We both slept well last night despite the cold temperatures, although the call to prayer at 0600 this morning kept teasing us - every time we thought it had stopped, it started again. I’m sure it didn’t have to be quite so long or quite so loud.
I braved the showers this morning, which were just about warm enough, although I recommended that Anne wait as she really hates cold showers. We could walk up to the travertine pools so no need to pack up the tent, which meant we were on our way a little after 0900. It really looked like it had been snowing as the calcium carbonate deposits that cover the hillside above the village are so white.
You have to remove your shoes to walk up through the pools, to protect the deposits rather than to keep your shoes dry.
It was a bit chilly for our feet until we got closer to the source of the thermal springs at the top and could paddle in warm water. It’s rather surreal, and you can see why the Romans built the spa city of Hierapolis, with the water apparently having curative powers. SPOT
Shoes back on once we reached the plateau in order to explore Hierapolis which has a large necropolis, so I don’t think the water helped that much in curing illness. Hierapolis covers a huge area and it would rival Epheses if there was a bit more standing/restored. We thought we’d have had enough of ruins by now, but each site you visit has something a bit different and it was the theatre here that’s really impressive as it’s been completely restored (as completely as it can be anyway). The stage area looks amazing, although you had to admire it from afar as they don’t let tourists anywhere near it (damn tourists messing up these lovely sites).
After a taxing morning of sightseeing we headed to the one thermal pool they allow you to swim in (the Antique Pool) and had a lovely half hour swimming about the submerged columns with the entire place to ourselves before a Russian tour party descended and we had to share. Bathing with a load of Russians isn’t the most fun in the world, but we stuck it out until a man with an incredibly hairy back alarmed Anne so much she had to get out.
A wander back down the travertines concluded a great day, possibly the best day in Turkey so far. The campsite owners persuaded us to go to their restaurant this evening and sat us in front of a heater before stuffing us with food. It’s lovely being warm, we may stay on the restaurant floor tonight...
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