Leaving my campsite at Kusadasi I headed east, making another big jump. My first stop was at the archaeological site of Magnesia. There was a Stadium I wanted to see but unfortunately I was an hour early and it was closed, so rather than wait I headed east again while the air was cool.
On the way I stopped at the ancient city of Laodicea. Built on top of a large flattened hill and overlooking a wide green valley, the city was built around 1BC. With a main road running roughly east to west containing the ain building, there are several roads running north to south with lots of small alleyways and houses. The main roads were covered in stone slabs with a main sewer running under each road.
It had a main square with a large temple attached to it, as well as a large amphitheatre dug into the nearby hillside, and at the edge of the city was a large and ornate fountain where everyone could draw water. As well as commerce, it was also a place of learning, especially medicine and people would come here to learn to be a doctor. A Christian basilica was built around 1AD, and it must have been huge, with a stepped roof and large windows. Again, this city met its demise in 610AD during the earthquake which devastated much of Turkey, and although it carried on for a few more years, eventually it was deserted.
I had planned to stop at Lake Salda for a break, which is a huge bright blue lake. I tried to get down to the Lake but it seems every bit of beach is either closed off or is part of a resort where you need to pay to get in. The Lake has a high mineral content, which is why the lake is a very bright blue colour. I the end I found some shade in a layby overlooking the lake, which was good enough for me.
Heading east again I finally got to Isparta in the late afternoon. Just a few miles to the west of Isparta is the Golcuk Nature Park. It’s a community park next to a small lake where you can camp amongst the many trees. It’s only 25tl to camp (50 pence) so I’m making the most of it. There are lots of Turkish families here, barbequing, eating and having fun, and it’s almost a carnival atmosphere. They even have toilets. No showers though, so my wet wipes will do for the moment.
It’s been a long ride today of around 400kms. It took me most of the day, but that was because I visited Laodicea. Just before I got to the campsite I stopped in Isparta to get some food from a supermarket, and it seems like a nice modern city. It’s also nice and cool at the woodland campsite, which is a sheer joy…!
