We had our minds and GPS set for our next destination after our ( bad) lunch in Mugla. It was also very cheap, so we " dollar cost averaged" a special treat to make up for our disappointing lunch.
We discovered Magnum bars years ago on another European trip, long before they made it to the US. We would normally share one, but couldn't decide on chocolate or blackberry, so got one of each. Too much, but we managed.
This place we were going was someplace we had been before on our last trip to Turkey, but I always wanted to come back as I had unfinished business, you might say.
It was a long, but easy flatish drive through valleys of beautiful pale pink blossomed almond trees, many of which also had big balls of lime green mistletoe clinging to them. You'll have imagine that combo, as a photo would not capture it.
As the day wore on, we were anxious to reach our destination while the light was still good and high in the sky.
There are those ever present mountains.
We got a lot closer to them and were happy that we did not drive this road when chains might be required!
Once we arrived, we gasped at the view from our hotel for a moment, then grabbed our swimsuits for a swim in a magical pool!
Where else but at Pamukkale can you swim in an ancient hot springs pool where, so legend goes, Cleopatra bathed to keep her completion young? This was us, post swim, with the incredible ruins of Heiropolis in the background. One could easily spend the day here, but swimming was our first priority, because on our previous trip we had seen the pool but had no time to swim there, and I had wanted to return ever since. Or maybe I should say that I knew if I ever came back here, I would swim in that gorgeous pool.
I think you'll agree...
It is called the ancient pool, and it is indeed ancient. It is not too warm, more like bath water, but it is amazingly clear, except for the bits of algae that float on the surface.
The bits and pieces of marble columns are not put here merely for the effect, but are actual columns from an ancient city from AD 600 that toppled into this pool centuries ago during an earthquake! Cool, huh?
The bottom of the pool is covered in smoothe pebbles that catch reflections and shimmer blue at their edges. In fact all the marble slabs caught reflections of rainbow hues and I could barely tear myself away from the view.
No, this is not us frolicking in the pool, but they look happy don't they?
It was worth the trip, and the expense, to finally get to take a restorative dip in this beautiful place, and according to the literature, we should instantly look younger from the miraculous minerals! I think I'd need a few more sessions, at least.
But wait, that's not all, there's more magic at Pamukkale!
These are the limestone travertines that look like snow but are really stone.
And, you can walk on them!
It's a must do! We've done this before, but it was just as cool the second time.
And what are the odds of seeing a newly married couple out on the travertines?
They all seemed pretty fun, and what a memorable photo op!
Wish I could have fit this activity into the schedule, but it was fun just to watch them floating by...
The next morning we even took a spin around the small lake in a swan boat. Jim knows how much I like swan boats!
Same color water that Jim swam in in a river in Laos. We saw lots of fish and ducks, too.
One last view of the mini travertines before we left this beautiful place.
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