Kas, Turkey

Amy @ Kas Amphitheater

Kas Amphitheater

What I remember (in 2024)

We were big fans of Kas.  This beautiful seaside town at the bottom of the surrounding mountains almost felt untouched by tourism.  

We stayed at the great Ates Pension, with its outdoor common area, where they would serve dinner each night.

We would go into the crystal clear water, off the rocks, which then had a ladder for you to climb out of.  We spent time at the Amphitheater and were nearly the only ones there.  This beautiful open air theater, looking over the water, and noone there to see it.

Olimpos, Turkey to Kas, Turkey

A in Kas

Kas

Olimpos, Turkey

What I remember (in 2024)

Olimpos was a renowned backpackers stop in Turkey.  It was seen as a getaway from the city and a place to cut loose, usually on a multi night boat trip.  We had planned on doing a day trip on a boat, but we both ended up not well and really only left our tree house room at Turkmen Pansiyan to walk the quick walk to the beach.  We had a quieter experience than most in Olimpos, but still a couple of nice, quiet days.

Olimpos, Turkey

Olimpos

Olimpos

Side, Turkey to Olimpos, Turkey

Side, Turkey

A & I, Side

 

Side Amphitheater

Me @ Side Amphitheater

A & I @ Temple of Apollo & Athena, Side

What I remember (in 2024)

Side was a small seaside town.  We stayed at Pettino's Pension, as it was owned by an Australian woman and her Turkish husband.

As you walk into the town, from the bus station was when we first saw it, you walk down the Colonnaded Street, before coming to a fountain in the middle of the one lane road leading into the town.  We were told that under the fountain is thousands of years of archeology, and many years ago it was discovered.  At the time the government told workers to fill it in and forget about it, as this was the only road in and out of Side.  You could believe this, because right beyond the city's entrance is a beautiful old amphitheater.

We spent a day at Small Beach and an evening at the Temple of Apollo & Athena while we were in Side.

Kizkelasi, Turkey to Side, Turkey

Entrance to Side

Us @ Small Beach, Side

Kizkelasi, Turkey

Amy on Maiden's Island, Kizkelasi

Korkyos Castle from Maiden's Castle, Kizkelasi

Kizkelasi from Maiden's Island

Maiden's Island, Kizkelasi

What I remember (in 2024)

I don't know why we picked Kizkelasi as a spot to spend a couple of nights, except for the fact that it is right on the coast.  We picked a hotel that gave us a oceanfront balcony.  It took a while to get him to let us stay.  Apparently there is a US military base close by, and this is a town they like to come and let their hair down.  Making it trouble for some proprietors.

We found out the first night, that they like to hang out at the beach bar right under our balcony.  Fortunately the electricity cut in and out all night, and put an end to the night relatively early.

When we weren't on the beach we took the boat ride out to Maiden's Castle (150 years off the beach) and over to Korkyos Castle, at the east end of the beach.

Konya, Turkey to Kizkelasi, Turkey

Us from our hotel balcony, Kizkelasi

Maiden's Castle, Kizkelasi

Konya, Turkey

What I remember (in 2024)

I really remember nothing from Konya, but what I have highlighted in my Lonely Planet is that we stayed in Mavi Kosk Oteli, right in the middle of the city.

Right near the hotel was the Mevlana Museum, home of the whirling dervishes, and the Selimiye Camii, which we probably would have gone to on the day of our arrival.  The next day, it seems we walked up to Alaettin Tepesi and went to Alaettin Camii, the Villa of Sultan Kilic Arslan, and the Karatay Museum.

I also have that one night we ate at Sifa Lokantasi.

Goreme, Turkey to Konya, Turkey

Goreme, Turkey

Amy & I, Open Air Museum, Goreme, Turkey

Open Air Museum, Goreme, Turkey

Open Air Museum, Goreme, Turkey

Open Air Museum, Goreme, Turkey

Me, Open Air Museum, Goreme, Turkey

What I remember (in 2024)

We stayed in a youth hostel, that had a pool.  This was always great at the end of a days' wandering, but that pool was freezing.  Thank God it was warm outside.

Just walking around Goreme was a sight in itself.  With the honeycombed rocks, that were at one time homes, and the ability to find places up high that would give you a great panoramic view of Cappadocia.  We had to settle for this as we didn't have the money to do a popular balloon tour.

Our last day, we walked a mile east of town to the Open Air Museum.  The photos above highlight some of the great wonders of this place.

Goreme, Turkey

Underground City, Derinkuyu, Turkey

Selime, Turkey

Ilhara Valley, Turkey

Agzikalahan Caravanserai, near Aksaray, Turkey

What I remember (in 2024)

A & I took a tour to an underground city with Turtle Tours, which saw us makes stops in Uchisar, then on to Derinkuyu to tour an underground city.  A stop in then in the Ilhara Gorge to enjoy a green oasis in the desert.  On to Aksaray to see an old market place, Agzikalahan Caravanserai.  The final stop was Cavusin, just north of Goreme.

Ankara, Turkey to Goreme, Turkey

Our Hostel (with pool), Goreme, Turkey

Us, Sunset in Goreme, Turkey

Ankara, Turkey

Ankara, Turkey

Anit Kabir aka Ataturk's Mausoleum, Ankara, Turkey

Anit Kabir, Ankara, Turkey

What I remember (in 2024)

We only had 2 nights in Ankara.  Big city, which we weren't too impressed with.  

Came in to the Bus Station and headed for Otel 2000 for our accommodations.  Not great, but about $12 a night.  

We visited Anit Kabir, the massive mausoleum for Ataturk, located in the park built around it.  We also visited the Ethnography Museum and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. 

We also had a night at the movies, sssing Pearl Harbour.  The movie was in English with Turkish subtitles, meaning we weren't sure what the Japanese soldiers were saying.  The theatre was packed, and they had an intermission.  During which it felt like every person went out to a 20 man balcony to smoke.  It was great how A & I reacted differently to different scenes to the Turks, must have translated differently.