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Turkey May 2005 - Selcuk, Ephesus and Pamukkale |
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We were reunited with three of our group who had stayed in Fethiye (they were doing Jewels of Turkey which is identical to our tour barring the gulet), and we hopped back on the bus to head inland to Pamukkale, an amazing display of calcified travertine terraces on the side of a mountain and Hierapolis, a ruin from Hellenistic times. The ancient ruin and calcified terraces were pretty interesting - they were also immensely popular with an alarming array of Eastern European and German tourists, all wandering around with far too few clothes on. It was pretty funny. We were given an hour and a half to wander round the ruin and terraces, but it was too hot for me, so I went to the beer hall set up around hot springs, had a few lagers and watched the remarkably under-dressed tourists (Good to see that the speedo is in no danger of ever going out of "fashion" in certain areas of Europe!).
Selcuk
We went to Ephesus the following morning - large grounds of an ancient Greek city that was first built in around 1000BC. Under the Romans, it became the chief port on the Aegean. It is said the Virgin Mary spent her last days here (well, why not). We arrived at about 8:30, and then shared the rest of the day with a constant stream of cruise boat tourists from the MSC Opera, who moved in packs following a leader with a round sign. Still, the amphitheatre and library were stunning, but I think you get a bit spoiled when you've seen Jerash, which is quite one of the most beautiful and well-preserved ruins I've ever seen (see link).
Bergama / Pergamum
We went into Bergama for lunch, then got back on the bus and proceeded to the coast again and went to Assos, a lovely little area which they call a fishing village, but all it seems to have a few lovely old hotels and restaurants - not sure where the village part is! Still, it was very lovely. The island of Lesbos is right off shore - I don't mean to take sides, but really it does seem a bit cheeky of the Greeks to retain islands that are so close to another land you could practically swim to them (well, if you were Susie Maroney anyway!). The hotel in Assos was lovely, it had a great pool and the normal Aegean beach (rocks and mud), with very beautiful clear water. We stayed here that night and the following morning, just relaxing round the pool. |
Pamukkale and Hierapolis
We got back on the bus at around 4:30 and drove back to the coast and Selcuk. We stayed at a great hotel (Kalehane) like the hotel at Avanos it comprised a few dwellings joined together, but these were individual buildings set amongst beautiful grounds. My room was like a little nun's room in a convent - single small bed with white crocheted cover and dark wood furniture, austere but very comfortable. Good and reasonable food as well - too tired to walk into town and try and find somewhere to eat, so a few of us ate at the hotel. Ephesus
We then had a free afternoon to wander round Selcuk - nice little town, with a shopping area in two parallel streets in the middle of town. The next day we got back on the bus after breakfast and went to Bergama, to visit the acropolis of Pergamum. It has glorious views, sitting right on top of a high hill near the town It has a particularly steep theatre, which made feel giddy just looking at it, and a slightly restored Acropolis. . Assos
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