Day 7 – Friday 15 May

We were awakened by the joyful crowing roosters and feeling nicely rested we headed up one floor to the beautiful dinning terrace.  I was super excited to be presented with a fabulous variety of salads; each lovingly seasoned and dressed uniquely.

There was carrot and sesame, a type of creeping spinach and avocado, smoked eggplant dip, chargrilled capsicum, to name a few. There was also lovely home baking included although I prefer the salads. At any time of day guests are welcome to use the coffee machine free, and top up water free to minimise plastic waste.

Our tour picked us up at 9:25 promptly in a Mercedes people mover and we made our way to Ucagiz which is the closest village to Kekova – a 40 minute drive away. On the way there was another turtle on the side of the road would you believe; again up in the hills away front the ocean.

Ucagiz town is small, and seems very poor – humble.  It is quite confronting to see the low standard of housing and the general untidyness. Litter is everywhere and brokenness is the norm. The marina looked beautiful and we were ushered onto our boat which set sail for the first of the bays we were to visit.

The water was calm, but the hint of wind had already come along by the time we then moved to the anticipated highlight of the tour – the sunken city of Dolchiste.  Unfortunately the boat was too large to go over the sunken parts, and whilst we could see them, it did not afford the picture opportunities I had hoped for. We did see a lot of the remaining Lycian city on the island and learnt that they even had a desalination system.

We visited the inhabited island of Kalekoy which has both Greek and Turkish roots. There we enjoyed a goat milk ice cream which was rather good – not goaty at all.  It is very picturesque but also very touristy.

The bays we visited had amazing clarity and colour. Those that follow know I adore azure and turquoise water, and have a mission to swim in as many as I can around the world.  Unfortunately going up to my knees from the back of the boat ladder was as far as I could go.  The water was a bit cool, but it was more that the wind was up and whilst the bays were sheltered, I would have sat in the cold as we moved along. The combination of both was not sensible for either of us who are still getting rid of the cough-cold virus.

Lunch on the boat was very nice, with a chicken stew dish, and some interesting salads and vegetable and herb fritters.  We particularly enjoyed the latter and a pasta salad that was topped with a simple but very tasty yoghurt garlic sauce and an orange oil – I am yet to identify it. 

The tour was cut short a little towards the end as the trade winds had whipped up a nice chop and slop of about half a meter – this made the swimming opportunities poor and the commute worse.

In all a great day, perhaps more for the younger set who like to jump into the water at every opportunity and strut their thongs, however seeing those bays and being able to enjoy them was worth it.

After being dropped off we freshened up and walked down to old town to find dinner.  We saw the tomb of the king, and I enjoyed feeling the energy of the 2 thousand year old script on it.  After wandering around and not seeing a place that was not too touristic (yes I know we were in the centre of touristic) we came across a man who said if we did not like it, we did not have to pay. 

Well I am always up for a food challenge and unfortunately I had to pay him at the end as the octopus was delicious and so tender.  When I told him that at the end, he looked into my eyes lovingly and took my hand and kissed it and then held my hand to his heart briefly before acknowledging Vern.  So chivalrous!   He was our age group though…. And oddly looked disturbingly like the brother of one of my boyfriends when I was 16.  

I also tried my first Turkish white wine at dinner and it was really, really good. First sip fragrant then nicely smooth and dryer on the palate.  Vern had kofta and they were also very nicely seasoned. Chuckling to each other we made our way happily back home up the hill in the evening light, thinking we could spend more time here.