Turkey is still open over winter. Beaches and resorts are deserted and the raucous noise of holidaymakers has long since subsided. Life goes on, peacefully. Shopping arcades and markets, city centres and ancient wonders still welcome visitors, although not many from foreign lands.
I love visiting the old ancient cities around Selcuk; pretending to be a Roman to amuse myself and wondering what life was actually like. Ephesus has too many barriers, many more than there used to be, keeping you to the main areas. A long time ago I walked to the end of the arcadian way, right out into the sea. But the sea wasn’t there. It hasn’t been there for centuries.
Prienne is a better place to pretend to be a Roman. It’s much more available. A road leads down from the town on the side of the mountain, all the way to the harbour below. Boats no longer dock. There is no sea there anymore, either.
I debark the imagination boat and walk up the main road towards the town. There’s no-one else on site so I can be a Roman all I want. Walking up the main road there are so many people on the brightly coloured street. Market stalls, shop fronts, so much noise. The smell of food cooking, being sold from baskets and vats, fruit sellers offering slices to tempt you. I take a quince from my bag and sit down to watch. Plastic bottle replaces earthen ware as I sip my water. The rain starts now so I head upwards, underneath the trees that grow in the middle of the road, brushing past bushes that now live where the people once did. At the top of the road there are two original ancient market stalls. It helps ignite the imagination.
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