On to Patara!

Hello!

Patara necropolis

Necropolis detail

Lycian sarcophagus

After a lovely and warm night at Yacht Classic, we got down to breakfast about 9 am. 

City entrance gateway

Robert!

Octagonal fountain

And, interestingly enough, there were lots of people there!  We were very surprised, because on other mornings, if there was one other person joining us, it was a lot.  But this morning, people were everywhere!  A family with two little children, a British couple, businessmen and women!  I’m just really thankful more than ever that they were able to find room for us last night! 

Robert had checked the weather forecast for the area and rain was predicted for this afternoon and evening, so we wanted to get started hopefully before we had to deal with that. 

Main bath

Bouleuterion

Bouleuterion detail

We were on the road about 10 am and heading to Patara, which is on the Lycian coast some miles away and past both Xanthos and Letoon. 

Well … we got to the ruins and found that there is a road running through them, as well as private houses along the way.  (Somehow, it seems so odd to us, to be living, quite literally, among ancient ruins!)  Because there were no other people there, we were able to leave our car pulled up to the side of the road with no problems as we got out to explore the various sites.  We first came to a necropolis (cemetery) which had evidence of burials from as far back as 5,000 BC, but with the preponderance being Lycian and Roman sarcophagi.  (As Robert pointed out, under Roman law, no one could be buried within the city precincts; they had to be outside of the walls.  Not sure how the Lydians handled it, but seeing as the rock tombs from yesterday we anywhere BUT outside the city, they probably thought differently.)

Then we came to the town gate, the 2^nd Century BC triumphal Arch of Modestus.  It’s really in wonderful shape, and provides a real “welcome” to Patara. 

Me sitting where the governors sat

Amphitheatre arch

Amphitheatre definitely needs work!

Apparently after it was built, an underground spring was discovered, which was then suitably diverted to form a octagonal fountain/pool in front of the gate (on the inside).  We passed several bath complexes (those old folks were definitely a very clean kind of people!)  The entire site is under the surveillance and excavation of the University of Akdeniz, who seem to be doing a really good job of things. Lots and lots of signage in excellent English!  Their excavation house is also on the property. 

We then came to the bouleuterion, amphitheatre and the colonnaded main street.  Wow.  The bouleterion was ancient Patara’s “parliament” where it is believed members of the Lycian League met.  It has been thoroughly restored and sponsored by the Turkish central government, as it is believed to have been the very first demonstration of a truly democratic-style of government, predating even the Greeks of Athens!  Very, very impressive place!  

The amphitheatre next door is mostly fenced off, although it is still possible to walk inside to look around. 

Main street through the city; note columns!

Ancient plumbing!

The stage area is replete with rocks and boulders, as are some sections of the amphitheatre itself.  You really didn’t want to pull up a stone seat and stay awhile.  Really needs a lot of work, but if the bouleuterion is an example of Akdeniz’ archeological expertise, I’d say it is only a matter of time for them to get to it! 

Shops (doorway) along the main street

Main street columns

We did read that the excavators at Patara have done an excellent job uncovering the amphitheatre at Patara (one of the largest in Anatolia); just a few years ago it was filled with sand, vegetation and rubble.  Hard to believe! 

The colonnaded main street through the city has had many of their columns restored.  Apparently Patara was the victim of two violent earthquakes between 140-143 BC which caused a great deal of damage, including sinking the north end of the main street beneath the sea.  There is also a lighthouse on the coast, as well as granary (grain storage facility) built at Hadrian’s instructions, but as it was starting to rain, we didn’t get to those.  Will have to save that for next time! 

By this time, it was almost 2 pm and we decided to head back to Fethiye.  As we hadn’t yet had lunch, we decided to head to McDonald’s here in town.  Amazingly enough, we were able to actually find a parking spot not too far away!  Seriously, it was 2 pm on a Wednesday, and the kids were all in school – but people and cars and scooters and bicycles were everywhere!  As I said to Robert, if it’s this crowded in the dead of winter, what must it be like in the middle of summer?!  Where will they put more people?!  (One interesting note is that it seems like all towns and cities of really any size at all, have a great many traffic polis patrolling the streets!  When we found our space, a very nice young man came behind me, and helped me to get into the space, then collected our fee and thanked us!  Very civilized, and I’d be willing to bet that the cities and towns collect a great deal of TL every day, as no space ever seems to be empty for long!)

As we were walking into McDonald’s, there, outside, were several scooters – with boxes on the back, apparently for home delivery! 

What a great idea!

Robert did have to go back and take a picture!  Do you think that would work in the U.S.?

From there, back to the hotel, and now upstairs for a bit of a nap before we decide what to do about dinner.  As last night’s quest was so spectacularly unfruitful, we’ll have to see if we want to ride around again or simply have dinner here, which has been excellent overall.  (However, as we had hoped for Indian food last night, now I can’t get the thought of Indian food out of my brain!)

More later!

m

xxx