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Günaydın!
Six down and six to go. Truly it is not a bad thing, just wished I had a day to sleep and just lay around. Wasn't really hungry this morning. I guess I was really tired. I couldn't pass up that Turkish coffee though. The day just wouldn't be right without it. Three hours to Pamukkale. Hmmmmm, brought some newspapers to read along the way and my trusty blanket.
As we drove along Aydın
pronounced eye-din is a city in and the seat of
Aydın Province in Turkey's Aegean Region. The city is located at the heart of the lower valley of Büyük Menderes River (ancient Meander River) at a commanding position for the region extending from the uplands of the valley down to the seacoast. Its population was 188337 in 2010. Aydın city is located along a region which was famous for its fertility and productivity since ancient times. Figs remain the province's best-known crop, although other agricultural products are also grown intensively and the city has some light industry.
At the crossroads of a busy transport network of several types, a six-lane motorway connects Aydın to İzmir, Turkey's second port, in less than an hour, and in still less time to the international Adnan Menderes Airport, located along the road between the two cities. The region of Aydın also pioneered the introduction of railways into Turkey in the 19th century and still has the densest railroad network.
The province of Aydın is also where a number of internationally known historic sites and centers of tourism are concentrated.
The weather is hot in summer, and warm all year round.
Aydın also has the distinction of being the largest urban center in Turkey administered by a female mayor, Mrs. Özlem Çerçioglu elected in 2009.
We made a pit-stop along the way for a quick bathroom break. Of course there's a shoppe of two and we cannot miss meandering into it. I always head to the shoppes first, then when I'm done, I know the line for the bathroom has diminished.
We make our way to Pamukkale. And let me tell you, the sun is no joke. Here they offered small carts to take you on to the other end near the exit, if you couldn't walk the distance. Berna said, "oh it's about 1 kilometer." To me that meant 3 miles. LMAO. While we were waiting for the cart to pick up the ladies would didn't want to walk it, my head was roasting. I immediately put on my hat. Glad I brought it today.
As we entered the ruins of Hierapolis, I thought to myself, this is a bit treacherous. The road was uneven, rocks and slippery granite everywhere. So as Berna took the group on an upper road, I took the low road walking between the rows of tombs.
After a pit stop for shade and some had sodas, we could see the white stalactites and basins. It looked just like the Rick Steeves' DVD I'd rented before the trip.
Pamukkale, which means 'Cotton Castle' in Turkish, is known as 8th world wonder by Turkish people.
Pamukkale is a natural site and a famous tourist attraction in south-western Turkey in the Denizli Province.
Pamukkale is located in Turkey's Inner Aegean region, in the River Menderes valley, which enjoys a temperate climate over the greater part of the year. The summers are hot and dry, and winters warm and rainy.
The water (35 degrees Celsius) which is flowing down the cliff of Pamukkale has turned the area into as white as cotton color, and carved this fantastic formation of stalactites and basins. Pamukkale is a very popular destination for a short visit, the stunning white calcium pools, which cling to the side of a ridge, have been long one of the most famous picture postal card views of Turkey. It is the largest and finest example of elaborate calcium formation in the world, which dominates the landscape miles around. Pamukkale was formed when a spring with a high content of dissolved calcium bicarbonate cascaded over the edge of the cliff, which cooled and hardened leaving calcium deposits. This formed into great natural pools, shelves and ridges, which tourists could plunge and splash in the hot water. According to ancient tradition, the waters within the pools are said to be advantageous in treating maladies and attracting people from all over the world. The calceous waters rise from the ground at a temperature of 35 degrees Celsius. In this white wonderland is an abundance of hot warm springs which are recommended for the treatment of high blood pressure, heart diseases, rheumatism, circulatory problems, nervous disorders, digestive maladies, nervous and physical exhaustion, eye & skin diseases and nutritional disorders.
I can only tell you that I felt nothing but extremely tight skin on my legs, feet and hands. The skin was so tight, it was a bit abnormal. I don't think it helped the arthritis in my left ankle.
Hotels were springing up from the 1970s to cater for the large influx of tourists, and shortly afterwards UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site. But by the 1990s, this took its toll on the state of the calcium pools and restrictions were placed on these travertine terraces.
Many hotels were knocked down, visitors are only allowed on major paths around the sites, and must remove footwear to stand on the calcium deposits. This seems to have been a successful move, as the water supply is now used for preservation and some of the damaged calcium deposits have been strengthened.
As you approach the site of Pamukkale / Hierapolis from Denizli, a long white smudge along the hills to the north suggests a landslide or open cast mine. Getting closer, this resolves into the edge of a plateau, more than 100m higher than the level of the river valley and absolutely smothered in white travertine terraces. Some are shaped like water lilies, other like shell - bathtubs with stalagmite feet, with simplest ones resembling bleached rice terraces out of an oriental engraving.
The ruins of Hierapolis are the other main attraction. The city was founded in 190 B.C. by Eumenes II, king of Pergamon. In the 2nd and 3rd centuries, it reached the height of its development as a Roman thermal bath center. Hierapolis has such extensive ruins which is suggested : the city walls, the octagonal Martyrium of St. Philip, the 2nd center theater, Temple of Apollo, basilica then the necropolis which covers 2 km. and contains some of the best examples of tomb styles; it is one of the best-preserved cemeteries in all of Anatolia. The East Bath is in archaeology museum housing many of the remains from Hierapolis.
Just outside Pamukkale are the Red Springs, the boiling waters of which have emerged from thousands of feet below the Earth's surface to form ribbons of deep red, blue and yellow on the surrounding rocks.
After helping ladies in and out of the slippery pools, I escaped dry. The bottom is extremely rocky and the pebbles are so small they actually hurt the bottom of my feet. I stood there for a few photo shoots, just praying I didn't fall in while trying to climb up and out.
Put my shoes back on and headed over to the indoor pool. Not to swim, but to try and find somewhere to sit down.
We all headed to the bus and everyone is selling something. All I wanted to see was my seat on the bus.
After the group was settled we were off to lunch.
We stopped for lunch at Seyir Restaurant. For photos of the restaurant visit
http://www.seyirrestaurant.com.tr/en/index.html#/home.
The restaurant is huge. The bathrooms were upstairs. Yep, I was tired of climbing stairs. When I came out there was a great photo opportunity to take a shot of the group below. It came out blurred, so I deleted it.
After a long, long day, we headed to our hotel.
For more hotel photos, visit,
http://www.colossaehotel.com/index_eng.html. The music kinda catches you off guard. I really never expect American music to pop-up on these sites.
Dinner here was cool. Very crowded. Tourists pile in and rush to the food as if was the last. There was a guy standing at the water fountain for a long time. I assumed he was dehydrated with all the water he was drinking. The beverage was Tang. I have never liked Tang. They even had citrus Tang which was green. Yukka. My best bet here was to stick with the potatoes, coffee and the fruit. I knew I couldn't go wrong. The desserts were not good at all. Very bland.
Bunny and I called it a night after walking around. The grounds were beautiful.
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