Day 13 06 September 2010 Monday
We knew when we traveled to the travertines at Pamukkale that it has been a very touristed natural feature in Turkey since the 1970’s. We were pleasantly surprised by the roman sight of Hierapolis, which included the largest necropolis we have seen as well as a well restored amphitheater.
Although swimming in the calcium terraces is not permitted, as it was until the 90’s, to preserve the natural sight and limit destruction, the national park system has provided pools for bathers along the entrance path. This does not prevent tourists from trying to sneak onto the travertines to grab that postcard photo they had seen in days of old. Due to this desire guards were constantly blowing their whistles and shooing people off of the terraces.
Because this is a unique sight that allows swimming, we were stuck by how bizarre it was to see tourists in their bikinis and Speedos walking among the ruins.
The park includes a thermal pool (at a former hotel) filled with ancient fluted columns. Admission to the park was 20 TL ($13), to swim with the columns in the 85 degree mineral water was 25TL ($16) more. Nobody said enjoying Turkish culture was cheap. (We just walked in to take photos.)
Impressive too, were all the amateur photo shoots going on at the concrete travertines. Package tourist fresh off the busses and cruise ships excitedly strike the most dramatic poses for the cameras. Their friends at home must all be anxiously awaiting the new Facebook profile pictures these folks are generating!
It is always comforting to see that the Mediterranean food culture is never far removed from the local land. Farmers markets with piles of tasty tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, onions, garlic, chilies, herbs, potatoes… Of course, the climate is very tolerant here, but people grow food everywhere, and there seems to be grapes, as well as fig, olive, pomegranate, and citrus trees between all of the homes! These grapes in the photo sat behind a tractor, parked on the town street next to our pension.
1 comment:
That is why I found European so liberating in their attitude; and why I absolutely dread running into my fellow Americans who make fools of themselves squealing over sight of men in speedos.
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