Aspendos

Aspendos is an ancient city site, home to the best preserved ancient theatre in Asia Minor.  The theatre was built about 180 AD and has been preserved to the present day, when it is still used for opera and drama performances.  It can seat between 10,000 and 15,000 people (depending on who you ask).

The theatre at Aspendos

Inside the galleries around the top of the theatre

Up the hill behind the theatre are the ruins of the acropolis ("high city") including a basilica and the remains of a large aqueduct which carried water across the plain to the city from the mountains opposite.

Ruins of the acropolis

Remains of the aqueduct (other end visible in the distance)

It was very hot - perhaps 35 C when we walked up to the acropolis.  Fatih said that in August it gets up to 45 C up there!  Many people just visit the theatre and opt out of the extra walk up to the acropolis.

Here (E) is where we are on our tour now:

The ballooning was at "C", Goreme.  There is quite a lot of driving involved on our tour, a bit more than we expected, so we are becoming quite familiar with our little bus.  Our next stop is at a small place called Kas, where we get to stay two nights which gives us a welcome break from the road.