Mid-afternoon we headed off the boat and onto a local bus to Pamukkale where we stayed the night. The bus was no where near as cheap as in Syria but we’ve had to get over that one and just fork out a wee bit more. The bus service in Turkey is impressive though and even on the small buses there is an attendant who serves you with water, hot drinks, cake etc. Its weird, it almost makes you excited to be getting on a bus. How sad is that?!!
We visited the travertines at Pamukkale in scorching heat the morning after we arrived. From a distance, the travertines don’t look like much more than a big white blotch in the landscape and its not until you’re nearly walking in them that you appreciate what they actually are.
From a distance, they look a dirty white but up close, they’re brilliant white
and the surface looks a bit like elephants skin
I was here seven years ago and was pleasantly surprised to find that they travertines hadn’t changed much from when I was last here (unlike the other parts of Turkey we’ve visited) and that the water was still running as we’d heard reports that the flow had dried up. Euan had no expectations, was really impressed by the whole experience and thought they were well worth going out of your way to visit.
Surprisingly, you’re still allowed to walk up the hillside (shoes off though) though the travertines although if you stray off the beaten track you get whistles blown like crazy at you by the guards that are dotted around the site. The water in the pools is luke warm and your feet squidge through a layer of what feels like mud but its calcium deposit that eventually hardens and creates the terraces.
There are some man-made pools now on the way up the hillside and these are already becoming calcified and beginning to look like the real thing. People are allowed to swim in these and plenty of people were making the most of the opportunity and also of the nearby waterfalls!
The natural terraces are still stunning and while the water is regulated now, it sounds like its for good reason. Apparently if the water runs constantly, algae forms and ruins the pristine white finish. So, to avoid this, the water flow over the travertines is now regulated and then sections are left to dry out completely before the water flow is started again.
To cap it all off, there are Roman ruins at the top of the travertines. The Hieropolis was an ancient Roman Spa town built to make the most of the healing properties of the water in the area. As are the travertines, the Hieropolis is also spread over a large area and the whole site is pretty impressive.
We visited the travertines at Pamukkale in scorching heat the morning after we arrived. From a distance, the travertines don’t look like much more than a big white blotch in the landscape and its not until you’re nearly walking in them that you appreciate what they actually are.
From a distance, they look a dirty white but up close, they’re brilliant white
and the surface looks a bit like elephants skin
I was here seven years ago and was pleasantly surprised to find that they travertines hadn’t changed much from when I was last here (unlike the other parts of Turkey we’ve visited) and that the water was still running as we’d heard reports that the flow had dried up. Euan had no expectations, was really impressed by the whole experience and thought they were well worth going out of your way to visit.
Surprisingly, you’re still allowed to walk up the hillside (shoes off though) though the travertines although if you stray off the beaten track you get whistles blown like crazy at you by the guards that are dotted around the site. The water in the pools is luke warm and your feet squidge through a layer of what feels like mud but its calcium deposit that eventually hardens and creates the terraces.
There are some man-made pools now on the way up the hillside and these are already becoming calcified and beginning to look like the real thing. People are allowed to swim in these and plenty of people were making the most of the opportunity and also of the nearby waterfalls!
The natural terraces are still stunning and while the water is regulated now, it sounds like its for good reason. Apparently if the water runs constantly, algae forms and ruins the pristine white finish. So, to avoid this, the water flow over the travertines is now regulated and then sections are left to dry out completely before the water flow is started again.
To cap it all off, there are Roman ruins at the top of the travertines. The Hieropolis was an ancient Roman Spa town built to make the most of the healing properties of the water in the area. As are the travertines, the Hieropolis is also spread over a large area and the whole site is pretty impressive.
You can just see the white of the travertines in the top right.
The travertines are spread over a huge area but, as you can see, aren't much to look at unless they're filled with water
If you’re ever visiting, go as early as possible and be sure to take your togs! If ruins are your thing, you could easily spend a couple of days exploring the whole site and soaking in the water there. We had a date with Ephesus the next day so headed off to Selçuk (3.5 hours by bus) that evening.
If you’re ever visiting, go as early as possible and be sure to take your togs! If ruins are your thing, you could easily spend a couple of days exploring the whole site and soaking in the water there. We had a date with Ephesus the next day so headed off to Selçuk (3.5 hours by bus) that evening.
View Larger Map
2 comments:
Philip and I really enjoyed reading about the travertines. Absolutely fascinating and we knew nothing about this wonderful attraction. The maps you are now including are most helpful as we can picture exactly where you are. I haven't been on your blog site for a little while so am working my way through it backwards. By the time i have finished I shall be ready for an update! Keep up the wonderful account.
Margaret.
I see the previous statement I wrote has come up as no comments so will put this on to see if it works.
Margaret
Post a Comment