Visiting the Hot Springs and Ruins at Pamukkale in Southwestern Turkey

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 Amphitheatre
Cleopatra Pool at Pamukkale
View of the Calcium, Hot Spring, and the Valley Below
Some of the Ruins at the Site
The 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 Springs
Another View of Cleopatra Pool
People Looking the Town in the Valley
Ruin on the Hill
Close 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 Amphitheatre
More Ruins
The Scenery was Dramatic
Statue of Poseidon
Mostly Restored Building

The Relaxing Port City of Kusadasi in Western Turkey

Anyone who has taken a cruise ship to Turkey has probably spent at least a day in the port city of Kusadasi. We actually flew into Izmir and then spent a week in Kusadasi using it as our home base as we explored as much of the west coast of Turkey as possible. We also used it as an opportunity to relax for a couple of days before continuing on to Istanbul and then Bulgaria. While there are certainly plenty of historical sites to visit that are just day trips, spending time in the city of Kusadasi is worthwhile if you enjoy sitting by the water and watching the sunsets.

Looking Down the Shore in Kusadasi
Fresh Fish to Select for Dinner
Hand of Peace Statue on the Boardwalk
Sunset and a Fortress

We stayed in a resort that was outside of Kusadasi, but they offered a shuttle that would take us downtown near the port, which we took advantage of a couple of times. The weather was much warmer in Kusadasi then it was as we traveled north, so it was definitely a beach experience. We ate our fair share of seafood, tried some fresh ice cream as well as gelato, and of course had several glasses of wine. There are many different restaurants, all with views of the Aegean Seas and the beaches with people wading and swimming near the shore.

People Wading in the Water
Lemon and Orange Gelato
Kusadasi Sign
Marina

Since we usually have trips that are “travel” and others that are “vacation”, it was really nice to have a trip that was actually a little bit of both. Because of all of the cruise ships that do dock at Kusadasi, you do need to pay attention to how many ships are in the port as that does increase the crowds, especially towards the end of the day when they return from their tour of Ephesus, which is where most people on the cruise ships visit. You can also take a day trip to the Greek Island of Samos, but we chose not to do that on this particular trip. We will definitely have fond memories of Kusadasi as we really enjoyed our time sipping on wine and watching the sun set across the water.

Man Fishing
More Statues on the Promenade
Cruise Ships
Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Cone
Beautiful Sunset
More Fish
Waves and Resorts
Another Statue
The Beginning of the Sunset
Drying Peppers and Gourds
Fish for Dinner
Beautiful Flowers

The Fascinating Rila Monastery Near Sofia, Bulgaria

We took a day trip from Sofia to visit the Rila Monastery, which is located about two hours away in the Rila Mountains southwest of the capital of Bulgaria. The monastery was first founded in the 10th century and gets its name, as does the mountainous region, from the hermit Ivan of Rila who founded it. Although the monastery bears some resemblance to the fortified churches that we saw in Romania a few years back, it did not serve the same purpose as the mountains were fortification enough. The Rila Monastery is considered to be one of Bulgaria’s most important cultural, historical and architectural sites and therefore does attract a fair number of visitors every year.

Entrance to the Monastery
Tower in the Courtyard
Domes of the Main Church
Entrance to the Church

The main church of the monastery was built in the middle of the 19th century and is still in use today. The paintings on the exterior walls are quite dramatic and tell a variety of biblical stories. Next to the main church is the clock tower, which is more of a fortress tower than an actual clock tower, but it is quite dramatic to see as it looks over the entire monastery complex. Surrounding the church in the walls are the quarters where the monks of the monastery would live and work when not at the church for prayers. There are only two gated entrances to the Rila Monastery, one near the parking area where visitors arrive and the other that leads to a small village with a restaurant that is on the opposite side of the main entrance.

View of the Quarters and Working Areas of the Rila Monastery
Artwork at the Ceiling of the Church Entrance
Village and Restaurants Outside of the Gate
Details Outside of the Monastery Quarters

When visiting Sofia, taking a day trip to the Rila Monastery is certainly worthwhile and can be combined with a wine tasting in the same region. For those who enjoy hiking, there are also several hiking trails in the area and many local people visit the mountains simply to enjoy the natural surroundings and beautiful scenery. Just like visiting any other religious site, dressing appropriately is always recommended and women should have their knees and shoulders covered. We definitely enjoyed our time at the monastery as well as lunch at a local restaurant on the river in a village along the road to and from the monastery.

Artwork on the Walls of the Church
Outside Walls of the Monastery
Courtyard and Church
Images of Hell
Ladder to an Observation Deck
Stream Running Next to the Monastery
Another Painting on the Church
Fountain as You Exit the Church
The Main Church
Colorful Rila Mountains
Fascinating Architecture