A three and a half hour drive from Kusadasi took us inland towards Pamukkale (Pa-muk-Ka-lay) as we drove I noted a change in agriculture out the window from olives and sunflowers to figs, strawberries, apricots and peaches. The time passed quickly and after a short stop at a roadside food/petrol area, and a half hour trip through back roads, we arrived at the Pamukkale thermal area.
Time was our own for two hours and we were given the option of swimming in the thermal pool, visiting the city of Hierapolis, or walking the travertine terraces and to fit in a bite of lunch if we wanted.
The pool was crowded and besides, our hotel had three thermal pools and an outdoor pool, so it wasn’t high on the list of priorities. Pamukkale seems to be one of the favoured holiday destination of the new Russians. The ones with money. I felt positively slim against some of the men and a number of the women.
Pamukkale – Cleopatra Pool. If you can see the fallen Roman columns between the bathers
Matt and I looked at the lunch crowd and opted for the terraces.
The terraces were formed as a result of heated carbonated water passing through limestone, becoming supersaturated with calcium carbonate and when it reaches the atmosphere, it starts shedding the excess calcium carbonate until the carbon dioxide level within the solution reaches the same as the atmosphere. The result – a thin film of limestone buildup wherever the mineral rich water is flowing which hardens into the travertine deposits.
To walk on the terraces, we were required to remove our footwear, just as well really, as you can see, we were at times knee deep in warm water.
Pamukkale – Ian in front of travertine terraces on the site of the Roman city of Heirapolis
Pamukkale – Matt and half of Russia in one of the mineral pools on the travertine terraces
Pamukkale – hot or cold ? – stalactites or icicles ?
Pamukkale – Matt without anyone else in the picture. We had to go to the end of the pools to get this shot
Pamukkale – mineral pools
I am really glad I decided to get a pair of prescription sunglasses. They were invaluable.
After a short bite of cheeseburger and Carlsberg, we realised that we’d better get to it if we wanted to see the city before having to meet the tour at the designated meeting place.
Hierapolis hasn’t got any Greek ancestry to it, it’s a purely Roman city based around the healing soda waters of the spring. It was quite a thing in its day. People came here from far away to be healed. Of course if you need healing, you have to be crook. You and I both know that soda water can only go so far, maybe even give you gas. You guessed it – there is a big cemetery (necropolis) attached to Hierapolis. Some of the tombs are quite ornate.
We chose not to visit the Amphitheatre after the past few days and concentrated on the city. We pushed on and in the 37 degree heat we power walked out to Hierapolis.
Heirapolis – They really liked amphitheatres didn’t they
Heirapolis – building frontages on main street in Roman times
Heirapolis – Tomb within the necropolis
Ten minutes down the road we arrived at our hotel for the evening, the Colossae thermal spa hotel. A quick dip in three of its five pools and we were happiness filled. Filled twice over after the sumptuous buffet dinner that evening.
Early start tomorrow 06:30 start – big drive to get through traffic at specific choke points.
Ian's Ottoman Adventure 2013 