Pamukkale, Turkey

Pamukkale is known for its travertine baths (hot springs) and ancient Greek/Roman ruins (Hierapolis). Everything is on top of a hill. I was surprised that everyone would be hiking on water as they made their way up.

My favorite had to be the travertine baths. These are basically white rocks that hold water from the hot springs. Because they are on a hill, soaking oneself in one of these baths means that one gets a panoramic view of the valleys and mountains of the region. I will never forget watching sunset by these baths!

The complex also contains numerous Greek/Roman ruins, including a large theater. Furthermore, there is an agora, baths, temples and graves. One interesting observation is that most graves are little houses with sarcophagi on the roofs.

Kos, Greece

Kos, another island in the Dodecanese chain, is where Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine was from. I originally was not planning to come here but did so because I needed to make a ferry connection to Turkey.

My highlight in Kos was visiting the Medieval castle right by the harbor. Kos Town also has a bunch of Greek and Roman ruins scattered around the center of the city. Other than these few places, there isn’t much to do on the island besides relaxing on the beaches.

My ferry to Turkey was quite interesting. I arrived at Greek exit point more than 30 minutes before the scheduled departure. When it was my turn to present my passport and ticket to the officer, he told me that I had to go outside and wait in line for a boarding pass, even though I already had my ticket. What unnecessary bureaucracy! I waited in line for the boarding pass for half an hour and almost missed my ferry because of that. Luckily, the ferry waited for everyone to obtain their boarding passes before heading to Bodrum, Turkey.