Cleopatra's Fountain of Youth

As was mentioned earlier, when making plans to go to Bodrum, we definitely wanted to visit Efesus.  During the peak tourist season, daily trips are planned.  Still in early April, only two trips per week go to Efesus.  On Wednesday, you can book a trip to Efesus and back, or go to Efesus and then on to Pamakkule for an overnight stay and visit the waters and Hierapolis the next day.  Since we'd only been in Bodrum for a little while, we decide to just do the day tour to Efesus and return that night.
  

Orhan, our guide

Well, we met some nice people on the tour, were thrilled with the House of the Virgin Mary and Efesus, especially liked our tour guide, Orhan, and wished we had packed clothes and booked the extra day to Pamukkale.  Peggy asked Orhan if we could go on the bus to Pamakkule instead of returning to Efesus.  Orhan called to see about a room for us that night, and said it was OK.  We didn't have another 400 TL and asked if we could get to an ATM and a place to buy swimsuits, and he said they were right next to the hotel.  So, we jumped on the other bus and set off on another adventure.  

First item of business, tooth brush, antiperspirant, and swim suits for the hot waters.  A very small store, as in one choice of tooth brush, paste and antiperspirant, and a beautiful selection (6 choices for me) of swimsuits.  Don't worry, I didn't chose the Speedo.  We hurried and tried to get to the waters for the sunset.

Pamukkale is a series of travertines, or deposits that formed natural pools.  To safeguard the pools, no one can actually soak in them, but can "wade" after walking shoeless across rough white deposits.  These waters flow through the ancient city of Hierapolis, so one ticket allows for both sites.  

The next morning we met and started our day with a tour of Hierapolis.  

Extra columns, etc. waiting...

Hierapolis was another city that was once great.  It too it mostly still covered with earth and grasses.  Excavation by Austrians was halted a few years ago due to budget shortfalls, but work on the theatre continues.

St. Phillip was martyred and his tomb is here

The 10,000 seat theatre with a fantastic view of the valley was, for us, better than Efesus'

The south entrance gate

Egyptians were supposedly in Hieropolis and told of the healing properties of its warm waters.  They took some back to Cleopatra, who decided that they did help maintain her youthful appearance, so she travel here to soak in the waters.  So we paid the extra 25 TL to get youthful!  Our guide was also in the waters with us, (along with lots of green algae) and kept telling me to splash water on my face to get the youthful benefits.  I did as I was told, but can see no immediate benefits.  Maybe it takes awhile.  

We were in the pool for about 1.5 hours and then began our journey back to Bodrum.  We've found that all tours are at least partially sponsored by local businesses.  In Cappadocia, we visited a jewelry store as part of the tour.  Yesterday we visited a jewelry store after Efesus, and after lunch near Denizli, we visited an onyx manufacturing place, as well as a textile factory that made Turkish rugs.  We were able to watch both in action, and learned a lot about rugs, and will purchase one before we leave.  

We returned to Bodrum at about 8:30 PM, about 24 hours later than expected, but very thankful we decided to take all of the tours and excursions.