This Adventure Just Keeps Getting Better

From Saturday, by Les.

     Slam dunks and fist bumps are in order for yesterday’s Roman house site adventure, but yes my friends, there was LOTS more.  We were invited to come to some friends house in Altinoluk that evening.  Expansion and development of their city over the last century has made its way downhill to the sea shores, while the original ancient village of Altinoluk is at the top.  The road leading up there got increasingly steep as we drove up, and our mouths dropped as we beheld its structures from the middle ages that are built on its ridiculous slopes. 

     The streets, like all the old villages in these mountains, is very narrow, very winding, and very cobbled.  But this one is much steeper, more picturesque, more panoramic and more unbelievable to these Texas eyes.  Stone and mortar houses dating back hundreds of years still stand with maybe an occasional crack or two, or a few missing roof tiles.  The really old dwellings possibly 400 years old still stand there like a colony of senior citizens – perhaps a little crooked and showing their age, but just happy to be here.

       It’s hard to process the way the predecessors put this town together in such a tight space.  Think of it like a Lego village.  Each house practically connects to another on the sides or to the one below.  What would normally be a back yard is actually the tile roof of the next house below.  This is so incredible and they must have figured out this makes them stronger because this has been an active earthquake zone throughout history.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  As hard as I try to paint word pictures of what I see, it’s a challenge to describe this village.  All of the TV travel shows and House Hunter’s International episodes are converging in my head as we walk about in wonder.  Of course, at the center of the village is an iconic square with its typical over-sized bronze statues of some historical figures.   Little mom and pop shops are all around . . . you know, the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker.  A sidewalk café seems to be “the place to meet” with enough tables to seat hundreds – and it sits facing the most spectacular panorama of the Aegean Sea. 

 

                   

 

 

     What really catches my attention are the old wooden doors and window shutters that have weathered gracefully, while boasting of their craftsmanship that preceded modern era carpentry machinery.  If you fancy rusty old iron hinges, knobs, latches and handles, this is a treasure trove.  Door after door bears large loops of hand forged iron rusted by the salty air, and the way they complement the intricate wooden panels makes my mouth water.

 

                                    

     We only had less than an hour to take a quick survey as the evening shadows turned to dusk, and the little shops were closing.  So, our hope is to get back there during daylight hours and try to drink it all in.  We’ve been warned, however, that the best is yet to come when we get to sail across to an ancient Greek island.

    No regrets about the evening, though, as we spent a few hours with a precious family, and were able to get some play time in with two little girls!

The three year old kept talking to us, speaking as loudly and clearly as she could so that we could understand, repeating the same questions and never satisfied with the answers we could give! She finally gave up and played tickle games that did not need words. Fun times.