Day 10 Friday October 3, 2008 Pamukkale By Mark Hancock
Say goodbye to the cute kitty at the breakfast table, and check out of wonderful old hotel in Antalya early - big day ahead. Walk out to the bus (by the tattoo parlor) Long drive begins to Pamukkale Meli talked about urbanization and villages, land politics, forest development Police road stop to check the meter in the bus
Beautiful drive through the Taurus Mountains Stories about Meli's tours, and our group's night before at a very friendly restaurant Pass by herds of black goats, and nomad camps Stop and visit with Grandma Nurgul, and her two granddaughters in their tent. Amazing visit - grandma told us about her typical days (pray, cows, goats, pray), and the girls talked about school (Meli went through their class book) Grandma demonstrated wool spinning, and showed rugs she had made. She had homemade sox and other goodies that we could buy.
Rains begin around 11 AM Off the main highway, took the road by beautiful Lake Salda Passed through scenic river valleys, and marble quarries Funny story about the rug store that had to take out the marble floors, and put in more expensive wood floors (tourists thought marble too expensive) Rain on the golden plains Stopped at Kizilhisar for nuts and pottery Fog in the Meander Valley (home of original Meander-ing River) Tried the Mantar (Mushroom) Restaurant in Denizli - sadly out of business Lunch at a very large public tourist buffet facility in Pamukkale, looking over at the terraces Meli taught us about reading fortunes in coffee cups
Walked the necropolis above the Pamukkale terraces, and then through the terraces. Very heavy rain about half way through - soaking wet - very happy to see Huseyin.
Meli's phone had been ringing a lot - our Pamukkale hotel had overbooked, and there was no room at the inn - we were homeless ! Asli was hard at work finding us a home for the night, and she found us a new hotel. It was holiday time, and the town was crowded, but she came through - great job Asli !!
:-)
The hotel had a mud volcano hot pool for the guests to sample the healing waters.
Hotel buffet dinner, and off to sleep after a very long, interesting and fun day !
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