2024 - My Mediterranean Odsesey

As my Mediterranean comes to an end, one of the last things on my "wish list" to do was to return to Gallipoli which I had visited as part of a cruise ship shore excursion in 2023.  That tour focussed on Anzac Cove where the Australian and New Zealander troops had landed and it also included visits to Allied and Turkish cemeteries and monuments as well as the museum.  Because of my interest in the Trail of the Caribou (which I have blogged about before), I wanted to see the last of those monuments which was unveiled here in Gallipoli in 2021.  As that shore excursion didn’t include a stop there, I was determined to see it this trip.  From a personal point of view, it was also my way of honouring “the fallen” which is, of course, commemorated on November 11 th .  So, Monday, we drove from Behramkale to Gallipoli to find the site.  It was a very moving experience for me.  As we drove there, I asked Atahan to play Fanfare for the Common Man which seemed ...

The last three days involved visiting the ruins of three ancient cities:  Heiropolis, Aphrodisias and Pergamon.  Last Thursday , we visited Heiropolis – an ancient Hellenistic Greek city.  It was famous for its hot springs and its high quality wool fabrics and dyes.  Atahan had arranged in advance for a cart with a driver to take us around the site and that was very helpful because, as interesting as it all was, there was a lot of space in between the ruins which would have taken us hours walk.  Our first stop was at the “cemetery” where you could still see the crypts where people had been buried.   We next stopped at one of the gates to the town which, Atahan said was a city of about 100,000 people.  The wide street was a bit reminiscent of Ephesus although on a smaller scale.   Our next stop was at the Amphitheatre which was quite amazing.   From there, we went to see the amazing calcified pools which Pamakkale is best know f...