DAY 22 - DENIZLI

22) TUESDAY, 19 JULY 1977 : 285KMS. - DENIZLI
 

From IZMIR , we went on to SELCUK, EPHESUS , where there are  many  ancient ruins of the Greeks empire remaining to welcome  many visitors as  this area is a large city. 

Route from IZMIS (S) via SELCUK (T) to DENIZLI (U)

We drove to enjoy  the  beach and the sea at KUSADASI, then coming back on the same way to DENIZLI ( via NAZILLI).

 

Ephesus - Photo : sonyaandtravis.com / Bing images search

Arriving DENIZLI about 6.00 pm.,  we continued right away to visit the beautiful PAMUKKALE to the atmosphere of the waterfalls basin of limestone full of  warm spring water that come out naturally. The water overfills the basins and flows down , creating stalactite terrace-like of the  cliffs layers.

Pamukkale - Photo : swisseduc.ch - Stromboli / Bing images search

Stalactite appearance is like  mushroom attached to the cliffs. Glittering white limestone and colorful stalactites that look like blooming mushroom are exceptional  beautiful. 

They look like flat trays with low edge, some are filled with water and some are dried off.  Whenever  the wind blows touching the water surface, it causes  dancing ripples in the wind. Supremely beautiful !

Limestone terraced pools - Photo : Bing images search

At this place in the year 190 B.C.  , the Romans built their city called HIERAPOLIS and built up by the Roman baths because there are  warm water springs.  But in the year 60 B.C., the city 's earthquake damaged HIERAPOLIS and the whole city collapsed.  Then  it was rebuilt as it was situated on the route of travel from north to south and from east to west, i.e. from MESOPOTAMIA to the ROMAN EMPIRE , which were in their high glories in that era. Thus, this city was so important and a lot of people passed by.

HIERAPOLIS
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hierapolis (Ancient Greek: Ἱεράπολις, lit. "Holy City") was an ancient city located on hot springs in classical Phrygia in southwestern Anatolia. Its ruins are adjacent to modern Pamukkale in Turkey and currently comprise an archaeological museum designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 

The main thoroughfare of Hierapolis

The hot springs have been used as a spa since the 2nd century BC, with many patrons retiring or dying there. The large necropolis is filled with sarcophagi, most famously that of Marcus Aurelius Ammianos, which bears the earliest known example of a crank and rod mechanism.

Pools in Hierapolis

The great baths were constructed with huge stone blocks without the use of cement and consisted of various closed or open sections linked together. There are deep niches in the inner section,[clarification needed] including the bath, library, and gymnasium.

Interesting You Tube of PAMUKKALE

DAY 21 - IZMIR

21) MONDAY, 18 JULY 1977 : 372KMS. - IZMIR

From M. KEMALPASA we headed for BALIKESIN then to EDREMIT.  The road (about 20 kms.) is in worse condition and under reconstruction.  I felt like we were on a horse or camel back and gallopping  as my  head shook in any directions and it was very dusty all the way.  Besides, we had to be careful of small pebbles  bouncing off  the road up against the windshield.  The road was also narrow and we had to drive rather  slow and very cautiously.

Ancient ruins, Bergama - Photo : Bing images search

Passing through EDREMIT, we headed to AYVALIK  to the south coast city BERGAMA (PERGAMON) , where we visited the ancient city ruins of ancient  Greek empire. I bought a nice marble vase ( 145.- TL) , then moved down to the south along the  coastal road passing  ALIAGA, MENEMEN to IZMIR.

Temple of Trajan, Bergama - Photo : Bing images search

IZMIR is the third large sea port of Turkey . From a distance, the city looks beautiful at night because there are houses situated on mountains , glittering with dazzling lights, illuminating modern buildings. There are people sitting in cafes sipping tea and having seafood  in restaurants. There were mussels cooked mixed with rice (rice mixed with spices  and stuffed into  shells) inviting to taste for each 50 .- Kurus .  We tried it, the  flavor was not bad at all.

 

Izmir - Photo : wowturkey.com / Bing images search

Izmir - Photo : wikipedia.org / Bing images search

Some people were sitting together smoking Turkish pipe (with water filter).  It is called a Hookah, widely popular in the Middle East and Arab countries. They put  tobacco onto the bottle nose of  the bottle that filled with water, and on top of the tobacco there are red coals.   

Hookah Shisha smoking - Photo: Bing images search

The bottle has hose pipes  connected to, with a smoking mouthpiece at the one end of the tube. By this smoking apparatus, it would be smoking tobacco through water-filled  bottle for nicotine . Some bottle pipes are big and equipped with  5-6 hose pipes  so that many people can join smoking at the same time. 

Hookhas - Photo : Bing images search

I walked around in IZMIR alone till rather  late at night  and unexpectedly was disturbed by a Turk . I almost had to punch it up as he was drunk and came toward my path with attention to stop me. He  caught my  wrist tightly and I almost tried to use safe-defense Thai  boxing to kick him in between his legs !  

