Day 26 & 27....oh the things you will see

I didn't blog yesterday because I didn't feel the need to. We left the hotel extra early, (shocker that one) to go to our next destination, Pammukale, eight hours away. So my blog would have given you specifics on our bus ride and the oh so boring journey that it is. Actually, we'd gotten really bad at traveling, which is sad considering that our group is full of experienced travelers and we're almost done with the trip. That's the problem. We've seen more of our tour bus than we ever dreamed of. We have nicknames for it. Its fondly referred to as the, "Oh I hate that bus," "I think we need to burn that bus," "if I never see that bus again I'll be happy," and my favorite, "This bus reeks like BO and feet." We often have to turn the air off when going up hill so that we don't over work the engine. Those days are ugly. We've all purchased way more than we needed to so our bus is not crammed with all our merchandise and we're getting on our last nerves. Doug got hit in the head twice by falling items from the over head compartments, one of which scratched him. The whole thing is a fiasco. That's exactly why I didn't blog about it. And if another person starts singing, "the wheels on the bus," I'm going to push them right off and over a cliff if possible.

So after a whole day wasted on driving, we reached Pammukale. Ahhh, Pammukale. This city is famous for its thermal springs and iron deposits as well as the ancient city of Hieropolis. People came from all over the ancient world, as the do today, to sit in the rich thermal spas and springs to help with arthritis, nerves, muscles, joints, digestive issues, and anything else that makes people sick. In fact, many people from ancient times came here on their death beds hoping that this place with its majestic springs and spas would be a sort of fountain of youth. Yeah, right, like we've never heard that before. So the pictures that you're about to see with old ruins in the background, that's Heiropolis. The largest acropolis (its Greek, it means high city, so like a fort) in the world. Its not the most famous, just the largest. Basically, you'll be seeing a lot of graves because as people came here for the fountain of youth, they died and were buried there. I don't know about you, but if I'm going to a place that claims to be the fountain of youth, but is surrounded by a bunch of tombs, I'm going to go out on a limb and say it doesn't work. Not that I'm hating on anyone who went. Just a thought.

We had the afternoon to ourselves, which gives me the impression that even our professor is sick of us and needed a break. Plus the weather is super hot. I made the mistake of spending the morning at Heirpolis in a tank and my shoulders burned. Who'd have thought that Africans burn, but apparently this one does. Its that European blood from my mom's side. Gets me every time.

Adrienna, Kristin and I headed down to the thermal springs where we steamed like vegetables for some time and just before we turned into hard boiled eggs we jumped into the cool pool. Tell me again why I was feeling sick? We then decided that it was time for little special treatment. We are, afterall, the best looking women on this trip, no disrespect to all the other ladies here, and we signed up for another Turkish bath. A good man, by the name of Mehmet, gave me the great scrub, washed my hair, and gave me one of the best massages of my life. Thank you Mehmet. And to all you disturbed minds out there..I was wearing a bathing suit. Take any other thoughts out of your heads. He was such a gentleman and kissed my hand when he finished my massage. Ahhhhh....relaxation is great.

Tomorrow we're on the move again, going to another very touristy destination...Ephes. So it'll be another long bus ride..I'll spare you the details and then hopefully blog again on Sunday just before the biggest bus ride of my life when we head back to Istanbul. 13 hours on the bus..I can't wait. Can we bring Mehmet?

Quote of the Day:
"Oh, I'm sensing my cosmic energy. I must have been here in a past life!" - Adrienne after she got dizzy from standing up too quickly at the Camel Caravan. Past life, my foot.