Koray Hotel Pamukkale

... powers. However, the site was abandoned after earthquakes. We headed first to a 12,000 seat Roman Theatre (very well preserved), and were the only ones in it. Compared to the ruins at Ephesus, where you couldn't walk 3 steps without running into a tour, this was a real treat. We continued to walk through all of the ruins; old churches, Roman Baths, Necropolis (cemeteries) on hıllsıdes, etc. All throughout, we had the ruins almost entirely ...

... br>I think I got the tendency to let my thoughts jump erratically between wildly divergent yet oft-repetitive topics from my eldest sister Diana. She took it to such extremes that she'd often interrupt her own sentences with a new thought before completing the first one.<br><br>After breakfast on the pleasantly sunny yet breezy rooftop terrace, we drove the quick stretch down to Ephesus. It was about this late stage that we make the connection between ...

... having amazing calcium travertines that appear almost like the largest baked Alaska you have ever seen and the ruins of Hierapolis add to the mystical charm of the area. It is a genuinely breathtaking sight to see.<br> <br>But perhaps Pamukkale shall be remembered for lessons learned such as don't take on the locals at Backgammon when the stake is who's buying the next round of drinks....

... so didn't need to make a loop walking tour - score for us. Hireapolis is a mix of Jewish, Roman and Christian ruins so was quite interesting to walk around. We did fell a little over dressed though as the place was inundated with Russian's wearing their budge smugglers and bikinis (not together of course). This wouldn't be a problem if they were all right to look at, but we're talking granny ages here. Ewwwww and totally wrong. Wearing this stuff at the beach - no probs, but ...

... restaurant and he doesn't speak English. I try the berber (that is how it is spelt here) shop where he is cutting a little boys hair. He can't help as he doesn't speak English. Our man just walks by, so I go with him and we pack and leave. Back to the otogard out of town and on the bus Denizile and change to Pamukkale. This is where there are white hills with blue water pouring down over them. It has been a signature picture for Turkey's tourism industry. This ...

... a resort town at the top of the falaise, complete with theatres, circuses, shops and brothels (not so different from these days, eh?). Hence these days as one slowly crawls up the cliff face, barefoot from one shallow pool to another, is greeted by the extensive ruins of a classical city- nowhere else have we seen something like this. Of course, like everywhere, there's drawbacks- for one thing the water has been drying up lately, so the place is not ...

... in the museum, it had some very good sculptures and bits and peaces from every day life. I liked the medical gear they used back in 1st century BC, very primitive. The next stop was Gallipoli, but we had to make a free stop in Oren because it was getting late. We stayed near the beach, but it wasn't very good, so we didn't go in, and then continued onto Gallipoli this morning, we are now back in Europe (finally) after a short ferry ride. Miles so far: 11052

... of us went to the slowest internet then decided to have an early dinner (the others were going at 8pm -- we were hungry!) so we went to this place that sold "lamp chops" and had a huge feast -- just as we were finishing the other group rocked up to the same place so we recommended to them the mixed grill... mm mmmmm The restaurant we were at overlooked the travertines which were all lit up.. The night was young and we decided to check out the ...

... fluted marble columns. I was quite dismayed to see the price for entry was 18 lira for entry (whereas entry to the site itself was only 5 lira) so being the tightarse that I am I opted to just explore the huge sight on my own. Whilst the initial part of the venturing of the site was packed with tour groups - mostly German, French and Spanish - once outside the "main drag" the setting was absolutely beautiful. Rolling hills filled with parts of ruins with ...

... were actually located on the same small hilltop (and both didn't take long to traverse) our plans to stay a few nights in town were amended quickly. Next stop - Selcuk, to see the ancient ruins of Ephesus and one of the seven wonders of the ancient world: what is left of the Temple of Artemis. * * * Obviously some keyboard issues with &#304; &#304; y &#305; I here... we don't normally struggle with spell&#305;ng th&#305;s much :)