Izmir clock tower - Photo : Oez Mayamili / Bing images search

Fortunately , Tilo just came out and came across at the right time.   So I broke out at once as I did not want to get into trouble with the local people.  When the Turk saw that I had a friend with me and he was alone, he then walked away without hesitation.

 

Izmir - Photo : izmirlife.com / Bing images search

To reflect on it , realizing that the more we travel far from Europe, the  more we should be careful. In Turkey, though  people  seem to be very friendly  but  they are more emotional  and could be very bad too.  One must be careful  not to walk in the dark places alone (in fact , I was walking on the street in the city, but it was deserted) because we may not know  if someone crossing our paths or following  us really good or bad.  When I think back, I did not get it but  also surprised and confused.

DAY 20 - MUSTAFA KEMALPASA

20) SUNDAY, 17 JULY 1977 : 247KMS. - MUSTAFA KEMALPASA

Before we could leave HEREKE, it was later than 2.00 pm. as we were busy in reading more information about traveling in Turkey and prepared our travel plans through IZMIT, BURSA directly to KARACABEY and to overnight in MUSTAFAKEMALPASA. Along the way, it still looks similar. Sunflower plantations interspersed with some tomatoes and watermelon growing beds. 

There were also a herd of goats and cows grazing in the fields or walking. But there was no grass to be seen.  It could be only stubbles left in the fields. 

Today we spotted some camels near the roadsides. It seems that people start to use camel labor in this area for commuting and transportation of things.

 

DAY 19 - HAREKE

19) SATURDAY, 16 JULY 1977 : 67KMS. - HAREKE
 

I was awaken in the middle of the night because of shrilling cries from the mosque. It was the sermon sound of Koran. I thought I was dreaming but finally realized that I was in ISTANBUL.

ISTANBUL - Photo : Bing images search

In the morning we went to see pretty invaluable things in the Topkapi Museum, a former palace of Sultan having ruled ISTANBUL in ancient times.

Topkapi palace - Photo : Bing images search

There were  Chinese porcelains of Sung Dynasty and Yuan ( approximately 14-19 century ) and Japanese ones. They are all having beautiful designs, some items are very big. I understaood that it was made ​​from China by order of Sultans to be used in the palace, or perhaps a gift from the Chinese dynasties.

Chinese porcelain - Photo : Wikipedia.org / Bing images search

There are an emerald dagger hilt and huge diamond named Topkapi on display. I remembered Hollywood  film “Topkapi” about a criminal operation to steal the diamond and jewelries from the museum. 

Topkapi Emerald Dagger - PHOTO : wikipedia.org / Bing images search

There are so many precious ornaments of many different kinds, all colors, all sizes, and shapes, including gold, diamond , emerald, ruby ​​and sapphire. They are all dazzled beyond description. One has to see with his own eyes. This wealth would demonstrate military might of the Ottoman Empire at her peak in the past. 

Topkapi Daimond 86 karats pearl shape - Photo : By Swamibu (Flickr / Bing images search) 

Imperial Hall with the Throne of Sultan - Photo : Wikipedia.org / Bing images search
 

One thing that I felt pity not having seen in the Topkapi palace, was a harem of Sultan because there were so many people waiting. Anyway, I thought we would have a chance to visit somewhere on the way, perhaps in Iran. In the Topkapi, there was also dead bodies and parts of the Prophet Mohamed  of Islam as well.

Gate of Salutation,Topkapi Palace - Photo : Wikipedia.org / Bing images search

In the afternoon, we went to see a traditional market known as bazaar  selling everything  such as copper pots and trays, gold ,marble vases,   rugs, watches, etc. I did not intend to buy anything. Most  tourists came to visit the bazaar,  causing goods prices more expensive.

 

Istanbul Grand Bazaar - Photo : Babak Gholizadeh / Bing images search

After visiting the bazaar, we had our lunch at local restaurant  for curry. It was not bad but I did not like strong smell of meat  mixed with rice we had. I thought  it was goat meat  or  mutton !

What we found in ISTANBUL, the same as we saw in ATHENS  was a vehicl selling roasted corn and boiled corn general (in ATHENS only roasted corn available) as well as cucumbers,  the size as big as of the mangoes. Passer-by stopped to pick one he liked and handed it to the seller to peel it  before  biting it while strolling. It is a good idea  for tropical climate as cucumber is fairly plain tasteless, it help getting rid of  our thirst, probably better than buying water to drink. I saw here there was also a boy carrying a bucket of drinking water for sale to those who were thirsty.

 

Bosphorus Bridge - Photo : Lari Lazim / BING images search

Almost 7.30 pm., we left ISTANBUL on the direction towards the Asian side. We drove on the bridge BOGAZICI, which was built across the strait of BOSPHORUS in 1973, linking Europe and Asia . We had to pay for using  the bridge at 15.- TL . About  8.00 pm, we reached at another end while it was not dark yet  so we continued to  HEREKE for camping overnight.

Au revoir mes amis ...good bye ... Europe of fond remembrance.