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| Day 5: A
free day. We had a choice of going to Aphrodisias
and Pamukkale, going to the Island of Samos, or
staying at the hotel. Most of us went to
Aphrodisias. |
| I
was with the group that toured Aphrodisias. A
settlement has been found there going back to 5,000
BC. However, the golden era of the city was
during the Roman period. The
site has the best Stadium in Turkey, which could
hold 30,000 spectators. It was once the setting
for all kinds of athletic events.
|
 The
Stadium
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| Also
at the site is a well preserved amplitheater. It
was altered to allow gladiator fighting and was
eventually buried in the 4th century earthquake.
Subsequently, houses were built on top of it and
were later cleared away by archeologists. |
 The
Theater at Aphrodisias
|
| The city flourished during
the 1st century because in supported Octaves
Ceasar during his quest for the empire and was
therefore granted tax exempt status. |
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|
 The
City of Aphrodisias
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Wading in the Hot
Springs
|
After
lunch, we took a long trip to Pamukkale, an
ancient city and hot springs site. We waded in
the limestone laden hot springs. We then went
swimming amongst the fallen columns in the hot
springs of the Sacred Pool at the Hotel Pamukkale.
It was like swimming in heated Schweppes water. We
got back at 10:30 PM for dinner. A long day!
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| The Cotton Castle of
Pamukkale |
The
Hot Springs |
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