Pamukkale

Last weekend my friend Okan and I visited Pamukkale hot springs and the ruins of Heiropolis, a UNESCO World heritage site whose history dates from the second century BC. The ruins were beautiful and the water in the nearby resort was warm. Had we known to bring our suits, tourists can float around in the middle of a pool in the park peering down onto the submerged ruins.

Centuries of the mineral-rich water depositing calcium as it cooled has created a hillside of white terraced mineral travertine pools. Twenty years ago water was still running abundantly, but recent resource use from the town below has slowed the flow considerably.

Throughout history many have come to soak in the waters of Pammukale, hoping for a cure to what ailed them. Among other things, the ruins contain the remains of fountains, a stadium that seated 12,000, a church that stands where St. Phillip was supposedly martyred, and a huge necropolis (for those who the waters didn't cure).

Getting into the park is a little strange. . you can either come on an organized tour, take the 2-mile walk through the acropolis to the main ruins, or hike barefoot for 250 meters up the travertine pools. We came in the long way, but decided to exit via the travertines. Unfortunately a very cold and windy rainstorm ruined Okan's umbrella and soaked us to the bone. The warm chai in the town below was a welcome site!

The last picture was necessary to include because I think it illustrates Turks' love for bread. They delivered a bucket of bread with our meal.

I still am vacillating on staying or going next year. The students here are so sweet; the first picture is a little card they drew for me during the 10-minute class break and left on my desk. What would it be like to start over in a new school and a new town?