Foto: The famous terraces of Pamukkale (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Turkey - As soon as we enter Pamukkale, we are beckoned. Someone asks if we want to buy a booklet about Pamukkale. Very cheap, they emphasize. When we decline, they point out that we can turn right to park or go straight. We drive straight and park the car with a view of the travertine. From here, the white terraces already look impressive. Next to the parking lot, we order something for lunch. It’s already half past two. The waiter points us to the park entrance and also to people walking up along a white ribbon. After lunch, we follow his directions. Right after the ticket counter, we reach the travertine. The spectacular white terraces in Pamukkale are formed when carbon dioxide rises from the hot spring water, causing calcium carbonate to precipitate, creating the unique travertine formation. I take off my shoes and continue walking barefoot. The stone surface sometimes hurts my feet; I am not used to walking barefoot at all. The warm spring water flows over the travertine. In basins along the path, the light blue water collects. It is a beautiful sight combined with the white limestone deposits. However, dark clouds form behind us—pitch-black clouds. Thunder sounds in the distance. Will we stay dry? We have few options halfway up the mountainside. There is no choice but to keep moving. Carefully, we step from stone to stone. The town of Pamukkale slowly shrinks behind us. Just as we reach the famous Pamukkale terraces, the sun disappears behind the clouds. The wind suddenly strengthens. Strong gusts blow parasols off the terrace. Even on the hillside, people brace themselves. The streams of the natural hot spring are artificially guided over the mountain. Through channels, the flow is directed to specific parts of the slope. Today, the water runs along the path we walked. The other basins, including the famous terraces, remain dry.
Cappadocia
Turkey - Cappadocia, located in the heart of Turkey, is known for its cave dwellings, rock churches, and underground cities. This remarkable landscape was formed by successive volcanic eruptions, followed by erosion shaping the terrain. At the heart of Cappadocia ...
Historic Safranbolu
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Kurdish city Diyarbakir
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Mount Nemrut
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The ancient city of Ephesus
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The Hagia Sophia Mosque
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The horse of Troy
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The Ottoman houses of Amasya
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The Sumela Monastery
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The Topkapi Palace
Turkey - Around 11:30, we head toward the Sultan’s Topkapi Palace, which was in use until 1909. We first pass through the surrounding wall and reach the main entrance. Funny enough, we run into the same two Belgians we met yesterday. Inside the vast palace, ...