World Turkey Pamukkale

The Hogarth Travels 2010 - West from Shanghai

Cleopatra's pool Jun 14, 2010

We depart Selcuk and travel along a valley between two ranges – corn, olives, citrus fruit, apricots and peaches etc growing everywhere. Can see trucks full of peaches leaving the orchards. The ranges on both sides are quite rugged and stoney and mostly covered in Olive Trees. We see quite a few irrigation channels but have yet to see a large river or water source. We stop at a supermarket and buy up fruit and salad and cheeses ready for a lunch when we get to our hotel. We finally arrive in Pamukkale after three hours – a swimming pool, what a treat. While we get settled in our rooms the hotel staff cut up our provisions and we enjoy a great picnic lunch by the pool. Following lunch is a type of water polo game – much splashing and raucus laughter – gets us through the heat of the day and we leave for sightseeing at 3pm. First we visit an old Roman Cemetary and the remenants of the City of Hieropolis. Near by are ridges and shelves formed by a spring with high calcium bicarbonate content. The water cascades over the edge of the cliffs leav ing white calcium deposits. In Roman times the ancient city was a sort of resort so that people could avail themselves of the many springs and natural pools. After our walk David and I spend an hour or so lounging in ‘Cleopatra’s pool’. Probably about 30+ degrees but quite comfortable and full of tourists from mainly Russia and Italy. Very relaxing though a mite expensive at 25 lira each. In the late afternoon we meander through the ridges and pools, all white and torquoise, with the sun trying to peak through some storm clouds. Quite spectacular and not sure the photos will do much justice. We arrive back at the hotel at 7.30 after another amazing day – the sign of a good tour when each day seems to exceed that of the day before. We have a quick tea and then farewell three of our members who only signed on for eight days – Joanne, Brad and Greg. They bus back to Istanbul tonight. We are sorry to see them go.

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