In Training

Destination #4: Pamukkale & Hierapolis

Travertine not snow

Pamukkale’s thermal springs and amazing travertine pools have been a magnet for those seeking therapeutic waters and spa treatments for thousands of years.  The Pergameme kings founded a cure centre in Hierapolis about 190BC, and the city prospered further during Roman and Byzantine times.  Even today, taking the waters for health reasons continues to be popular. (Although if you saw some of the "spa" waters we saw, you'd have second thoughts!)

It must be doing me some good?

After a morning train ride, we opted to walk from Pamukkale town, then up the travertine ridge, barefoot, passing various constructed thermal pools.  It was a little cold for bathing, but this did not stop a number of bikini-bunnies from striking calendar girl poses.  Security guards were kept busy tweeting whistles at tourists venturing carelessly onto pristine calcium ridges to take photos of themselves (selfies).  We found ourselves wondering what people did before phones, digital cameras and facebook. 

That looks like rain for sure...

After sploshing our way to the top of the ridge, we prepared for a walk of Hierapolis.  Sadly our arrival coincided with a cloud burst over the area and like everyone else we made a dash for the café and shelter.  The rains continued (and set in for the night) so eventually we had to be rescued and returned to our hotel. 

And pour it did as we reached Hierapolis...our tour sadly, was a washout
(you could say it was ruined....)

Fact File: Danger - Poisonous Gas.  The only spot we were sorry to have missed was the Temple of Apollo.  Near to it is a spring called Plutonium (dedicated to Pluto, god of the underworld) that gives off toxic vapours – even today.  The temple was once attended by an oracle and eunuch priests who it is said, were “unaffected” by the fumes.  Perhaps a little more dangerous than reading tea leaves…

Frolicking on travertine slopes