Saturday, February 15, 2014

Roman Bridges and Roaming Turkish Roads

Over the past weekend, there was a break in the rain, so we decided to get out of the house and see what we could see.

IMG_9459

We ended up going to visit the Taşköprü, aka Adana's Stone Bridge, aka the Old Roman Bridge. You see how things seem to have many names around here? We always call it the Roman Bridge, so I will just stick with that. We have been past and seen the bridge many times, but we've never actually stopped to walk across or take pictures of it.

IMG_9467


They believe this bridge was built around 384 AD. Wow. What's even more wow is that the Roman bridge was still being used for cars up until 2007.


IMG_9469

Ducks.

IMG_9472
One of the wild kitties that are everywhere in Turkey.

IMG_9475

After checking out the scenery from below, we walked across the bridge, weaving around the vendors and dodging bicycles and motorcycles. Knowing how Adana traffic is, I can't imagine vehicle traffic up here. Craziness.

IMG_9477

The view of the Central Mosque from the bridge.

IMG_9479

And then on the other side of the bridge. This walkway was right beside a little park that is apparently a very popular destination for wedding photographs. I so wanted to take pictures of some of the Turkish brides in their wedding dresses, but I didn't want to be rude. The dresses were amazing!

IMG_9483

IMG_9491

We always have to take at least one selfie everywhere we go. We tried to get the Mosque in the background, but our heads were in the way. We did finally get one, but by the time that happened we were laughing and goofy, so just take my word for it, it's back there.

IMG_9499

After leaving the bridge, we decided to drive around for awhile. Here are some sheep going for a walk in the city. Not really that unusual in Adana.

IMG_9500

Just your average chicken coop on wheels.

IMG_9504

Sometimes when we're out driving we follow the brown signs to see where they lead. They're like the Historical Marker signs back in the States. We can't always read the words, so it's always a surprise where we will end up.

IMG_9502

This particular set of signs brought us here. A burial mound/cemetery site. It looked like there were spring flower bulbs planted everywhere throughout the stones. I'm sure it will be beautiful when they all bloom.

IMG_9505

After driving for awhile more we ended up in Misis, and decided to visit the Misis Mosaic Museum. It was a small building (I think it was someone's house actually.) that contains floor mosaics from the Basilica of the the Ancient City Misis. The main display is from the 4th Century and depicts the animals of Noah's Ark.


IMG_9507



IMG_9509

IMG_9510

IMG_9511

IMG_9513

IMG_9514

There were more tile sections outside. We weren't sure if these were from the same site, or if these were different. They were still cool to look at. As I mentioned before, Turkey has a pretty nonchalant way of dealing with it's antiquities. Notice the drain pipe right next to this piece?

IMG_9515

IMG_9516

More tiles outside in the garden.

IMG_9517

IMG_9518

IMG_9520

Columns and architectural pieces in the parking lot.

IMG_9521

IMG_9522

IMG_9524

IMG_9530

After leaving the Mosaic Museum we continued down the road to the site of another Roman bridge. This one is just called the Misis Bridge, named after the town.

IMG_9531

You can still drive on this one, horses and wagons included. During the Middle Ages, this was part of the Silk Road.

IMG_9546

Brennan asked me to take his picture! It's not often I get a voluntary picture without a monster face. :)

IMG_9552

Our turn to drive over the bridge.

IMG_9555

There was pretty farmland on the other side.

IMG_9557

Some places we see in Turkey reminds us of being back in Utah.

IMG_9558

And then we end up in places like this, and know we are definitely in Turkey, haha. This is the main road in the village of Kizildere. I thought I had read there were some castle ruins not far from Misis. There probably are, but this was NOT the way to get there. After driving through the village and then hitting a dead end, we just turned around and called it a day.

As my facebook friends know, it was on the way back from Kizildere when we saw two turkeys in someone's front yard. So the big question of...  "Are there turkeys in Turkey?" The answer is "Yes!"

There's definitely always something interesting to see around here!

No comments:

Post a Comment

ShareThis

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails