OK, before I get to the best part, I'll go through the day. We left Kutahya and had quite an adventure trying to get to the Roman ruins overlooking the town. It seems none of the locals know how to get there! After numerous winding narrow streets and lots of non-directions, we finally found it. And wow! it was worth the search. besides being amazing technology, the view of the Anatolian plain and Kutahya were marvelous. Being able to "run around" the ruins helped us prepare for the long bus ride to Sardis. We did stop in the early afternoon at a small town that has later Ottoman style buildings. The bus blew an air conditioner fan , so tomorrow may be a challenge now that we are back to the plains and heat. The village was great and I think we created quite a stir among the people. It was market day and we were'nt shopping, but there were lots of people everywhere! The kids and old men seem especially intrigued by this group of foreigners.
The landscape changed throughout the day from mountains to broad plains, rich, dark farmland, to red clay, to sandy colored ashy soil and back to a rich dark soil. We saw more agriculture and more cattle. As we neared Sardis the crops went from the grains of the high plains to grapes and olives.
Once in Sardis we went to the archeaological site for the Roman ruins, specifically their temple of Artemis. There are only two columns standing. The project has only uncovered what is there, not reconstructed. Tomorrow we will see more of the Roman remains of the town. We could see some from the road and they looked so interesting.
Then we lnded at our hotel - set on a hill, the Lydia Thermal Hotel. They have mineral thermal baths and a wide array of very inexpensive spa treatments. The Turkish bath - a wash down, scrub, and light massage was free and massages about $20 US. I got my first ever full body "stress relief" massage. Hmmmm. I think almost everyone in the group got some treatment. And the supper spread was absolutely amazing. In fact the food this whole trip has been amazing!
Tomorrow the Sardis ruins and then on to Tyre, Bilgi, and a few other Greek/Roman/Ottoman sites before our four days on the Aegean. (Ephesus on Wednesday!)
Bedtime is calling. We have to have our luggage outside our door by 8:30 for the bellmen to take downstairs to be loaded. It's the way it's done here I guess!
Pictures in a day or two....
The landscape changed throughout the day from mountains to broad plains, rich, dark farmland, to red clay, to sandy colored ashy soil and back to a rich dark soil. We saw more agriculture and more cattle. As we neared Sardis the crops went from the grains of the high plains to grapes and olives.
Once in Sardis we went to the archeaological site for the Roman ruins, specifically their temple of Artemis. There are only two columns standing. The project has only uncovered what is there, not reconstructed. Tomorrow we will see more of the Roman remains of the town. We could see some from the road and they looked so interesting.
Then we lnded at our hotel - set on a hill, the Lydia Thermal Hotel. They have mineral thermal baths and a wide array of very inexpensive spa treatments. The Turkish bath - a wash down, scrub, and light massage was free and massages about $20 US. I got my first ever full body "stress relief" massage. Hmmmm. I think almost everyone in the group got some treatment. And the supper spread was absolutely amazing. In fact the food this whole trip has been amazing!
Tomorrow the Sardis ruins and then on to Tyre, Bilgi, and a few other Greek/Roman/Ottoman sites before our four days on the Aegean. (Ephesus on Wednesday!)
Bedtime is calling. We have to have our luggage outside our door by 8:30 for the bellmen to take downstairs to be loaded. It's the way it's done here I guess!
Pictures in a day or two....
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