The black spot is a problem with Cam's camera's lense.  I borrowed his camera after the battery in mine died. (Rechargeable batteries - shakes fist!)

The site of the Altar of Zeus.  According to this link there is actually a museum in Germany which houses the Altar of Zeus.  There are likely better videos on Youtube but I still don't have access to that.
http://www.cbn.com/700club/features/churchhistory/pergamon/

Cable Cars

Money display at the Pergamum Museum

Mosaic of Medusa at the museum

Crypt at the museum

Turkish women's wear display at the museum.

Turkish men dancing - display at the museum.

Here's an enormous cooking pot on display at the museum.

Johanna and Nicole comparing photos and resting their feet.

Needle work on display at the museum.

And more needle work.

Laodecia (under construction)

Laodecia was not on the list of sites initially.  I just happened to find a reference to it's proximity to Pamukkale/Hieropolis.  Finding it was made all the more difficult by the lack of highway signage perhaps due to road construction in the area.  I was grateful when we got there.  In Alberta, our cities are built beside rivers, in Turkey, cities are built on hillsides and have amazing views.

 

You should really check out Nicole's post about Laodicea. Her pictures are better than mine. http://nicolesnittygrittypixiedust.blogspot.com.tr/2014/04/laodicea-and-lizards.html

Lots of reconstruction in the area.  Manpower has been replaced by machine power.

The white stretch on the right is Pamukkale in the distance.

Some of the places being renovated are under cover.  A glimpse inside shows very beautiful mosaics, but the worker wouldn't let me take any photos.

Cam

Sam demonstrating just how large some of the stones that make up main street.

Sam, Johanna, Nicole, Quinne, Chantal, and Sarah

Once again I wish I knew some Greek!

Amphitheater in ruins.

Sarah on the road.

The tourists.

Clay pipe = Roman technology

Can you see the lizard?

There are crosses on this door post but you'll have to take my word for it.