Ruins and Beaches

July 26

Waking up this morning was tougher than others. Maybe it was the wine with dinner, the humidity or the travel weariness. No time for sleepiness as today its off to Perge, waterfalls and the calm looking Mediterranean.

Perge was a Phrygian city in 3rd and 2nd century BC and saw another hay day under the Romans in 2nd and 3rd century AD. This site was incredible. Although it's in ruins the immensity of it gives a solid impression of how impressive it must have been. Travertine columns line the streets and marble can be found everywhere. I didn't have time to see the bath but I took the long walk to the fountain and really got to take in the scope of it all. It was again incredible to walk in a place that others have for thousands of years. Roman and Greek writing could still be seen on the bases of some columns really bringing to life the reality that people lived there. Under Roman control it was a major city in their Asian Empire and was undoubtedly an impressive site. It was also the only Roman city to ever have a woman mayor.