Brilliant day today, even though it started at 5:15am which is a tad early for me 😬
Last night, after we’d gone to bed, we were unceremoniously turfed out of the car park even though our ticket said there was no limit on it. Had to get dressed and drive 3km back down the hill to a patch of dirt parking that had a few other vans on it.
We were intending to get up early anyway, to see the travertine pools before the masses, but when loads of trailers rattled in and big fans went on, we realised they were putting hot air balloons up around us …it was amazing to watch.
We then made our way up to the thermal pools in the early morning light. It was lovely and cool as the sun came up.
These spectacular (mostly)natural formations are formed from calcium deposits caused by the warm thermal waters. It looks just like snow in places and the water is a beautiful icy blue. Footwear is not allowed on the terraces and it’s quite sharp underfoot in places. Thought I’d be having a swim but they weren’t quite deep enough.
To get onto the complex, you have to buy a ticket that includes visiting the remains of the ancient city of Hierapolis. We weren’t particularly bothered about this after yesterday but once we’d had enough of the pools, we wandered around as the day heated up.
Incredibly, the amphitheatre that Guy thought he would see yesterday was here! There’s so much misinformation online, where places are tagged as one thing and turn out to be completely different.
There was also another colonnaded street. All in all, Pamukkale is just a great place to visit and well worth the entrance fee.
Needed lunch at 11am again – just so hungry 🤣We then set off back towards the coast aiming for the Bodrum area.
Google maps took us on a very rural route up and over some mountains. Half the roads were single track and block paved.
Down towards Bodrum, late afternoon, we called at a tiny supermarket and stocked up on anything recognisable – it came to the grand total of £24, but no meat or fish (not recognisable) and no wine (none available). We won’t last long as teetotal vegetarians 🤣
Miraculously, we’ve managed to park by the sea in the tiny little resort of Güvercinlik. Quite busy at the moment but we’re told it quietens down later.
