Pamukkale and Hierapolis
Trip Start
May 20, 2008
1
7
73
Trip End
Sep 15, 2008
Pamukkale,
Denizli,
Turkey
Monday, May 26, 2008
When we arrived in Pamukkale we first stopped at this spa hotel where we were going to have lunch. We had an hour to kill before lunch so we checked out the mud baths and thermal pools which didn't look to appealing to me. I read by the pool and cursed our tour guide who said there would not be an opportunity to swim (the hotel had a lap pool; it was fresh water anyway).
Lunch was a nice buffet with lots of different dishes which I much preferred to a set menu. I could browse and pick the things I thought wouldn't kill me. They are big on cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, pistachios, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and dishes soaking in olive oil or mayo
5th c. AD gate to Hierapolis
. All of my favorites! :-) The buffet had a version of spaghetti and some other tasty items but I most enjoyed the dessert buffet. I don't know what the treats were but they were quite yummy!After lunch we took a short bus ride to the entrance of the park at Pamukkale. Our guide explained the unique topography that was created as a result of the soil structure and volcanic gasses present. We were able to walk on the formations (barefoot only) and take some great photos.
We visited Cleopatra's Pool next door and it was a wonderful surprise! It is separated by a large wooden wall from the rest of the complex so you can't see what's there until you actually enter even though it's free. The natural spring-fed pool belongs at Disney! It's very neat as there are ancient ruins at the bottom of the shallow pool so people can sit or climb on them. There is a 20 lira cost if you want to swim though. The pool is beautifully landscaped and was packed with tourists but still great scenery.
Next door to Pamukkale is Hierapolis which is the ancient civilization that settled the area because they believed the thermal waters had therapeutic powers. Little remains today of the town except for the theater but the history was fascinating.
I was elated to finally get back to Kusadasi so I could lie down but the trip to Pamukkale was definitely worthwhile.
