5 June, Pamukkale
Dort Mevsim Hotel 60TL (breakfast
included)
What a spectacular day. We spent a
rainy morning sorting and labelling photos and catching up on our
correspondence, then strolled into the village centre for a late lunch of
stuffed aubergine and sautéed liver. Just before 16:00 the sun came out and we
took the opportunity to visit Pamukkale’s Unesco World Heritage travertines.
The Roman spa city of Hierapolis was founded on the hill above modern day
Pamukkale in 197BC and was famous for the healing properties of its hot spring.
The thermal waters which run down the hillside from the spring are rich in calcium
carbonate and over the centuries have turned the hill snow white and formed a
network of pools filled with clear, warm water. You climb the travertines in
bare feet, and may swim in some of the pools. As we had visited on the spur of
the moment we were not prepared for swimming, but I could not resist and took a
dunk in shirt and sarong, which I had with me as protection against the cold.
As we began to make our way back to town, a storm developed and approached at
speed, the edges of it catching us as we shopped for a picnic dinner.
Pamukkale
Pamukkale
Pamukkale
Pamukkale
Charl at Pamukkale
Pamukkale
Pamukkale
Pamukkale
Pamukkale
Pamukkale
Pamukkale