Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.

John F Kennedy

This is a massive subject, although someone said it is just one thing after another. Hence, I will start in the middle.

Arrived Izmir via flight from cappadocia region via Istanbul. Turkish air fed us a hot sandwich both flights one an hour another 45 minutes can’t remember last time fed a meal on domestic flight

Driver and van arrived and off to lunch. Another incredible Turkish meal. I have concluded we are not allowed to be remotely hungry on this trip.

Then to the ruins of Ephemeris, one of the largest Roman cities, with a population of 200, 000 people, which included slaves which were in significant numbers. Apparently some “owned” as many as 2000.

The city was rediscovered and is slowly being “dug out”. One could see the Main Street again full of people “tourists” it was inhabited 2 millennia ago.

I find it interesting to see cultures containing art. It takes a rich culture to have the ability for spare time to support the arts tome seemed to be above and beyond this. I describe it as decadent. But labor was cheap.

Besides ornate columns and frescos, the Roman’s were great developers of modern culture and survivabiliyy. Sewer systems, water systems water transport. Amazing technology. One thinks of “primitive civilizations as primitive, considering ourselves to be the epitome of civilization, but two thousand years ago people had developed amazing system still in use today.

Of course religion played a huge part of any civilization from the beginning. If anything happened to you, it has been considered to be due to the gods. People always have wondered why or where we came from. Gods gave us the answer. I suppose people believe in a system of fairness. If I am good to the gods and worship them the gods will be good to them. Roman’s were no different. Hence the statues.

Just finished another lunch breaking up a 3 hour drive to the southern coast where we board a boat and downs 9 days cruising.