Running Hierapolis

It’s been too long since I’ve run. With that in mind, the morning after my arrival at Pammukale, I lace up my under used running shoes, throw a few Turkish lyre in my pocket, and set off down the highway towards Hierapolis.

Hierapolis is an ancient Roman town set up on a hill above the modern town of Pammukale. Hierapolis’s largest selling point is a series of geothermal springs that flow out of the ground at the top of the hill. These waters, or more specifically, the minerals they contain, have created a strange calcite formation that has earned the name “cotton castle” from the locals.

Having explored the cotton castle yesterday, I set my sights on the actual roman town.

I took the long way round, running up a set of slow rolling hills to the north entrance of the archeological park. Lungs burning, sweat dripping into the cold air, and footsore, I ran up to what I thought was the entrance gate. A guard came out to meet me.

“Did you run from town?” Pammukale is only about three miles away, but he seems impressed.

“Yeah!” sweat is getting into my eyes. “Do you have any water?”

He ducks inside the guard shack and grabs me a disposable cup. I down it, still jogging in place.

“Where are you from?” his English is all right. I wish my Arabic was better. Just like I’ve wished my Hindi, Japanese, Thai, Khmer and Chinese was better. I really need to actually become fluent in a language, and not just know bits and pieces.

“USA.” I say. “Can I get into the park?”

“Here is not entrance.” He points down the road another six hundred meters. “There.”

“Okay! Thanks for the water, you have a nice day!” I take off.

The ticket counter lets me pass and I continue my run through the ancient city, stopping every once in a while to job in place and read the signs. Halfway through I decide this is the best way to see any ancient city. Other tourists, up as early as I am, give me strange looks. I smile back and wave.

I’ve been running for about 45 minutes when I see the ancient stadium. “Hmm… run stadium stairs at a two thousand year old arena?” I mutter to myself. “OF COURSE!”

Hierapolis is awesome.

-Doug