It was a wet and grey day that I had chosen to make a day trip to Pamukkale (literally "Cotton Castle"). Still I made the 6 hour round trip to see that Travertine pools that had been formed from calcium deposits from some nearby hot springs. Whilst the snow-white formations are impressive, the majority of this natural phenomenon has been ruined in the past and now only a few fake (concrete) pools exist and no water runs into the others (despite what the tourism poster would have you believe). My visit was somewhat compensated by the visit to the ruins of Hieropolis, a Roman settlement built on top of the thermal springs as a health spa. Of course the bus tours overrun the place and so the whole experience was somewhat spoilt.

With the rain beginning to lash down I decided to head back to town and catch the bus back home in what had been a pretty miserable day. The best part was probably the glass of tea that the bus company offered me as I waited to catch the bus back! Nevertheless I was pleased to have at least seen the sight and even more pleased to be going back to Selcuk.

I got back and once again spent the evening with the guys at the hotel and their friends. My beer buddy Hassan had dropped by with some cashew nuts and we all played a wierd turkish card game that I am still not sure I understood, except that Hassan and I won somehow, leaving the losers to buy the icecream!