Today we are scheduled to see the ruins where St. Phillip was martyred as well as the ancient pool.
After schleppling our bags down the stairs (no elevator) to the lobby we headed to the restaurant for a buffet breakfast. This meal was not very good and the dining room huge- one's food got cold going form the food line to the table and the coffee was terrible.
We boarded our coach for a short ride to Hierapolis and stopped at the bottom of the thermal pools for a photo stop. We could see the people walking in the shallow pools on the top of the hill from the lake side.
After this stop we drove to the top to the Hierapolis ruins to visit the spot where St. Phillip was martyred. The site was very scenic but spread out. Thank goodness there was a small shuttle bus that took us from the entrance to the top where the Martyrium of St. Phillip. After walking around and seeing the ruins of the city we boarded the shuttle bus to go to the Ancient Pool.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hierapolis#Martyrium
After the tour of the ruins we were taken to the thermal pools where we could take off our shoes/sandals and wade in the mineral waters. Shoes or sandals were not permitted and there were guards who watched and when they saw someone with footwear in the water starting blowing loud whistles. This was a very nice place to visit.
There were snack bars and souvenir stands outside the entrance to the ruins. We were allowed time to use the bathrooms and grab a coffee or soda or snack.
We were then driven down to the Ancient Pool.
http://www.traveladdicts.net/2013/02/the-hot-springs-and-antique-pool-of.html
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/go/Aegean/Pamukkale/sights/sacred_pool.html
The Ancient Pool was a resort with warm water pools and several cafes for refreshment. Those that wanted to go in the waters were allowed time to do so. The rest of us just hung out and relaxed. We were warned to try and grab a snack as lunch would be late today since we have a 2 1/2 drive to the restaurant near Kusadasi.
The food featured in the cafes was not very appealing.
After our never ending drive our tour guide had the bus stop at a local restaurant outside of Selcuk called Bizim Ev Hanimeli. The grounds outside the restaurant were beautiful- all sorts of flowering plants. We were seated and ordered our drinks and then went inside to get our meal. This was a visual feast- pots and platters of food and we took what we wanted to eat.!!'
The food was fantastic, service was good and the owners came around and talked to us. They even had a cookbook that they sold and we bought one and the owner autographed it for us.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g293976-d3397485-Reviews-Bizim_Ev_Hanimeli_Restaurant-Selcuk_Izmir_Province_Turkish_Aegean_Coast.html
After lunch we got back on the coach for the half hour ride to Ephesus and our hotel, the Grand Onder Hotel which was on a hill overlooking the port. It was a very nice location and down the street was a mini mart where we could buy water.
Our room was one looking at the interior courtyard but the restaurant dining room had a beautiful view as well as the lobby.
After schleppling our bags down the stairs (no elevator) to the lobby we headed to the restaurant for a buffet breakfast. This meal was not very good and the dining room huge- one's food got cold going form the food line to the table and the coffee was terrible.
We boarded our coach for a short ride to Hierapolis and stopped at the bottom of the thermal pools for a photo stop. We could see the people walking in the shallow pools on the top of the hill from the lake side.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hierapolis#Martyrium
After the tour of the ruins we were taken to the thermal pools where we could take off our shoes/sandals and wade in the mineral waters. Shoes or sandals were not permitted and there were guards who watched and when they saw someone with footwear in the water starting blowing loud whistles. This was a very nice place to visit.
There were snack bars and souvenir stands outside the entrance to the ruins. We were allowed time to use the bathrooms and grab a coffee or soda or snack.
We were then driven down to the Ancient Pool.
http://www.traveladdicts.net/2013/02/the-hot-springs-and-antique-pool-of.html
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/go/Aegean/Pamukkale/sights/sacred_pool.html
The Ancient Pool was a resort with warm water pools and several cafes for refreshment. Those that wanted to go in the waters were allowed time to do so. The rest of us just hung out and relaxed. We were warned to try and grab a snack as lunch would be late today since we have a 2 1/2 drive to the restaurant near Kusadasi.
The food featured in the cafes was not very appealing.
After our never ending drive our tour guide had the bus stop at a local restaurant outside of Selcuk called Bizim Ev Hanimeli. The grounds outside the restaurant were beautiful- all sorts of flowering plants. We were seated and ordered our drinks and then went inside to get our meal. This was a visual feast- pots and platters of food and we took what we wanted to eat.!!'
The food was fantastic, service was good and the owners came around and talked to us. They even had a cookbook that they sold and we bought one and the owner autographed it for us.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g293976-d3397485-Reviews-Bizim_Ev_Hanimeli_Restaurant-Selcuk_Izmir_Province_Turkish_Aegean_Coast.html
After lunch we got back on the coach for the half hour ride to Ephesus and our hotel, the Grand Onder Hotel which was on a hill overlooking the port. It was a very nice location and down the street was a mini mart where we could buy water.
Our room was one looking at the interior courtyard but the restaurant dining room had a beautiful view as well as the lobby.
