After our first-off morning dip and such, we were back on the ‘most uncomfortable bus’ for another long day of fun.
Our first stop was still in Pamukkale at the Hierapolis Antique City and Pamukkale’s limestone pools. The city was very impressive in terms of wide spread space with ruins from days of old. In fact, there was a recent article about archaeologists finding the mythical ‘gate of hell’ in this area. We tried to find it, but considering it brings death, we didn’t try too hard. π
Hierapolis Antique City03-Apr-2013 09:26, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 100
Hierapolis Antique City - Temple of Apollo03-Apr-2013 09:36, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 4.2, 34.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 200
Hierapolis Antique City - not exactly the Gates of Hell, but it is somewhere on this land...03-Apr-2013 10:22, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 4.2, 18.9mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 200
Hierapolis Antique City03-Apr-2013 10:07, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.4, 7.9mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 100
Hierapolis Antique City03-Apr-2013 10:02, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 100
Pamukkale - sitting on the tombs03-Apr-2013 10:31, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.8, 12.6mm, 0.008 sec, ISO 100
There are a ton of pics from here as the ruins were nice. Sadly, the weather wasn’t as nice as it has been. I still sort of expected more from the ruins after seeing Jerash in Jordan and the temples in Egypt. Turkey is supposed to be older and more impressive I think, but I haven’t yet had that feeling. Maybe I’m too spoiled from my travels….
Anyway, we also walked a bit on the limestone with pools from the hot springs. They call Pamukkale the cotton castle due to the limestone formations. It is pretty impressive, though rather unsafe to walk around barefoot and no guard rails.
Pamukkale - with pools03-Apr-2013 11:02, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 100
Hierapolis03-Apr-2013 09:50, Apple iPad mini, 2.4, 3.3mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 32
Pamukkale03-Apr-2013 11:02, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.7, 11.0mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 100
Hierapolis03-Apr-2013 09:59, Apple iPad mini, 2.4, 2.18mm, 0.008 sec, ISO 40
From there, we drove a good distance before stopping for lunch at a nice place. It was probably the best meal we have had on the entire tour so far. After lunch, we walked around Aphrodisias, which is a city named after Aphrodite. The ruins here were more impressive perhaps because of the architecture or a full and happy stomach. π
Aphrodisias Antique City03-Apr-2013 15:29, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 6.6, 6.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
Aphrodisias Antique City - Temple to Aphrodite03-Apr-2013 15:11, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 6.9, 7.9mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100
Aphrodisias Antique City - theatre03-Apr-2013 15:22, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 6.6, 6.3mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100
Aphrodosia03-Apr-2013 14:52, Apple iPad mini, 2.4, 3.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 32
Aphrodosia03-Apr-2013 14:49, Apple iPad mini, 2.4, 2.18mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 32
Aphrodosia03-Apr-2013 14:22, Apple iPad mini, 2.4, 2.18mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 32
video Lunch here was the best meal of the tour!03-Apr-2013 14:25
Lunch here was the best meal of the tour! (my mushroom and cheese grill)03-Apr-2013 14:05, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 125
Lunch here was the best meal of the tour! (dessert - yogurt & honey)03-Apr-2013 14:25, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 100
Our final highlight of the day was an amateur leather fashion show. It could have been an amazing parody on a SATC episode where the ladies attend Fashion Week shows. It was a mix of comedy and entertainment as a creative sales pitch to get us to buy their leather goods. If I lived in a cooler climate I might have considered, but instead I am saving my money for jewelry purchase. Haha π
video Kusadasi - leather fashion show03-Apr-2013 19:37
Kusadasi - leather fashion show03-Apr-2013 19:36, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 4.0, 14.1mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 200
Kusadasi - leather fashion show03-Apr-2013 19:30, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 320
Kusadasi - leather store03-Apr-2013 20:05, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.167 sec, ISO 400
video Kusadasi - leather fashion show03-Apr-2013 19:31
video Kusadasi - leather fashion show03-Apr-2013 19:31
We ended our day with our arrival at our hotel in Kusadasi (kushadasee) where we will stay for two nights. Phew…
Ephesus - View of Aegean Sea from Efe Boutique Hotel04-Apr-2013 07:16, Apple iPad mini, 2.4, 3.3mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 32
Kusadasi - view from our hotel room sunrise04-Apr-2013 08:21, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.4, 7.9mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
-T π
