Afro-Asian Connection

 

The road to Pergamon reminds the trail to Bizerte.

In both cases, you cross the crowded cities - Izmir and Tunis.

Bizerte, the Tunisian seaside town, is dominated by protruding drawbridge -

the guidepost visible from a complex system of streets

in the port with European, nineteenth-century buildings.

Pergamon cone dominates the Turkish Bergama - a symbol of ancient monumentum...

 

Carthage, in turn, is a broken vessel with a successful past.

Ephesus, meanwhile, is like a well-preserved amphora, which has fallen into desuetude.

 

The ruins of massive Priene hung over the picturesque valley of Maeander river,

residues of organized, Phoenician Kerkouane dozing at the Mediterranean beach.

Colosseum in El Djem is a lonely and lofty monument of civilization in the Arab town.

Amphitheatre at Miletus - D-shaped -

the ancient audience laughter on the background of Byzantine buildings.

 

However, my good-natured laughter raises the ubiquitous Turkish sleeveless undershirt,

and gracious Carthaginian policeman comparing my surname

to the name of the Asian school of philosophy.

 

2010