We are now on our way to Pamukkle where there are thermal pools set into the side of limestone cliffs. It is a long drive but we make plenty of stops for toilet breaks, snacks and lunch. It is interesting seeing the Turkish countryside, the towns and villages. There is lots of construction that has been started on buildings and roads but no one seems to be working as we go past. The men are all sitting outside the cafés drinking tea, we have seen that everywhere. The tea is either Turkish or apple tea it is served in tiny glass cups so I guess they need more than one. The apple tea is very sweet but you see them putting lumps of sugar into it. You a buy it In powder form but I don't think we can bring it home. As usual we also see large numbers of stray cats and dogs at every stop. Our visit to the ruins today is to the Temple of Aphrodite it is amazing to think we can walk around places that were established in the 3rd Century BC and were occupied by different Empires. Of course the Romans did a lot of the building of baths, theatres and stadiums. Each place has columns, carvings and so much marble lying around. You can see in the nearby hillside that there is obviously more ruins underneath. Turkey doesn't have the money to restore all these places as it is such a painstaking and time consuming task. Lots of archeology students and their teachers use their holidays to excavate and restore. We enjoy this site as we have plenty of time and can cover the whole area. We get driven to the site in a trailer pulled along by a tractor. We are able to get good photos as the other tour groups are on the speed tour. We see groups come into the hotels after us and they are gone again after a very early breakfast with no time to enjoy the sites at leisure. We are all enjoying the easy pace of the Albatross tour.
Arrived Pamukkle round 4 pm and enjoyed a refreshing swim. This hotel is not as nice as the last one but it has an beautiful pool which we have to ourselves and you can see the brilliant white limestone in the hills behind us a you swim or relax it is stunning. The beer is expensive here in the hotel so the drinkers in the group decide we can tackle the walk up the hills in the heat to the town to look for cheaper drinks. We find a shady bar and very cold beer and enjoy relaxing and chatting. We then have to hurry down the hill to make it back for dinner. The range of food in this hotel is smaller and I decide on just salads as not sure what the other delicacies might be.