Akropolis Guest House Bergama

I left Eceabat (Gallipoli) peninsula at midday - the ferry terminal (to Cannakale on the mainland) was a two minute walk from my hotel/hostel and I waited outside my bus with my fellow passengers and the bus crew (driver and two attendants!) for our turn to board. During that time it was established that none of the could speak English and I certainly couldn't communicate to them in Turkish, but that ...

... nkıng ıt ıts a lıttle tıny cup of really sweet apple tea that you add extra sugar to and ıts such a rush but hurts your teeth.

When we went back to the hut I was doıng some packıng up and next mınute notıced that the goat was poppıng ıts head through our door probably lookıng for ıts goat coat whıch ıs Ians bed cover now! It had escaped ımagıne the ...

... wıth thıs taxı boy who spoke a lıttle englısh and he reccomended a place but ıt was a lıttle out of our budget so we told hım we needed somewhere cheaper and he saıd he would take us to the tourıst ınfo offıce so off we sped ın the taxı wıth the musıc blarıng as he had a boom box ın the back ha ha he called ıt the nıght club taxı. we got no joy at the tourıst place and he ...

... out the walk was a mere training exercise for what was to come the following day as we staggered seven kilometres up a mountain to see the Acropolis sounding even worse than the battered Renault 12s that asthmatically spluttered past us. Even the cab drivers at the top applauded us when we arrived and told us how impressive a climb that was.

Note to Tania, next year on my birthday can we just go to the beach please????

... kites in the wonderful breeze. Bergama is known for its Asklepion(ancient medical center). It started in antiquity under Hippocrates in 400 bc. People came for all over to its wonderful care, as they do to our Mission Hispital. Galen practiced his art here and trained scores of the best minds of the day. Amazingly, it was a very successful center and no one ever died there even of the most horrid diseases. Of course, if they couldn't care for your illness they turned ...

... Comet Bennett!

I tried to imagine what the ancients would have thought to see such a sight, long before science was able to explain what was happening. I'm sure there are records in history of their perceptions, but I, then or now, have yet to learn them. I am sure mythologies cover the subject.

On my second visit, in the summer of 2002, I was in the company of a young man (27) whom I ...

... eventually fetching up outside the Gobi Pensyon. This was definitely a good move. It is a traditional Turkish guest house run by the most delightful family. The, en suite room and 2 gorgeous breakfasts (sadly no Brit fry ups but fresh fruit, newly baked bread, honey, boiled eggs, cheese filled spring rolls, a small sausage, cheeses, tomato, cucumber, Apricot conserve, and olives) cost a total of £18.00 for the night. On Monday we legged it into the old ...

... as well as the ruins within the modern city: http://www.guide-martine.com/aegean.asp A 'call to prayer' happened while we were at the acropolis, and the ethereal way it echoed through the hills was mesmerizing. Nathan recorded it on his camera but accidentally deleted it while purging photos. Bummer. :(

... about the logistics of providing water and food on top of such a high hill. It is windy and the view of the countryside below us is quite impressive - a valley with hills/mountains close and in the distance. We make our way up the steep path to the ruins. The hill/mountain top had been terraced to accommodate the building of the city. The city's history begins after the death of one of Alexander's generals. Under a series of skilled rulers Pergamos became one ...