Above the amphitheater, there is a deep cistern at the Acropolis of Pergamum with a column in the middle.
Our guide, Isa, told us of the tradition that if youtoss a coin into the cistern and it comes to rest on top of the column, your dearest wish will come true. I put my sunglasses on the brim of my hat and tossed 50 kurus. My coin stayed on top of the column! I was so excited to know I’d earned my wish that I looked down, and my precious sunglasses slipped from my hat and flew some thirty feet to the bottom of the cistern. Isa asked me if it would be worth $20 to get them. When I said yes, he managed to coax someone to climb down a ladder to retrieve them!

Turkish Sunglass Holder

Dennis Funchess 59 sent this photo of the infamous cistern to Anita. He titled it "Turkish Sunglass Holder."

You can't get much perspective from
the photo, but the diameter is between 12-15 feet, and the depth is about 25 feet. Anita's sun glasses fell through the grate and landed at the very bottom!

Photo by Dennis Funchess 59

Atop Pergamum

On to the acropolis of Pergamon, sitting in three terraces atop a conical hill about 900 feet above sea level.

Jerry Moran;
Dennis Funchess 59;
Mark Fortune 65;
BobFletcher 63;
Priscilla Meyers;
Brian Heyboer 74

This archway runs under one of the terraces of Pergamon.

Turkey Tour 2006