.

.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Traversing the Travertines

The one and main reason tourists visit the little sleepy town of Pamukkale in Turkey is the travertines. That multi-tiered hill of white 'snow-like' surface dotted with pools of water. These snow-like substances are actually travertines - a form of limestone deposited by mineral springs, especially hot springs (source Wikipedia). Pamukkale, with its underground hot springs, abounds with these travertines. In fact, Pamukkale means 'cotton castle' in Turkish.



However, I was a tad disappointed when I was actually there. Firstly, it was raining and cold! Secondly, water from the hot springs have actually been re-diverted elsewhere, resulting in gaping empty ponds.

The water in my photos are a result of the rain, and are freezing cold! Since we were there, we did opt to walk all the way down via the travertines, and boy, my feet were totally numb by the time we reach the bottom. The only source of hot springs water was a little rivulet running down by the side, but to walk inside there meant stepping on really sharp and hard stones and rocks.

Standing in freezing cold water

View of the travertines with the town of Pamukkale at the bottom

Warming up my feet in the little rivulet of hot spring water

But made it down we did, and despite rain, cold and all, it was a great experience (now, but not when I was actually experiencing it). Would I do it again? ..... probably not Hah Hah!

Feeling a sense of achievement!

Had a cup of freshly squeezed pomegranate fruit juice after that (acquired taste though!)

All nice and warm after a hot shower and waiting for dinner :-)

Friday, November 12, 2010

Austria

Home of the Austrian Ball. Swarovski. Most of the famous composers ~ Mozart, Strauss, Beethoven, to name a few. Gustav Klimt. The Sound of Music. The Alps.

To many, this country stirs up images of waltzes, old architecture, serene lakes and high meadows, snow-capped mountains, and perhaps little children running along singing songs from The Sound of Music?!

Well, Austria is all this and much more. Despite the rather dismal weather when we arrive, there was so much to see and do, that we were completely exhausted by the time we had to leave. I slept 14 hours straight on the first night back home, and am still catching up with my sleep after one week!

We were in Vienna for about 6 days, then took a train to Prague for another 5 days, before coming back to Vienna for 3 days before leaving for home. From Vienna, we did side trips to Salzburg and the Danube Valley.

I shall attempt (yet again) to break up my trip into separate little posts, although I have severe doubts of my commitment! In the meantime, here are some pictures I took of Vienna.

Karntnerstrasse (the main shopping strip)


Schonbrunn Palace (summer palace of the ruling Hapsburgs)



Autumn Leaves


Naschmarkt

Scrumptious Cakes and Coffee

My favourite type of buildings.....old ones!

More in my next posts........hopefully.