We awake in Pamukkale; another busy tourist town.
I’m not sure what the reason is for the heavy feather duvets in summer, it’s so hard to find a happy medium between a towel-sheet and a duvet that feels like 6 heavy wool blankets! Average sleep!
Every hostel in Turkey so far has provided breakfast (bonus!) which always consists of cucumber, tomatoes, feta, bread, spreads, olives, possible some fruit, and of course the Nescafé (we are always corrected if we say ‘coffee’). Today we also had rolled pastry filled with cheese.
The owner’s son told us we’d need five hours at the White Travertines and Hierapolis ruins, however we busted it out in 2.5 hours. The travertines (terraces) are quite amazing, especially the areas that are really white and filled with water reflecting the sky. Not all the natural pools were filled with water as algae grows if they’re always fill and when empty the sun bleaches them white, all this is controlled by Unesco. At the top of terraces were 6 man-made pools where you could swim in mineral water – very crowded, warm 36 degrees and up to your knees so we just paddled, the bottom felt like mud which was kind of weird! It was hilarious watching the other female tourists (young, old, big, small) out-doing each other with modelling poses along the terraces while in their bikinis, they were either hugging the wall or twisted out on the ground, very funny!! If they could get a photo without someone else in it they were very lucky, as they were so many people it made the beautiful scenery less stunning. There were signs dotted everywhere to warn people not to walk on the terraces but they still did, it’s a pity really, would’ve been cool to be here in 80’s before it was ruined by hotels and tourists. We flagged swimming in the therapeutic pool that helps cure a multitude of illnesses and cost 32 lira each (NZ$21) – the novelty being there are bits and pieces of ruins in the pool, but it was already 30 degrees outside and we didn’t fancy sitting in 36 degree pool! The Hierapolis ruins next to the terraces were okay but nothing like Epheses – funny to think everyone use to go to the communal dunny to do their business next to each other and catch up on gossip.

Driving 1.5 hours we arrived at Afrodisias, named after the goddess of love. The best thing about these ruins is not many people go there as they are out of the way, the main people,we accounted was a group of Aussie’s and kiwi’s so not of bad!! The ruins were amazing (dating back as early as 5000 BC), especially the gate into the city and and the stadium which was so well preserved, probably the best in the Mediterranean. Pretty big too, seating 30,000 people.
We were so hot and tired that by the time we got to our hostel we really needed a drink. I had such a yummy cocktail, going to try it at home – Malibu, vodka, peach juice, lemon juice, and lemonade, Yummy!