Day 197 Mon 30 April 2007 Pamukkale, Turkey

Today is spend visiting the world heritage site of Pamukkale, which means “Cotton Castle” and Hierapolis, an adjacent roman settlement dating back to 190BC and finally abandoned in 1334 following successive earthquakes.

The region is renown for its travertine deposits which look like waterfalls of snow and ice, formed when the calcium laden hot springs deposit calcium oxide in pools and cascades. The deposits which form into terraced pools are quite spectacular with pale turquoise pools amid ‘icicles’ of calcium deposits. The ruins too are spectacular, especially the roman theatre with its 30 rows of seats and large stage, the baths and the necropolis.

After recovering over beers at the Venus Hotel we return to witness the sunset when the travertine takes on different colours.