Our drive to Pamukkale (formerly Hierapolis in Roman times) is unique because of the incredible mineral deposits which are created there. It looks like snow!
It is most certainly not snow. Actually it was the hottest day of the trip so far - easily mid thirties or higher.
There's actually hot springs in the area, the mineral rich water of which is carried by underwater means overtop of limestone cliffs. As the water evaporates under the scorching, I can assure you, sun, the minerals are left deposited on the rocks (it's calcium carbonate). Little pools have formed over the centuries.
In fact, Hierapolis was built by the Romans in this area especially because of the mineral rich waters, which they believed to have healing properties. Apparently people still believe this, and going for a dip in the water is supposed to be, at the least, therapeutic. So that's what we did:
The scenery in the area was beautiful, and unlike anything either of us had seen before:
As well as a museum housing all sorts of artifacts, including one of the most ornate roman sarcophagi I've ever seen (short of being for an emperor):
Hierapolis is expected to cover the same area as Ephesus, but most of it remains to be restored.
By the time we were finished up, it was nearly 7:00 pm, so we raced back to our hotel for a quick turnaround before dinner.
After that, a quick tour of the market in the local village and then to bed. An early start and a long drive to the resort town of Cesme tomorrow.
Talk to you all soon,
Paul and Aoife.
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