Day 23 - Pamukkale to Konya

28^th April 2023

This morning started with a very early morning (5:15) hot air balloon ride over the silica terraces at Pamukkale. Our balloon pilot was amazingly skilled at flying the balloon, and we were able to go both really high above the other balloons (of which there were many), and also really low, just skimming over the terraces and trees. He was able to maneuver the balloon against the prevailing light wind and we were able to land pretty much where we took off from. He was definitely very skilled. It really was thrilling and the views were stunning. The terraces are mostly dry and the water flow on them is regulated in an attempt to prevent further damage by tourists wanting to swim.

Photos from the hot air balloon - it looks like snow but is in fact the silica terraces.
 

After breakfast we were returned by bus and were able to explore the terraces on foot. This geothermal field was not as hot as ones that we have experienced in New Zealand, and there was very little sulphur deposit and no rotten egg smell! We were able to take our shoes off to soak and walk in a few select, shallow pools, which were a stunning turquoise colour. Our feet definitely felt softer afterwards. We had to take care because the slopes were very slippery due to algae.

The terraces were part of a complex which included the ruins of Hierapolis, a 3^rd century AD Roman settlement, built on a previously destroyed Greek city. Similar to previous ruins that we have visited, it is undergoing extensive archaeological activity and only a small percentage has been uncovered so far. It included a very large theatre that Rog and I didn’t visit because from a distance you could see that it was very busy, mainly with Russian tourists. Instead, we decided to walk to the far end to visit the Agora (farmers market) complete with latrines, and the extremely large necropolis (cemetery) containing over a thousand mausolea and tombs. It was a really lovely walk, with excellent company. The site also includes a museum that some others in our group had time to visit. Apparently it was very interesting and full of little treasures – the photos looked great. There is so much history here that we know nothing of, yet it complements other Roman and Greek history.

 

Top left photo shows the turquoise lakes. Bottom right is a mausolea in the silica, with the view of the valley in the background. 

It was then on the bus for a 350-odd km drive to Konya (about 5 hours), where we are staying tonight. Konya is a large industrial city on a plateau about 1,000 m above sea level and has a range of mountains nearby at about 2,500 m with snow on, so the temperature is down below 10 C again. Looking forward to a good night’s sleep after our very early morning. It was worth it though!