2geonomads

Tuesday 12th June 2012

Rental car delivered to hotel on time at 8.30 so after great breakfast overlooking the marina below the hotel we set off for the long drive to Antalya.
First port of call is a cliff-face above Fethiye where there are some impressive ruins of Lycian tombs from 4th Century BC.
We had so much about Olu Deniz that we felt obliged to call in to this resort made famous in the 1970’s by tourists from Britain. Whilst there is no denying that the setting is truly beautiful the promise of ” Full English Breakfast” and hordes of very red Brits. Makes it more akin to Butlins Holiday Camp than a former fishing village on the coast of Turkey.
We had decided to ignore the quicker route to Antalya and continue along the coast. However, we made one short detour to the much-vaunted Saklikent Gorge, which would be, we thought, a carbon copy of the Dades and Todra Gorges in Morocco. We were pleasantly surprised to find a gorge which the coastoffered quite a few points of difference, with a boardwalk enabling us to view the rapids of the river at close quarters.
After returning to the main D400 we spent the next few hours driving along along a coastal highway the equal of any we have seen anywhere in the world. The road hugs the coast, at times very high above the water and always with spectacular mountains as a backdrop.
The small harbourfront town of Kas proved to be everything that Olu Deniz is not- understated and with some stylish pensions and restaurants along the harbourfront. Not a Butlins clone in sight!
Stopped for a drink at a cafe on beach near Demre. Owner a real Charisma- bypass recipient who looked so depressed as to be on suicide-watch.
As we head north-east towards Antalya we gain our first sight of the impressive Mt Olympos although the scenery in general does not really scale the heights of the first part of our coastal drive.
Arrive at Antalya only to find that our hotel is in the Old Town and getting close to it by car is near-impossible for anyone not familiar with the local rules covering entry into the Kaleici Old Town.
Eventually meet up with the car rental guy outside the walls and he kindly drops us off at the Puding Marina Hotel before he starts the long drive back to Fethiye!

Hotel in very convenient location close to all the most famous sights so we dine at a small overlook ing the yacht harbour. Looks wonderful at night so we will see whether it is as impressive the next day.

This old blogger is ready for an early night after a drive which seemed so much longer than the 300 plus kms.

Cheers

The Obese Ferret