While in Selçuk I decided I would like to see Pamukkale. It is a network of thermal pools cascading down a white calcite hillside. You can walk through, sit in or photograph the pools. The area is quite striking and is basically a white hill with running warm water which is supposedly good for you. You can only bathe/move through the designated areas and there is a pools guard complete with whistle to keep you on the straight and narrow.
I jumped on a train for three hours and got off at Denizli. I had heard that the pools were 20 minutes away from the train station so I jumped in a taxi. My driver was Mustafa. He told me he would come back at 5.30pm giving me three hours there.
I started to climb the hill and paid the entrance fee of TL25 which included the pools and the Hierapolis ruins. A little further up and everyone had to remove their shoes. About half way up I realised that Mustafa was returning for me at a time after my last train back to Selçuk had left. So I made it to the top stopping to take photos and soak my feet but I didn’t get to see any of Hierapolis. Can you believe it? Never mind, I hadn’t really come to Turkey to see those particular ruins anyway. I enjoyed the pools and there was also a fast moving stream that I immersed my feet and lower legs in. It was lovely and relaxing.
Back down at the foot of the hill I got a local cafe owner to call Mustafa for me. Yes he was on his way. I sat down to wait for the 20 minutes for him to return from Denizli. I soon saw his smiling face and I jumped in the taxi to return to the train station.
I knew my train would be getting back to Selçuk at about 8.45pm and so thought it would be good to have some food for dinner on the train so Mustafa drove me to the local shopping centre for no cost, came in with me and made sure I got some food. He returned me to the station and saw me buy my ticket. He gave me a bag of apples that he had in the back of his taxi – so nice! I said thank you and got on the train. A few moments later I saw him at the window beckoning me to have some çay (tea) he had bought. I got off the train with 15 minutes to spare and sat down on a bench with him. I didn’t have the heart to tell him I don’t drink tea. I forced myself to drink it. Then it really was time to go so I hopped back on the train and found a seat. The whole interaction with Mustafa happened with very limited words being spoken. He could say come! name? how are you? and not much more. I used the limited amount of Turkish words that I knew. His acts of kindness are indicative of what I have experienced since I have been away on this trip. People ask me am I ever afraid to travel by myself but I have found that travel restores my faith in humanity. I have experienced nothing but kindness so far. Mustafa – you’re a star!
