When we went on our eleven-day safari a couple of years ago. It was great to be able to spend so much time up-close and personal with all of the various animals. One thing that quickly became apparent was that animals of all kinds showed affection to one another. Knowing that their lives were in constant threat due to different predators, the environment, and other circumstances, it is clear that the various animals relied on each other, and families were extremely close, especially the lions.
Whispering in His Ear?Absolutely AdorableDo Birds Kiss?Elephants a Notoriously Affectionate ParentsCheetah Siblings Playing Tag
It wasn’t just the mother’s affection for their offspring, but it was also the playful affection among the siblings and even that of their mates. It was a common theme amongst all of the different species of animals that saw throughout our time in the African grasslands. We have looked back at photographs from our safari many different times and the photographs showing the loving interactions amongst the animals are certainly some of our favorite memories. We were very fortunate to catch some truly adorable moments.
Mating SeasonRhinos are Caring Parents as WellThey Have Each Other’s BackMother and Cub SnugglingCaring Cubs
It is a full-day trip to visit the historic town of Plovdiv in Bulgaria from the capital city of Sofia, but it is definitely worth the time that it takes. The town, like so much of the region, has a history that goes back to the Trojans, then the Greeks, followed by the Romans, and eventually the Turks, not taking into account the modern occupations including the Soviet Union. That history and amalgamation of cultures is part of what makes a tour of Plovdiv fascinating, but today it is also a vibrant shopping area with lots of shops and restaurants literally built on top of the ruins of an enormous, ancient sports arena. Bring comfortable shoes with you as you will be doing a fair amount of walking up and down the hills on which the city center is built.
View of the AmphitheaterOrnate Window on a Historic House in the Old TownWalking the Cobblestone StreetsVirgin Mary Church
The first thing that you will notice is the striking architecture of the local homes that line the cobblestone streets. They have a definitive style based on the Bulgarian Renaissance architectural style and often feature vibrant colors and details around the windows that overlook the street. After walking through the ancient streets of the city’s old town, you will reach the large Roman amphitheater, which is remarkably well preserved. It is still used for concerts and events today and the college for the arts is located next to the entrance to the amphitheater.
Another Colorful HomeModel of the StadiumColumn Under the Walking StreetThe Stage of the Amphitheater
As you continue to the main street that runs the length of the old town, you will be walking above the ruins of a huge stadium where chariot races were once held. There are various points along the street where you can see and even walk down into the ruins in order to get a closer look. The original stadium actually stretched the entire length of the street with the shops above, which gives you an idea of just how large the stadium was back when it was in use. We stopped at a local restaurant for lunch and enjoyed watching all of the tourists that were walking the street on a very busy day in Plovdiv.
Walking Up the Hill Towards the Heart of Old TownStatue of Milo the CrazyAnother HouseCity Hall and Fountain
It takes 8 to 10 hours roundtrip to get to Plovdiv from Sofia since Plovdiv is located in central Bulgaria while Sofia is located in western Bulgaria. As with many places in Europe, Plovdiv is a combination of historic sites and a modern city. If it were possible, we would recommend planning your trip at a time when a concert was taking place in the amphitheater as it would make for a really unique experience. We certainly enjoyed our time walking the streets of the historic old town and seeing all of the interesting sites and buildings that are located there.
Sign Within PlovdivSeats for the Stadium that are Exposed Along the StreetMural on One of the WallsSuch Interesting Architecture
Of all of the interesting places that we visited during our trip to Kusadasi was the day trip that we took to see Pamukkale. It is both a destination for locals and visitors to spend time in the soothing hot springs or to glide off of the cliffs in a hang-glider as well as the location of several ancient ruins. If you take a tour to Pamukkale, feel free to bring a bathing suit and relax in the warm waters, which are rich with minerals and are said to provide healing qualities. You can also just take your shoes off and walk through the shallow pools that overlook the valley below.
Historic AmphitheatreCleopatra Pool at PamukkaleView of the Calcium, Hot Spring, and the Valley BelowSome of the Ruins at the SiteThe Two of Us Enjoying the Day at Pamukkale
We would definitely recommend making the hot springs your last stop during a tour of Pamukkale as you will do quite a bit of walking as you must walk all of the way to one end of the ruins and then return back to the parking area, which can take an hour or two. The ruins themselves are not the most impressive, but the ancient amphitheater is probably the highlight of the sites that you will see. The stunning pools with their white cliffs made up from the calcium from the water is what makes this location a worthwhile visit. In addition to the gorgeous springs along the cliff, there is also the Cleopatra Pool where you will find the largest number of bathers enjoying the beautiful surroundings.
Lots of Crowds at the Hot SpringsAnother View of Cleopatra PoolPeople Looking the Town in the ValleyRuin on the HillClose Up of the Calcium
We were fortunate to have several days in the port city of Kusadasi, so taking the day trip to Pamukkale was certainly worthwhile. We would recommend going to Ephesus and Aphrodisias before going to Pamukkale, but it was definitely an interesting destination to visit. As with many of the sites in southwestern Turkey, it is a World Heritage Site, making it a popular location for tourists to visit.
The Stage in the AmphitheatreMore RuinsThe Scenery was DramaticStatue of Poseidon Mostly Restored Building
