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| a chi stop on the road |
Today we drive to Pammukale, where there are amazing travertines, calcium rock formations formed by lava heating water beneath the earth's surface, and equally amazing Russian women posing purposefully in skimpy bikinis. According to Trivial Pursuit, 25% of Russian 16 yr olds want to grow up to be prostitutes. Looking at these women trying hard to look like porn models, it becomes worryingly apparent that this may well be true.
The travertines cascade down the hillside in the shape of rice paddies and glacial formations, creating an odd arctic scene in the deep heat of south west Turkey. The slightly dressed Russians add to the surrealism of the scenery.
Pammukale also features the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Hieropolis. They are slight in comparison to Ephesus, but I find the amphitheatre slightly more impressive here (picture). The Russians have not bothered to change from what they were wearing at the travertines either.On the road, I lose my Dior sunglasses as they fall from my face when I am on the balcony of the truck. They bounce off onto the Turkish motorway. I consider buzzing for an emergency stop, but I am not sure that this will go down well, so I don’t.
At night we bush camp in a rural location by hills. Dave and Meg climb to the top of a hill overlooking us, hoping to camp in the woods. Suddenly a shot gun rings out. There is a dramatic pause as nobody can see Dave or Meg, nor do we hear anything. I call out to them. There is relief when they are seen scurrying down another side of the hill.....clearly Turkish farmers don't even say 'get orf my laaand' before pulling out the shotgun.
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| Joost, our energetic Dutchman on decoy duty |
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| a less cluttered view |
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| The amphitheatre at Hierapolis |
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| the ancient pool at Hierapolis / Pammukale |
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