October 18

We were so lucky to have sunshine for our boatride. This morning we headed up the serpentine mountain roads with showers dripping down the windshield. The bus ahead of us sideswiped a parked car. Our busdriver avoided hitting either one and we all breathed a sigh of relief.

Our first stop was a very large Farmer's Martket. Locals from all around came to buy and sell: clothes, shoes, housewares, as well as all kinds of fruits, vegetables and nuts. For the Shiate (sp) women this is a very special occasion each week when they can see their friends and have a bite to eat away from home. They dressed up in bright colors. Everyone was in a holiday mood and it was fun to be a part of the excitement. School children dressed in various uniforms trouped through on their way home for lunch. One older man wanted to talk to us and tell us he had a son who was a registered doctor in NYC.

After lunch we went to Aphrodisias where ancient Greeks and Roman once lived. The ruins date back to 1776 B C. They are impressive. There was an oval stadium that could seat 30,000 people. During the athletic events only men attended because the foot racers, spear throwers and oil wrestlers did so naked. Women would join the crowd for musical and poetry events.

There was another ampitheater that was in amazingly good shape for being so old. This theater was used for government meetings. There are still marks showing where different groups sat.

Temple gates that were at least 40 feet tall have been put together by pieces found buried or broken by earthquakes. The temple was built about 1 B C with 40 columns surrounding it. Animals were brought and sacrificed. Many of the columns have been pieced together. There is also a museum filled with pieces of statues that have been found. Exceptional sculpting!

We're staying in Pamukkale. Have passed fields of cotton, olives, tobacco, sesame, pomegranits etc getting here. Although the Turks excell in color and design in their tiles and carpets, their houses are mostly square cement structures with red tile roof sporting TV dishes, solar panels and a water tank.

I have only had to use a Turkish toilet (2 foot prints on either side of a hole) three times. All of our accomodations have been clean and comfortable, but many of our group have been sick with respiratory or intestinal problems. Most were happy to have the long bus ride to rest.