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 :-)
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 :-)
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