Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Days 504-505, 29-30 Oct '15, Fethiye, Kayakoy, Oludeniz, Tlos, Yakapark, Saklikent
Does that sound like a big day? Does the fact I took about 140 photos (prior to deletions) make it sound like a big day? You bet your bottom dollar it was a big day. Due to it being the end of the end of the tourist season, we missed out on taking a group tour to Tlos, Yakapark and Saklikent. The evening we tried to book, was the evening of the last tour. We are currently blessed with fabulous weather - 24 degrees and blazing sunshine - so made the decision to go hard, go early and go private before the rains and cold weather arrive. We booked a car and driver for the day out and negotiated the addition of the Kayakoy ghost village into our day. We've not had a private tour in a very long while and enjoyed it to the fullest. Our driver (Mohammed of course), was smack on time at 9.30 am and he made the day with lots of little detours. We went to a couple of lookout points to see both Fethiye and the stunning lagoon of Oludeniz from above (pictured). We visited the "ghost" village of Kayakoy. This was part of the population exchange between Turkey and Greece in the 1920s. Thing was, when the exchanged Turks arrived... they didn't like it and it was abandoned. It's almost like an Art Deco Pompeii. Teensy bit of a ripoff mind you - we had a good look at the place without going in - but then saw there were signs for the abandoned church just beyond the ticket booth. Thought it looked interesting... paid the 5 TL each (total A$5)... got to the church and it was chained up and shut. Darn. Our next stop was a surprise visit to Gemiler Cave - also known as Alexander the Great's Cave. Get this - he was apparently a giant and left his thumb print on the cave about 30 metres up. Even more interesting is that Alex was about 5 feet tall! Moving on we headed to ancient Tlos. Another one of these pass-the-parcel type cities. It goes back 5000 odd years and was one of the most important Lycian cities of the time. Lots of rock tombs - including the purported burial site of Bellerophon - a hero who rode the winged horse Pegasus. Overlaying the Lycian remnants are the Roman ruins including (of course) a theatre. There was an entry fee here as well. However in good defensive form, the city was built on a hill and we were just not in the mood to climb up. And the site was actually on the road... And the secondary entry area ticket booth near the theatre was abandoned. What can I say - it all evens out in the end. Our "hungry buttons" went beep shortly after Tlos, so luckily the next top was Yakapark Trout Farm. This place is a fresh water trout farm which essentially feeds tourists. During the season coach loads of tourists arrive and populate the platforms above the running water. We had a choice of chicken kebab or fresh (seriously fresh) rainbow trout. We had one of each and there was a buffet of cold mezze dishes. Heaven. Refuelled and ready to go we headed off to Saklikent Gorge. Pretty stunning spot though probably better in the warmer whether. Once into the gorge itself there is a walkway above the roaring waters. We really enjoy being near rushing waters - very energizing. After a short walk we reached a central area where rubber shoes are available for rent - this is the point where one can roll up one's trousers and walk through the rocks and water to get to the other side to continue 2 km up the gorge to the waterfall. Probably huge fun in 40 degrees... but only 20 degrees today... and the water was probably about 5! Stopped us going for a paddle. We did however enjoy the relative emptiness of the site. We headed back to base and sat on a platform in the middle of the river to enjoy a cup of Turkish Coffee (here of course it's just called coffee...) Rather lucky it's the off-season now, as you would usually queue for an hour for a river platform. Big day. Huge. Coffee was supposed to keep us awake for the drive home. Didn't work. With our big day out complete and the end of the end of the season upon us (pavements will be rolled and stowed on 31 October) that is us. Finished, finito, the end - from now on we are going to enjoy movies, walks, market visits and, if the weather holds, another trip or two to the beach. Not to mention "shopping". Not traditional shopping - goods for cash. No.... our rural area, even the grounds of the gated community we are living in, are covered in fruit trees. When we take Kuki for a walk we usually come back with oranges, avocados and dates - just to name a few. Up until now we had no idea what fresh dates were like... hard, crisp and a bit like apple as it turns out. Live and learn!
- comments