FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX: Pamukkale

Travertines of Pamukkale which translates to Cotton Palace. The white is from the calcite laden waters

It was a time for a road trip. We were picked at 8am for a 3 hour drive to Pamukkale. The distances involved means no cruise ship tourists. The visitors are usually those on multiday trips to Turkey or locals.

Pamukkale became known for its hot springs and many in the ancient days believed its waters to be healing. The ancient greek city of Hierapolis became a spa town in the 2nd century BC. It was destroyed by earthquakes and the Romans rebuilt it adding an amphitheatre and baths amongst other things. It was eventually abandoned in the 14th century due to multiple earthquakes. Our guide took us wandering through the ruins of Hierapolis, making our way up to the incredible Roman amphitheatre before heading down to Cleopatra's Pool and the travertines famously seen on many instagram accounts.

Cleopatra's looks kitsch but the pool is natural, formed when earthquakes allowed the hot springs waters to fill a sunken area of ruins. So all those pillars and rocks are actual ruins and not decorations thrown in! Mal was the only braved the pools. The rest of us had a giggle at the Russian tourists who were having their photos taken in the pools with Angel wings...

We had a late lunch of pide, before stopping at a cotton factory outlet (the area is a cotton growing region) to buy some Turkish towels! So much cheaper here!! Then it was nap time on the bus until we arrived back to our hotel.

The travertines as seen from afar

Byzantine Gate to Heirapolis. Everything is so old we're getting blase. Oh just a 5th century gate. Pfft

It was nice to walk in nature but it was a ways up hill...

...to get to this. Likely built after 60AD

Ploutonium. 1st century BC. The bits including the arched entrance near the CO2 emitting water from geologic activity is original. Everything above is a restoration