Ancient Ruins, Calcium Baths, Partying in Kusadasi and Bursa

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After a joint bus and ferry trip we arrived in Kusadasi and were lucky to check into a very nice hotel with one of the best buffets I have ever seen. After shovelling down three plates of food and excessive amounts of dessert (my motto is the more you eat the cheaper the buffet is) we both fell into a coma.

We awoke the next morning ready to explore the ancient Roman city of Ephesus one of the best preserved ancient cities in Turkey. The remains very clearly tell the story of the people who lived there. We took our time walking through the entire city looking at the amphitheater, temples and toilets...

Later in the afternoon we visited a carpet village to learn how carpets are made by hand, what determines their value and the historical and cultural context in which this folk art has blossomed. Against all advice given by Aarons mother we all dragged into a carpet shop where we were given “free” drinks and were shown a billion carpets. I sat there thinking no one is going to buy any of these carpets; however two couples decided to purchase beautiful rugs and have them shipped to Australia.

On the way back to the hostel the people who wanted to experience a Turkish bath were dropped off. After much debating I decided to give it ago and I am glad I did! I was scrubbed down and bubbled up like a car wash, my skin felt amazing afterwards.

Feeling great after the Turkish bath it was time to head into Kusadasi to get stuck into the local bar and club scene but not before toasting to the couples rug purchases with a bottle of wine. We had a wild night in town where we met up with another Fanatics tour group and danced away until 5am.

The following morning after just two hours sleep we were not feeling amazing however it was time to journey to the spa resort town of Pamukkale. Aaron can still not remember having breakfast, using the wrong toothbrush or skull draging our bags to the bus leaving them with holes our host grandmother will now have to sew. In Pamukkale we checked out the famous calcium terraces and took a dip in the calcium baths.

Later we walked through the ruins of Hierapolis, an ancient health spa, just above the calcium terraces. The ruins were beautiful, we climbed to the top of a roman amputheatre and got a great view of the site. Later that night we walked from our hotel to get a look at the calcium terrace at night which was lit up and looked almost like a snowy mountain.

The following morning our last day on tour had arrived. We departed Pamukkale and headed for the ancient Ottoman capital of Bursa. We had a long 11 hour drive to make and no one was looking forward to it! The bright side was we had to time to catch up on some much needed sleep. Once in Bursa we explored the Silk Bazaar and purchased an exfoliating glove (Aaron was feeling a bit left out as he decided to not do the Turkish bath). I was even able to find some sports bras which have been impossible to find in Georgia! No silk in hand but success! After we found a kebab stand and enjoyed a famous Bursa Kebab, then back on the bus and more driving. We arrived back in Istanbul and freshened up before heading out for our closing night party at Sultanahmet. It was a good night, some of the girls and I even managed to fit in some last purchases from along the markets (all were bargains of course!)

The following morning it was time for goodbyes which was sad as we had met a group of really cool people. We travelled with a group to the airport, checked in and used our last Turkish liras to buy as much Hungry Jacks as possible, a decision we both regretted later. Our flight home was scary with a lot of turbulence and on more than one occasion I thought we wouldn’t make it. Luckily we landed safely and said hello again to Georgia.

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Photos

Ruins of Hierapolis
Roman Amphitheater

Pamukkale
Nice View

Hierapolis
Mikaela and Emma, the scenery was amazing

Ruins of Ephesus
Ephesus is the largest well kept ancient city in the world

Pamukkale
There were many sections of spring baths winding all the way to the ground

Ruins of Hierapolis
Rather large Arcs

Library of Celsus
Apparently one of the largest ancient libraries, built by the Greeks and Rebuilt by the Romans

Ephesus
Mikaela

Ephesus
Piping used for the ancient cities water system

Ephesus
Ancient toilets which were firstly warmed by the slaves bottoms before the higher classes used them

Ephesus
Second Amphitheatre that could hold up to 25 000 people

Ephesus Large Roman Amphitheatre
Mikaela and I

Silk spinning
Preparing the silk balls into thread

Ephesus
Smaller Roman Amphitheatre

Carpet Making
Apparently these girls only work four out of eight hours a day...I had a hard time believing this

Carpet Purchasing
"Feel the cool carpet with your feet"

Pamukkale
Me at the Calcium Springs

Comments

[David]

Calicum
Hey mate good to see that you have a good time in the middle east. You and makela seem to partying a lot and dancing till the wee hours. When did this happen? We are off to columbia tomorrow for the south america part. The next 1200-1600k's through the columbian andes are going to tough. Marnee is not most thrilled about it. Well keep up the fun will see and talk in australia. david