We tucked into our hotel which is right behind the bus station. It was a great choice because it is so easy to reach the bus station and train for that matter. There are many hotels in the surrounding so variety of choices are there.
In the morning, we made our way to Pamukkale using the dolmus or minibus. Cost us 3.5 lira to go to Pamukkale on 15 minutes journey. When we reached there, a guy from tour gave us all sort of options including paragliding. I decided not to take it. Not because I was petty with money or something but I just had a hunch that I would rather pass that. Paragliding cost my travel buddy 200 lira, although I learned later that people can get 150 lira offer even.
I made my way from Pamukkale centrum to the site. Passing through the natural park, I reached the entrance of Pamukkale heritage site. The admission fee is 25 lira.
That's the start of an amazing journey of falling in love to Pamukkale and Hierapolis.
Upon admission, I saw a white valley. Do I need to climb that? For real? Oh well, they said that climbing the travertines (it has a name!!) is the most annoying part of the journey. But not for me!! I found climbing it fun. It hurt my feet, yes, but it was all worth it. All shoes and slippers but be taken out and feet will have it natural massages. The travertines are like cold white marbles but later on top, the water running over it is warm. Of course, because that's why people are bathing on it's travertines. It's like terraces of mineral warm water where people put their feet or their body, their choice.
Reaching on top, all I wanted to have is an ice cream. So I got myself one, got 3 scoops of stracitella, banana and black mulberry. Life is good.
So I continued to sit overlooking the travertines for hours. It's that serene and beautiful. Then I started making my way round. The travertines are everywhere apparently. Not only where I hiked. Sadly, most of them are not passable. Not that I complain really coz all of them are extremely beautiful and rather unearthly.
Heading west from where I climbed, I found the real treasure (at least for me). The ruins of ancient city of Hierapolis. No one told me that on top of Pamukkale is an ancient city! Dated during Roman - Byzantine era (around 3 century AD), this city was a piece of art. A majestic for me.
Imagine this, a city on top of the hill. Blanketed in clouds, and showered with sun. What a joyful life it must had been for the citizen of Hierapolis. Living in such a place. Then things started to struck me because not only this city was located in amazing place, it had majestic city landscape.
I started off with the Frontinus street. The long street was paved away nicely after the Byzantium Gate. Pillars were erected on the side while a latrineo with more pillars were put right next to the street. Tried walking on the street and I felt like walking during the Roman Empire in Athens. People walking pas the gate in their white outfit, washed their feet on the bath and headed to the city center.
My dream came true. My childhood saint seiya dream majestically came true. And the sun seems to be smiling.
I continues my journey in the city by passing the Bath Basilica. The bath basilica is located outside the city for the people to clean and purify themselves before entering the city. Those who was not clean could not enter the city. What a system, isn't it? And to think the system was put in place thousands years ago blew me, confirming how advanced the Romans were.
Passed bath basilica is the graveyards. Some tombs near the basilica were big, guessed it probably for the important people. The graveyard is big, as I went deeper into it. It gave me chills actually and I literally immediately made my way back to the city. I am a coward that way.
But like a good citizen that I am, I passed the old route. Bath basilica then Byzantium Gate then going pass Frontinus Gate before walking again on the Frontinus street. Sadly, the street leads to nowhere, perhaps unlike the old days. So I turned my feet to the paved roads that leads me to the center of Pamukkale. There, Pamukalle archeological museum lies majestic. The museum is the best place to know the history of Hierapolis and its priced artifacts. Admission fee is required but totally worth it.
Behind the museum complex is a swimming pool, a modern one. Which I kinna despise because it is so modern it doesn't fit the place. So I dissed that and made my way to top, where the theatre stands magnificently.
(Oh the climb to the top exhausted me! I need to get back to the gym for realsies)
Then that rush of emotion washed over again once I reached the top and put my feet on the theatre. I stepped into what I would call the gladiator scene. It's grandeur atmosphere, the stage with pillars and the gladiator arena. I felt like coming back to a movie scene. And now I know why in those movies, the spectators and audiences are equally esthetic over a bloody game. That rush of emotion and adrenaline is what I felt the moment I sat down there.
Then I met Esma, a lady from Anatolya who came to Pamukkale on one-day vacation. She told me that Turkey has similar places like this in Ephesus, Izmir, Ankara and Anatolya. You gotta be kidding me right? That means I need to travel again. Yet, I am glad I will go to Ephesus and Izmir on the next journey. Ankara and Anatolya can wait.
I walked around the theatre and admiring its construction. Very well thought of. On the bottom is somewhat gladiator rings with 3 gates. What struck me is the stage. As if this theatre was also for play, musical or dance performance. I learned later that the citizen of Hierapolis loved festivals and glad to know gladiator game was not the only enjoyable game. That stage had another purpose and it was a good one.
The sun set rather quickly so I need to get myself down before dark. I had to pass the travertines again. I didn't want to slip or whatever because of dark. So with heavy heart, I left. But I left with a happy feeling. That my dream of living an old Roman day finally came true.
