Days 126-128 02 September-04 September-Cirali
After having farewelled our house sit family yesterday we leave Lyon and fly to Antalya on Turkey’s southern coast. After arriving early we left the airport late due to a scrum at the baggage collection with half of Europe obviously not having heard that their holidays were over.
We had fortunately arranged a pickup and headed east for about an hour and a half. We bypassed Antalya which looked like a holiday apartment nightmare but I am assured that it is a nice place! Anyway due to the judicious planning of my comrade in arms we arrived in the haven of Cirali. Which although heavily populated by restaurants hotels and guesthouses has a lovely long beach and a really laid back feeling. Our host Cemil was very pleasant and on the first night, we had delicious fresh fish cooked on the barbecue.
Our first day was spent lazing on beach lounges European style which are owned by the restaurants facing the ocean. We had lunch at Harihye’s which had a really hippy style and lots of fun as you can see here.
On our way back to the hotel we met an Englishman Richard who came from near Liverpool who was their to scatter his mum’s ashes. After a chat we decided to meet up for lunch the next day. Back for a lovely dinner at Dione’s on the beach and again a beautiful fresh fish and an amazing Turkish dessert called Incil Tastisi.
Our last day was spent exploring the end of the beach that hid the ancient ruins of a city called Olympos.The wonderful thing about this site was its proximity to the sea and its entrance alongside a river. I never cease to be amazed at how craftsmen were able to work and carve stone. Here there were some fine examples particularly with a sarcophagus sitting on its own in a forest. Olympos was one of six cities belonging to the Lycian League which seems to have formed in the second century BC. The cities stretched along the coast from Antalya to Fethiye.
We wended our way back along the beautiful sandy beach, had lunch with our new acquaintances Richard and his dad. Had a stroll before dinner and packed for our next adventure.
