Kalkan, seen from the top.
Turkiye 7th - 22nd May 2007
Kalkan, Kas, Pattara & Saklikent, Antalya - Part Six
Kalkan, a town on the Turkish Mediterranean coast which averages of three hundred days of sunshine a year. The area includes many historical sites and many fine beaches. The word Kalkan in Turkish means `shield`, Kalkan is an old fishing town, and a safe harbour between Kas and Fethiye. Also it is famous for its white-washed houses, descending to the sea, and its brightly coloured Bougainvilleas.
The beach.
EFES, the local beer.
Kas is a small fishing, yachting and tourist town, a district west of Antalya. As a tourist town it is relatively unspoiled, aslo as itself is a quiet pleasant town with its blue sea and narrow streets scented with jasmine flowers. There are plenty of little guesthouses, quiet cafes serving home cooking, or small bars to relax after a day's scuba diving. Kas has an annual arts festival, jazz concerts in the Roman ampitheatre.
Beach at Kas.
Group of pupils were having their rehearsal marching for the coming Sport`s Day.
From Kas, you can enjoy the view of Sea of Mediterranean. Here you are able to clearly see the Greece`s islands. Going to Greece territory is pretty near from Kas.
That is a Greece island.
FuFu waved to the island.
Kas has many other places of historical interest and it has spots of natural beauty - a number of interesting caves, some of them underwater. The mountains behind the coast offer countless places for trekking, climbing and river rafting.
The Roman ampitheatre.
Kas, seen from the Roman ampitheatre.
I saw gang of kids hanging outside a shop. They shouted `Suzuki`, `Japon`, and `Honda` when i passed by. Guess they might have though that i was from Japan. Anyway i quickly took out my camera and snapped a nice shot of them with a Isuzu`s pick up.
We caught up a van to Patara from Kas. On the way to Patara, there has lovely views of the surrounding hills and beaches.
On the way to Patara.
Patara beach should not be missed with its gorgeous landscape and great swimming. It is a national park and home of many birds, also the breeding ground of the endangered loggerhead turtle, the second most important sea turtle nesting beach in Turkey.
Walking to Patara Beach
The Patara beach is an 18km long strip of sand border on its end by mountains and along its length by sand dunes and the large marshy area which once was the celebrated port of Patara.
Patara Beach.
The name Patara is still attached to the numerous ruins of the city. The town walls surrounded an area of considerable extent. They may easily be traced, as well as the situation of a castle which commanded the harbour, and of several towers which flanked the walls. The situation of the ruins is still apparent but it is a swamp, choked up with sand and bushes. Only the theatre was well preserved.
Ruins of the Patara.
The theatre.
Turkish Hi-tea, tea and fruits.
After that, M`s mother needed to prepare dinner. I was so curious to know what was she going to make and went in the kitchen. For your information, the kitchen is women`s territory in Turkey. I then begged her to let me help her to make Turkish style yaprak sarma, one of the famous Turkish cuisine. First, had the rice with ketchup and spices ready, then roll it up with a dried vine`s leaves.
The dinner was great! We had pizza, dolma, bean curry, and yaprak sarma. That was because M`s brother had come back. The cacik was not my bowl of yogurt. Cacik is an authentic Turkish dish of seasoned, diluted yogurts eaten throughout the former Ottoman world. It is made of cucumber, dried mint and olive oil then diluted with water to a low consistency and garnished with sumac.
Well, as a guest and being treated like a VIP, i forced myself to finish it. Three of the youngsters enjoyed the dinner very much. We were so full and decided to walk the tourist town near the habour of Kalkan.
We had Turkish ice cream at Aubergine. Wow, the texture was way too good! I wonder how the ice cream was made, which results in a smoothly yet sticky and creamier textured ice cream. Thumbed up.
When we arrived home, mother was making Turkish style vegetarian puff while father sitting on a couch watching news. I was not allowed to help this time as M`s father was there. I was just sitting there and watching how the puff was made while enjoying cay, Turkish tea.
Turkish style puff.
The VIP room for FuFu.
I wanted to mention my VIP room in Kalkan, it was so spacious, clean and i had a good rest for the two nights staying at M`s house. I would like to give a big hug to M and her family again if i ever had a chance to visit Kalkan again. Çok tesekkur ederim (Big thanks in Turkish).
Finally came the time to leave and say goodbye. After having breakfast with M`s parents and brother, M`s father insisted to show Necla and me the Saklikent and we went there by car.
Sculpted limestone canyon walls.
Saklikent is situated between Fethiye and Kas, has not been discovered until the villagers living in this region discovered twenty years ago. Saklikent literally the hidden city in Turkish, is the longest and deepest gorge in Turkey. It is 20km long and steep and narrow that the sun does not penetrate the water, leaving it deliciously icy cold in the summer.
Once inside, water sculpted limestone canyon walls soar above you. I could see the sky occasionally. I felt myself on a different planet among high rocks. And i didnt really feel the Mediterranean`s distresting heat in this canyon. Saklikent is a canyon which is unbelievably beautiful, mystic and fascinating. Anyway remember to dress up appropriately as you will easily get wet.
Restaurants line up along the river.
M`s father sent us off to the bus stop and we took express bus back to Denizli. He told me the door is always open for me and invited me back to Kalkan when i pay Turkey another visit in the near future. He told Necla he wanted me to be his son. I wish he was a billionaire, so i would be given some property. LoL. Well, the bus service in Turkey is damn so good as cay will always be served when it stopped over at a place for you to answer the call of nature.
Cay, Turkish tea is my favourite.
Group of Turkish women hanging around outside a mosque.
