Antalya to Pamukkale

Sunday, March 30th, 2014 Pamukkale

 The wind just howled last night and it was a bit cooler this morning so the hotel staff closed the glass doors out to the courtyard, made a fire in the fireplace and served breakfast in the lobby dining area. Cosy.

 After we checked out, we walked about 15 minutes to the Pamukkale bus ticket office. On the way, I stopped to read the paper with an old friend.

Some of the lads were already enjoying the little park across the street.
At the ticket office, a van picked us up and drove us north of the city to the bus terminal. There we boarded a really nice Mercedes Benz bus for the 3 1/2 hour trip to Denizli. There was seatback individual entertainment systems just like on a plane, free sandwiches, soft drinks and water, and a driver who didn't think he was in a mountain road rally. All the way to Denizli we traveled through wide valleys with low mountains in the distance. Very pretty. The whole trip from the ticket office cost a total of 70 lira ($35) for both of us.
At Denizli, we got off at a huge new bus terminal that was fairly busy. However, everyone is helpful and we quickly found our way to the basement where a van to Pamukkale was just about to leave. It took about 20-25 minutes until we were dropped off at a little square in Pamukkale. The trip cost 3.50 lira each ($1.75).
Once again, everyone we saw pointed us in the right direction and we soon found Mustafa Pension where we'll spend the next 3 nights. Pamukkale is very small and a bit shabby. Our hotel room is clean enough but it has a sort of isolated northern Ontario motel decor. However we're just below the travertine pools and the old Roman ruins. More about that tomorrow. And Mustafa's restaurant has great ratings from Trip Adviser and Lonely Planet. We just ate dinner there and had a delicious meal for a total of 36 lira ($18).
Because we were afraid of the holiday weekend crowds, we've already booked an apartment on Naxos Island in Greece for 5 nights over the Easter weekend. Now we have to plan our way there through Ephesus, Athens, Delphi and Mykonos. It's tricky but at least it's just a First World problem. Can't complain.