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We didn't feel like we were leaving Diyarbakir, more like escaping from it. We were glad to get out and return to normality. The flight to Izmir made us realize how large Turkey is - the flight was over 2 hours.
Izmir seemed like a different country - it had a modern airport, the streets had no donkeys or men in baggy trousers and it felt safer! We had hired a car for next part of trip. Our initial route took us north, through Izmir. We only saw 2 accidents and got lost twice - not too bad. We found a nice seaside resort called Foca for an ice cream (one could just about see Greece from there). We followed the coast line which was very pretty, rugged with little beaches. It was all very pleasant, and then came to an industrial area - mile after mile of steel mills, scrap yards etc.
We arrived at our destination, Bergama, and settled in. We went into the old town to eat. Naturally enough there was a wedding going on next to our restaurant. This was an enormous affair with 300 people sitting around an amphitheatre in the middle of the old town. We went back to our hotel and there was another wedding going on opposite - seems like the season for it.
Next day the sightseeing started in earnest - we went past the Red Basilica (an old very large temple but now derelict). It was then into a shiny new cable car to see the Acropolis. It was interesting but overall a little disappointing. It was a large site but it gave no real impression of what it would have been like. It was then on to ancient medical centre (Askpelion) a smaller site with a bit more about it. Here we came across a mad English tour party doing some kind of experimental theatre in the Roman Amphitheatre.
We sat down to have a late lunch and realised there was a football game about to start opposite us. Judi was not well and Fran was happy to go back to hotel, so Ken & I snuck away to catch the game. It was Bergama vs. Prazspor in Turkish 3rd division. The standard was not that great but entertaining to watch - 1 sending off, 1 taken off in an ambulance, a disallowed goal that caused a lot of dissent in the home fans and it ended in 1-1 draw. 30 away fans were partying with drums opposite the main stand. There were lots of police in attendance, all with coshes and guns. All this for £1.80!
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