7 March 2015 - from Bodrum to Pamukkale: a 5 hour bus trip

Pack up mornings are a mixture of busyness, excitement and trepidation as we move on.  This morning started with me checking my emails to confirm last minute details to make sure everything was in place for the journey and next accommodation.  To my surprise/horror I found an email from the hotel I booked and paid a deposit for back in September telling me they were closed for renovations.  So, where exactly, were we going to sleep tonight??!!!

After several email exchanges, Halim, owner of the closed hotel, offered to find us other accommodation for the same price and pick us up from the bus stop.  We agreed to his offer but all of that took up a fair bit of pack up time and was a step of trust as we really didn't know what we had signed up for!

Gorgeous day to farewell this place!

Do we have to go?

A big pipe obstructing our way...may be we shouldn't be leaving Bodrum!

We trundled our bags down the cobbled streets and bumps to the Otogar (Bus Station). We were in plenty of time for our 12 MD bus.  We bought some of the lovely kebabs for 3 Lira and some other supplies and we boarded the the Dilmenler bus bound for Denizli.  This company was cheaper than Metro and we chose their Wi-Fi bus and they assured us there was tea and coffee and snacks on board whereas in reality there was no Wi-Fi and no snacks and we were driving for 3 1/2 hours before we were offered a drink.  Metro certainly tops this company for service!  We made it to Denizli finally.

The Turkish countryside is very rugged and beautiful.  We went past a wind farm near Soke but what was really interesting was the geothermal power plant as this reason is well known for its springs and heat!  The rocky ground must make farming difficult but there are farms everywhere and olive and citrus groves.

Snow capped peaks.

En route to Denizli

Very lovely

Approaching Denizli

What a lovely journey.

At Denizli, we had to change to a dolmus (mini bus) to Pamukkale.  All smooth sailing really, just a long day.  Harim met us as promised at the bus stop and ferried us to Dort Mevsim Hotel with all our bags.  We were herded into a fairly small family room with no room to swing a cat but clean and comfortable.

The hosts, Hassan and Elwa, welcomed us with cups of tea in their common room/restaurant and were a wealth of information and very friendly.

 

lime stone hills spurting out warm water!

Wonderment!

The lake!

We walked up to look around the famous lime stone terraces which were gleaming in the full moon light-a wonderful surreal sight.  The water was warm and amazing and the limestone looked like snow!  It was so lovely that we walked back to town, which wasn't very far, bought our takeaway dinner, and went back to sit by the still lake of reflections to eat.