But first, let's back up a bit... Recall how I mentioned when someone tells you "it can't be done" say thank you so much, and ask someone else? Case in point. Today is election day (yep on a Sunday, weird to an American view point) our hotel told us they called 4 travel companies and no one was going to Pumakkale today...we walked to the center and went to the one I had seen the previous night, (yes it was open at 10pm) 1 phone call later, and we were set, nice. Headed into the shopping district of old town, again, everything was open...clubs, restaurants, stores, even the stylists..and this is the part where we were side tracked. Before leaving San Francisco I was a bit busy packing up my room, getting all the paperwork, travel supplies, and loose ends tied up...so my hair, was left off the "done list" and when my hair gets long, it's heavy, and gives me headaches...especially in the heat when it's in a pony tail. Add to this the lack of conditioner, (not a single bottle or pump to be had to date ladies, add it to the travel should have list) sooo....needless to say the straw that was 3/4 down my back was in desperate need of help. One shampoo, a deep condition, some color and a much needed cut later, and I'm a new gal! Thank you Turkey!!! I know of no other place where you can drink wine with your stylist in the salon while getting your hair done until 1:15am...do you? Before we went to the springs we walked through some of the ruins of the ancient city. Huge Roman amphitheater apparently one can tell if it's Greek or Roman based on the shape, horseshoe = Roman, 1/2 circle = Greek...dont ask me to tell ya he difference between a 1/2 circle and a horseshoe, because...uhh...to date (that's 7+ amphitheaters peeps..)yeah, lost on me: column differences on the other hand, totally your girl! From here we walked to where the temple of Apollo was, and the gate to Hades(which have both been knocked down, Apollo in the name of Christianity, Hades in the name of a gate to the underworld..well we can see where that could be misused.) Pumukkale needs to be added to the bucket list y'all. Its breathtaking and like no other place I've ever seen. The upper third of the mountain is covered in calcium, from a distance it looks like snow, or spun cotton. Hence the name, Pumukkale translates to cotton castle, and the area has bee used since antiquity to treat wool (makes it super soft) and every aliment known to man...today it still boasts it'll cure (pretty much everything) that ails ya! The pools are blue by day (pink at sunrise/set) and though they look rather deep, at most, you're up to your knees. The pools are shaped like the shelf mushrooms you see in the forest on dying trees...when you take a moment to reflect tthe travertine has been here and used pre 2nd century BC, how special this place is...it really is beyond words. You aren't allowed to wear shoes on the pools...and surprisingly, the formations (even at noon in 27 degree heat) are still very cool to the touch (think of drying potters clay, same type of feel) the springs claim to fix everything from stress to blood pressure to weight issues to...basically you name it. By the end of this trip (we're at natural hot spring #3 for me) I expect to look the same as I did at 16 from my hair to my skin to my pants size, and I'm guessing I'll be healthy for minimally the next 5+ years (hee hee). The government now controls the water flow so only portions of the pools are opened on any given day. Without the flow control the water would become red or brown (some would remain blue) depending upon the amounts of minerals, and flow direction/volume. Despite the hand of man, this place takes your breath away and soaking in the pools, though I can't speak to the other claims, is surely relaxing...and standing under the water falls to rinse off the bluish green clay, is fun too ;). (think of a mud mask, but au natural!)
Pamukkale info: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/485
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/turkey/hierapolis-pamukkale
Quotes: "Life is a magnificent manifestation where if we honour Sacred Mother Earth, rivers of love will flow freely. New levels of spiritual awareness are upon us and by recognizing their beauty we can inspire every aspect of our lives. Let your soul be an oasis of transformation that takes your life to the next level and fulfills your dreams. Rejoice in your awakening, the future is now and love is in every breath you take." -Micheal Teal
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." -Dalai Lama
"If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities." -Maya Angelou
No comments:
Post a Comment