Pamukkale is a popular tourist destination which translates to "cotton castle" in Turkish. The travertines are made from calcium carbonate deposits flowing from hot springs.
All in attendance: David and Kristen
The bus from Selçuk to Pamukkale is around 3 hours away. We had a pit stop where I bought some corn from a street vendor which was in every way delicious until he poured mayo all over it. We arrived in the town of Pamukkale, arranged for a bus to Capadoccia later the same day with Metro.
Off David and I went in the early afternoon to the travertines which costs 20TL for entry. There was a youth Turkish soccer team of sorts there this day as well. I'm not sure the exact rules to their game but they are extremely over zealous about taking photos of me. David got properly mad and scared them off but they still danced behind us in hoards, asking a repetitive "where are you from?", "where are you from?", "where are you from?"....
You have to walk on the travertines bare foot. They are white and snowy and rough. From not going barefoot very often all year, I had a bit of a struggle to fit good comfortable foot. It's no surprise David had no issue on this. The water was warm and the whole place is surreal - it is a completely isolated white blanket along an otherwise green hillside.
From the lower end of the hill, the number of visiting tourists seems only moderate but once you reach the top, it's a full colourful crowd of fanny packs and sun hats. We walked around the Ancient village at the top and had a rest in the giant theater ruin (Roman amphitheater of Hierapolis). We then went swimming in those clear blue pools - something most people there didn't do for some reason - and thus photobombed all the tourist photos taken that day.
The over zealous guy at the Metro bus station invited us for a BBQ he was having in front of the shop but we set off in search of other food since David's stomach wouldn't likely agree with it. More vegetarian Meze for dinner for me and then we boarded our first Turkey night bus of the trip. Overall Pamukkale is a definite tourist trap but it is certainly necessary to visit it at least once - especially if you have never seen travertines before, like me. One day (or a few hours) in Pamukkale is enough.
Things I learned:
- They redirect the water so that mold and algae don't grow on the travertines. When we went, the standard blue pools in all postcards and tourist photos were dried up.
- Go to nearby Karahayit
- Paraglide tandem over the travertines for only 60€!
- Badab-e Surt in Iran
