Stage 53: From Ayvalik to Bergama

After a hearty breakfast at the harbor of Ayvalik, I continued my journey southeast. I avoided the main road when leaving Ayvalik and at Altinolu, which meant dealing with scooter tracks instead. Especially after Altinolu, it was a rough ride with plenty of bumps and curious school children cheering me on (or laughing at me?). The stretch to Dikili felt like chewing gum, mostly due to the headwind. So, it was time for a big coffee at the beach of Dikili, and with music, the second half of the stage flew by.

At the hotel reception, there was a cheerful and warm-hearted woman who originally came from North Macedonia. The room was spacious, and my highlight was the shower with integrated light and radio! In the evening, I enjoyed free tea with the hotel owner.

The next morning, I woke up to rain, but fortunately, it cleared up during the morning. The plan for the day was to visit the ancient sites of Pergamon. With the sun shining, I started climbing the Acropolis. Pergamon is a UNESCO World Heritage site for a good reason. You could feel the history on the citadel hill, not to mention the breathtaking view. Many artifacts from the Acropolis can now be found in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, and German teams still lead excavations in the region.

In the afternoon, I wanted to visit the Asklepieion, located west of the present-day city. The place is a must-see when in Pergamon, even though it doesn't compare to the Acropolis. In the evening, I was exhausted and wanted to go to bed earlier for the next day's stage (that didn't work out).