While our guests ventured out to other parts of Antalya such as Side and Kemer, Alex and I decided to stay in and catch up on sleep on Thursday. Once our bodies were recovered from exhaustion, we made plans to go to a ballet and opera show at the famous Aspendos Theater, which was built by the Romans and is remarkably preserved in Sevik, which is about an hour away from Antalya.
Per usual, getting to the
Aspendos Theater via public transportation was quite an adventure. Jesse, Alex,
and I left the house at 18.45 for our 21.00 show. We waited 40 minutes for Bus
03, which we were advised goes to Aspendos. However, after a short 20-minute
ride, we were dropped off at Aspendos Boulevard.
My friends, Aspendos Boulevard, as lovely as it is, is a random road in the
middle of a shopping center—not the grand Aspendos Theater that we were looking
for.
Exercising our limited
Turkish once again, we asked bystanders for directions to Sevik, with no
success. When the clock struck 20.00, we turned to our last resort: taxi. We
knew it would be much, much more expensive than the bus, but sometimes you just
have to bite the bullet and keep moving. I think that’s probably why the Romans
were so successful; they strode on.
Time was not on our side and
the taxi driver did not know where Sevik was. After multiple stops at gas
stations, driving through narrow dirt roads and large highways, and some 58 minutes
past the 20th hour, we reached our final destination just in time
for the show to start.
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| Aspendos Theater in Sivek was built by Romans. |
I felt as if I had traveled through
a time machine and landed in the Roman Empire when I entered the stone-carved
amphitheater. It was a magnificent structure, with its creative designs and
calculated engineering. The same-sized seats formed parallel rings that circled
the ground stage while the upside down U-shaped doors created by Corinthian
columns gave way for light and wind. What made the theater so beautiful is that
it was built with stone. Stone! I am
a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, but I cannot even begin to comprehend the
geometry and science that the Romans knew. Moments like these fascinate me;
they ignite in me a blazing fire, which can only be extinguished by a greater
depth of knowledge.
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| Opera singers from around the world. |
Lights quickly dimmed and
the show started on the dot at 21.00. As I watched couples perform ballet and
individuals sing opera, all I could think about was how incredibly lucky and blessed
I am to be here. Witnessing these amazing artists from around the world, taking
in the sound of music, feeling the cool breeze under a moonlit sky. It was so
special to get lost in my thoughts, mainly from my past, as I watched the
performances. I thought about my childhood in Pakistan and how unmotivated I
was as a student. I thought about growing up in Alexandria, VA, the struggles
of learning English and adapting to a new culture. I missed my family as I
remembered my mom’s cooking, Baba’s disciplining lessons, and quarrels with my
siblings. Episodes from my years at Bowdoin played through my head; I recalled
special memories I made with my friends, with my host parents, and my
professors. I smiled when I thought about my two years in Boston, navigating
the ruthless snowstorms, producing insurance analyses, and coming home to fresh
cookies baked by my roommates Carly and Abi. When the live orchestra picked up
its pace, I thought about my best friend Emily Rapavi who is an incredible
violinist. When the audience clapped for opera singers, I thought about my host
mother Wanda and my college friend Katarina because they, too, have beautiful voices.
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| Beautiful ballet performance. |
Watching the ballet and
opera show at the Aspendos Theater was a powerful experience. Even though I was
present in the moment—fully engaged with the music I heard, the dances I saw,
the breeze I felt, the clapping I participated in—I was also lost in my past. This must be a dream, I kept thinking to
myself, this must be a dream. Thank
you Allah for Your blessing.
With gratitude, I leave you with a video.
