Sep 13, 2012 - WWOOFing No. 3

Fethiye was a nice place to spend a few days R & R between WWOOFing farms.  Nearby to town are tombs carved into sheer rock faces. Our third WOOFing experience has been different once again.  This farm grows mainly oranges and grapes, but also has quite a lot of rustic wooden bungalows and mud house accommodation where up to 50 visitors can stay.  Also it caters for yoga retreats.There is already one large round yoga room, and they are nearly finished a second mud wall yoga/meditation room. We slept in a mud house - not as primitive as it...

Nov 11, 2011 - Demre (Myra)

Today we headed to our boat but on the way we stopped in Demre (Myra), best known for the church of St. Nicolas. Nicolas, the 4th Century Bishop, was famed for his generosity and piety. Legend has established him as the Patron Saint of fishermen and children. The Saint’s myrrh, impregnated bones, were buried on his church’s premises. Although this church was destroyed by the Arabs in 809 AD, the bones survived and were moved to Bari, Italy in 1087. The Russian prince rebuilt the church in the 19th century. The city of Myra dates from...

Apr 28, 2011 - Fethiye - Days 2 & 3

Sometimes when two people are married they begin to act and think like one another. Something that should not make sense to one (sane) person does make perfect sense to that person AND their spouse. Welcome to my marriage. Matt and I had a nice plan laid out to spend half a day at a hot springs and mud bath. I was really looking forward to it and although Matt was not, due to the three transport changes necessary, he was game. At 9 o'clock at night the fateful evening before our little adventure, I was lookıng through our guide book and...

Jun 19, 2010 - We head for land again

Wake up in the morning to find the water still as still – and a heavy dew so our clothes left beside our matress are soaking. An early breakfast and then we are on our way back to shore – the end of our boat trip. We really haven’t travelled very far at all – just hopping in and out of coves close to the home berth. In another bus and we drive to Cirali. Just a couple of roads – the main one running parallel to the beach. Lots of pensions and cafes – a real little beach haven with kids, bikes etc everywhere. We walk 2 klms to have lunch...

Jun 18, 2010 - Deer and satelites

We wake to a beautiful day and the sight of goats clambering along the shore – then joined by a deer who proceeds to eat last nights melon skins. Obviously has the wood over the goats who retreat a little. A quick swim before breakfast. We travel to the island of Kekova and also walk to the Simena Castle. The castle boasts a quaint ampitheatre and Kylie and Jodie put on an imprompu concert – introduced by conductor Hogarth. (Don’t Cry for Me Argentina and Single Girls) Some more jewellery purchased at the markets to match those already...

Jun 17, 2010 - Off on our boat trip

We drive today to Ucagiz to board our boat – first though we stop at Myra (more ruins) David and I sit this one out. and then visit the birthplace of Saint Nicholas. We finally reach our boat, meet our hosts Mehmet and Sabahat and set sail so to speak. Wonderful water changing from torquoise to cobalt blue and everything inbetween. We pull into a small cove and spend a glorious afternoon swimming and snorkeling – can life get any better? Towards evening we transfer to another cove for the night. David and I go for a walk up the hill –...

Jun 16, 2010 - A walk and a half

Up early, no breakfast, and we set out for a 3 hour climb (listed as a walk) to Oludeniz. Firstly we climb through an old village, then over hills and gullies until we reach a beach. Very rocky and at times quite slippery. I came a cropper a couple of times – I seem to have trouble judging ‘depth’ these days. Don’t know if it is the new glasses or my other eye problem. David very supportive – without him I doubt I could do these things. The bush and the panarama of the coast line worth the effort though. We stop half way and enjoy another...

Jun 15, 2010 - A special treat - Caretta Caretta

We decide to go on an extra excursion today – not on our original itinery, The down side a 5am departure. We stop for a picnic breakfast after a couple of hours. Lots of tomatoes, olives, fetta, cucumber and fresh bread cut into large chunks. We usually sit in the outdoor areas in front of cafes…they don’t mind that we have brought our own food, they get to provide us with beverages. We pull in for petrol – with a tank full comes a free car wash so our little bus gets the treatment. Cannot get over the waste of water in this country. There...

Mar 26, 2010 - Inching North

Took an afternoon bus to Fethiye, 1/2 way to our destination, Marmaris, where we will take a ferry to Rhodes (Island) Greece. We wanted to break up the trip a bit with shorter bus rides during the day so we can see the scenery. A large Marina with plenty of boats here so we can go poking around tomorrow. Weather has been very good but other than that nothing to report, just hangin out. Our main goal now is to island hop towards Athens, don't have a route planned yet.

Mar 10, 2010 - Turkey: The Lycian Way

What a fantastic hike! It ranks up there with hiking Half Dome, for incredible beauty. But in three days (and 30 kilometers) we only saw two other people on the Lycian Way. What is it? It is the first laid-stone walkway in Turkey, about 500 kilometers long from present-day Antalya to Fethiye and was built by the Lycians around 500 BC. That is about the time when the Parthenon was being built--and about 2000! years before the Incas built the Inca Trail. Alexander the Great walked here about 300 BC, as did Brutus about 50 BC, and Augustus...

Sep 28, 2009 - 12 Island Boat Tour

I woke up early and decided to head to the Lycian Tombs before breakfast. The tombs are carved into the mountain side and are incredible to look at. At breakfast, I met an Australian couple, Joel and Dani, who were on their way back home after living for a year in Amsterdam. They were 2 months into their trip and after Turkey, they are spending 3 months in India before returning home right before Christmas. It sounds like an amazing trip. I talked them into going with me on this 12 island tour. The 12 island tour was incredible. There are...

Sep 27, 2009 - Off to Fethiye

I wasn't too into Bodrum, so I decided to head to Fethiye. My day started with a nice ride to the bus depot. I got a ride on a moped by a 15 or so year old kid. It was quite a scene, me with 3 different bags and a pillow riding on the back of a scooter, ala Dumb and Dumber, with a kid driving me around. I arrived in Fethiye just as the sun was setting. It's a beautiful coastal town in a bay off the south of Turkey. The views here are amazing and I got a room at a hostel with amazing views of the bay. After I checked in and showered I...