Notes about Turkey

We at southern coast of Turkey, in Antalia: Mediterranean sea, mountain ridges the Hummock.
The road along coast - without borders - spirit grasps, only lower a sight downwards, to the sea, in it is transparent turning blue, �� smooth surfaces of its bays.

One of unique creations of the nature, the eighth miracle of the world in the Western Antalia - Pamukkale. Already from afar it is possible to see seeming snow mountain magnificence - calcareous terraces - �� with healing water flowing down on them from thermal sources. Here it is possible to resemble barefoot in the warm water sated with calcium, admiring fancifully stiffened outlines and forms, to approach to pool where there is no time tsarina Cleopatra bathed.

As Pamukkale abounds with water sources, here since the most ancient times people lodged. One of from the most known settlements - the antique city of Hierapolis constructed by king Bergamy Eumenesom Second and named in honor of his wife Hiery. In 2 century of our era the city has united with Rome. Being in a seismic zone, Hierapolis has worried many destructive earthquakes, and after �� again built up.

Till now the Roman amphitheater of the second century of our era, city walls, gate, including monumental "Gate of Dominitsiana" and "Northern Byzantian gate", a city roadway, on either side of decorated temples, thermal baths, various kinds of burial places have remained.

In Hierapolise there is Martirium (monument) constructed in honor of St. Phillip, one of �� the Christ. It is considered that in 80th year d.C. he has been killed on this place. During the Byzantian period the city was the episcopal center, and in it St. Phillip's big church has been constructed.

The most valuable finds are stored in a museum which is settling down about an amphitheater. Bas-reliefs, sculptures, ornaments, utensils subjects, and also the found documents, annals allow us �� life of people during antique times, and also to understand, what influence has rendered Christianity on townsmen.

Possibility really to adjoin to a legend having a real basis, - travel to the modern city of Demre. These are the ancient Worlds Likijsky. In this city world renowned sacred Nikolay became the bishop and preached to the death (343�.), has made many good deeds. He the native of these places, was born in 234 year in the next city of Patara.

Once in the World there has come hunger. The city population has escaped, thanks to the ships loaded with wheat which have come in port the Worlds, and also to Nikolay's abilities.

Sacred Nikolay was the defender poor and children whom it brought gifts in Rozhdestvensuju night. The history is known there is no time the rich person who was running into poverty and having of three adult daughters. In those days girls couldn't marry without a dowry. Each of daughters of this beggar spoke: "For the sake of your happiness I can go marketing slaves and sell myself". Sacred Nikolay, having heard about it, has decided to help a poor family. He has thrown it through a window a purse with gold coins in night of Christmas. Elder sister, having made itself a dowry , Has married. Exactly a year later in CHRISTMAS night there was a same miracle, and in marriage there was a second sister. For the third year there were frosts and all windows have been closed. Then St. Nikolay has thrown a purse through a chimney. And the younger daughter has hung out on a rope at an oven the washed stockings. And the purse with gold has got directly to one of them.

Inhabitants have learned the Worlds, who made these gifts to a poor family, and it became the beginning of a fairy tale-legend on the Grandfather-frost. In the different countries his name chucht-hardly have altered and name Santa Claus, the Father Christmas, and still Father Frost. Both children, and adults with pleasure give from his name each other gifts.

In the center to the Domra (by name of small rivers) there is constructed 4 century St. Nikolay's church - one of the most interesting architectural monuments of the Byzantian epoch. The present building is dated 7 century.
In it it is possible �� St. Nikolay's tomb. In a church court yard - a monument to St. Nikolay in an environment of children.

To the north from St. Nikolay's church on slopes of mountains ruins of an antique city the Worlds Likijsky with rocky tombs - tiny buildings with columns were stretched. Probably, it is most interesting of all other burial places Anatolys. Here, on a remote hill - the center of an antique city, an amphitheater.

We had possibility to visit and a Turkish mosque to feel an originality of its internal furniture: walls are laid out by a patten sine-white - tile.

Excursion trips have allowed to get acquainted with traditional crafts of Turkey. Skill of jewelers, experts �� products, ��. It was especially remembered, as women, manually weave carpets: as their hands, henna, other natural dyes quickly scurry about...

It was possible to admire, playing light, drawing of the carpet embroidered with silk and what warm to the touch a carpet weaved from wool.

Naturally, we have visited and on east market where owners actively offer the goods: east sweets, spices, ornaments, souvenirs and many other things.

Till some days we lived in various five-stars hotels of Antalia (December, not a season) and days in hotel with thermal sources in Pamukkale at Hierapolisa that has allowed to have a rest and receive representation about rest in general.

Day trips could be chosen voluntarily, having paid for everyone about ten euros. The breakfast enters into permit cost. Certainly, it is possible to eat, as in hotel where the prices are high, and in cafe-restranah not far from hotels. The prices there much more low also it is possible to communicate more to learn about life, by the way rather hospitable and benevolent. The attendants here not bad know German and Russian.

This trip has been painted by grief, my father recently has gone to a better world.
It was involuntarily thought, looking at the rocks breaking in space:
Here and human life - was and has left...
It was involuntarily thought of its name goes what ways to the person.
Names of the earths of Turkey names of my parents: Lydia and Anatoly.
Anatoly in transfer with Turkish - the earth of mother.

� Saying goodbye to the sea on the stone plateau washed by sea waves, I have lifted a hard stone in which my companion has seen freak of nature, and - a hand of the person, the artist: the stone reminded the fish, decorating fountain there is. Have begun to argue.

It was thought, how many symbols, riddles this ancient earth knowing rising and a decline not of one civilization stores.

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