F&E again up earlier than their natural body clocks. Early at Ancient Nemea… beating the coaches and crowds again. However, not a major site so no coaches at all.
Ancient Nemea was the birthplace of the Pangellenic Games in 4 BC. However, like so many prototypes, subsequent versions were better. The Games moved to Argos.
Temple to Zeus C4 BC3 columns erected in 2000 to help folk visualise …… So many column pieces should they decide to erect more
The stadium was close by. Through a tunnel that another tourist dawdled through. 4000 spectators but they had to perch on the ground as no evidence of seats.
Image of the stone starting blocksThe actual starting blocks They didn’t run any further!!!Entrance tunnel used by the atheletes
Winery No. 6 – Lantides
Despite email confirmation, they had forgotten our reservation. However, the son of the founder stepped up. No nibbles though.
It was a step up to the stools too
Very good wines and inexpensive compared to some. Purchases.
Winery No. 7 – Aivalis
Bit of a theme for today … our reservation forgotten. Son of the founder stepped up. They did find us some nibbles. Lovely young man, but he looked like he had been in a massacre … covered in red grape juice. What a way to go!
Only 3 wines. Two oaked @€25. The other had only been bottled 2 days ago and so needed to settle. Small purchases.
And thank goodness no more wineries. They have all been interesting and different but we are so done.
Back at the apartment we reheated the take away from last night’s restaurant.
And drank the opened bottles used for the tastings that today’s wineries had given us.
We attempted again to buy dog food. Was this going to be another HGS saga? When last in Izmir, I’d found a deceased pet store. As we left Karaburun, I found another shop. A telephone call to a lady with perfect American. Only basic dog food. Back into Izmir. Roadside parking and came away with a 15kg sack of I brand I’ve previously bought. It was the only high protein at the pet store, so I guess not much in demand at £65. Should last most of our trip.
Traffic hold up. A helicopter dropping water. A car had caught fire and ignited the hillside.
Onto Sardis. We had decided not to visit many more ancient sites. At c. £25 for the 2 of us and 4x what the locals pay, we could easily give them a miss. But I’d read that Sardis is where the first coins were ever minted, so special. And it was less than £3 pp. Guess not on the main rip off the tourist trail then.
Similarly, my tea, with yogurt pot water, and James’ water were a non tourist price under a £1.Paint shop water troughsMassive synagogueThehuge gymnasium
J and Corrie rested in the shade. I checked out the huge Synagogue and Gymnasium. A Roman street with shops and latrines. Still being excavated.
The saying Rich as Croesus comes from here. King Croesus of Lydia 585 BC had silver and gold coins minted called Croessids, which were the first true gold coins, with standardised purity for general circulation. No museum showing the coins, but definitely worth the entry.
The control panel fell out. Glue and blue tack are melting as the internal temperature is 44C.
A short drive to shade near a waterfall. tried to walk to it, but the track was barred. Another Zeus Alter; blocked with no reason given. I did read the sulphur springs have been largely exhausted by extraction. We had passed a huge thermal springs hotel complex. Despite the lack of access to the waterfall, I’m now watching my second lot of pre wedding photography, folk who obviously think the scenery photo album worthy. Busy evening here with family and friends picnics. I commented to J that as little or no alcohol involved, we stood less risk of being bumped. And staff were out the next morning collecting bags of rubbish.
Cool picnicKeep picnic are clean: happiness lawNowaterfall access but nice path to the thermal spa hotel I’d spotted a pide place. Like a flat crusty pizza. Yummy. Our first in 5 years.
Amazing Aphrodisias
26/07
Slow drive to here. Main roads, but rattles, as against bumps. Had to swap story book for rock music as the rattles deafened us.Then the necessary music volume did!
Decided this site would be special as it was known for its fine sculpture. UNESCO. So I paid my €12 whilst J and Corrie dozed in the shade.
The sculpture school provided scholars a better understanding of marble production anywhere in the world. Sadly the museum was closed for restoration so I could only look at the few info board images.
Aphrodite temple 3BC, followed by a civic city 100 yrs after. Civic structures included temples, huge agora, theatre, 2 bath complexes and a huge stadium (better than the one at Olympia). In 400 AD they got bored with traditional athletics and adapted one end of the stadium for men / beast entertainment!
A long walk in 38C but worth it. And no problem to stay the night in the shade.
Well over a hundred sarcophagi. Bet the best ones were in the museum!The end adapted for man and beast entertainment The largest most intact Roman stadium I’ve ever seen. Seated 7000 with the city wall along one side. Bigger than Olympus which I ranin the rain with an umbrella. No, I did not run this in 38CThe Odeon used for civic meetings and small performances The larger performances were held here. Archaeologists have learnt a lot about theatre construction from this site. The main baths complex. Most of the statues were in the museum … sighThis ornamental pond / urban park was huge. It would have had columns, statues, fountains and date palms all around. So many areas of bits of column, arch etc piled up.
