Pamukkale

The next day we had a long ride to Pamukkule, where we took a tour of the steaming ponds which dripped calcium laden water over the ridges of the hills, forming white calcium covered hills bespeckled with aqua blue ponds. This is a world heritage site and has been carefully fostered and preserved. Adjoining the hot springs area is a very large ancient ruin of Heiropolis. There is much restoration work to do here, but we enjoyed a stroll along the ancient cobbled streets, through the very large settlement and huge cemetery.

After touring Heiropolis we went on to our nearby hotel. There Cheryl and I put on our bathing suits and shower caps and enjoyed the hot pool, which I estimate was about 101 or 102 degrees. When I got too hot I moved into the cool pool, which was about 85. We were indoors, but I could raise a flap and, still in the same pool, could move to the outdoor area. As I moved out into the outdoor part of the pool I was behind a waterfall which was descending from the other large outdoor pools which terraced down the hillside. The calcium in the water had formed many stalactites, which hung down from the upper pool, creating an interesting effect.

After our hot soak and a shower we all went to dinner, which was a very nice buffet. Then it was back to the room and I nodded off at about 9pm as Don worked on his photos.

The following day we had another long drive through the valleys between two snow-capped mountain ranges. We finished up in Konya, a large, modern city of many Easter Egg colored multi-story appartment buildings.

More pictures of Pamukkule.