You may have heard me refer to the Blue Blue Mediterranean before – because I cannot overstate just how blue the water WAS in the Turkish Mediterranean. And that’s the other thing…
Is it O.K. for me to claim part of the Mediterranean on Turkey’s behalf?
Well I did jump from a Turkish boat into the Mediterranean Sea within Turkish national waters – I guess that makes it the Turkish Mediterranean? That’s settled then.
Here are some photos to back up my claims.
He is alive I assure you.
[pinit]
These photos were taken on the Kekova boat trip from Kas in Southern Turkey. A boat journey is one of our favourite ways of exploring, followed closely by a day long BICYCLE TOUR.
In season the boats leave from Kas Harbour, but in Autumn the winds were too strong, so the company’s bus dropped us at Ücagiz where we joined the boat.
There were a gazillion boat companies offering boat tours of Kekova from Kas. We chose one that claimed to have bigger glass panels in the bottom of the boat for viewing of the sunken ruins. That was their selling point. On the day however due to the low numbers a couple of tours combined and we all ended up on another boat – one that had the smaller viewing panels. Sigh.
The underwater ruins were the draw-card and to be honest on the day we did not see many along the outside of Kekova Island. The boat travelled slowly over the area of the ruins but for some reason, maybe tides or water quality, it just was not what we were expecting. We did see a few pieces of pottery but that was all. Maybe we were too close and so could not recognize the larger columns and walls for what they were. On the plus side, the Lycian ruins in the nearby pocket-sized bay were fantastic.
My swimming is hardly of Olympic standard and the sight of me gallantly side stroking to shore while holding my sandals overhead would no doubt have provided free amusement. Our energetic guide swam ashore first to show us just how easy it was. There’s always one.
Once on shore, nimbly climbing over sharp rocks in our sandals, we were impressed by the everyday ancient structures still standing and the few of us spread out and explored happily. The poor viewing of the main sunken ruins was easily forgotten when a walk along the rocks by the water’s edge revealed buildings in the water beneath. Ah, the sweet feeling of the discovery! I kindly gave my sandals to my husband for the swim back.
The climb to the Fortress above Kaleköy (Simena) was well worth it. If you are on a boat tour you will be given the choice – do it. The tiniest ancient theatre at the summit was hewn on-site from the natural rock and the acoustics were of course amazing. I have read differing reports of how many people the theatre holds, 300, 200 – I would think 100 at most. From the summit you could easily see Lycian tombs scattered all over the hillside and in the water below. The fortress was constructed in layers – Crusader, Byzantine and Roman, we saw an ancient storage hole and strange circular markings on the ground. I suggest taking a guide with you – ours told us amazing things about the fortress, most of which I have forgotten.
Lunch was superb. You can see where my priorities lay in that I had no trouble at all recalling the food. The sea air always makes me ravenous and I attacked lunch with gusto. Char-grilled Chicken kebabs from the BBQ on the back deck were served in the main cabin – and the salads! Red rice/Pasta/Tomato Coleslaw/cold Stuffed Peppers and the piece de resistance – a wondrous cold Potato Chip salad with yoghurt herb dressing. I have never seen potato chips used so adventurously as in Turkey!
Inside a Cave. In the below photo, all the people in the shadow are on the boat deck which was expertly manouevred into a cave.
In another cove we were invited to swim ashore for an unusual experience, hmm.. once again our guide preceded us and was standing in the shallow water holding a bucket – we guessed the water would be either hot or cold – it was cold from an underwater spring – dribbled slowly over our heads! Banana boating behind a ski boat was available in a larger bay(extra charge) and involved lots of laughing and screaming. I can imagine in season with lots of boats on the water that would be a tad annoying – those who did it had a ball.
The best part of the Experience for me was definitely swimming in the blue blue Turkish Mediterranean.
Even though we were at the end of the tourist season the water was pleasantly warm and in some bays there was just our boat.
When our boat arrived at the bay with the ruins there was already another boat inside which meant we had a long way to swim. Swim shoes that you could also use on shore would be great.
Colours have not been altered in the above photographs. The different blues are due to two different cameras being used, the height of the shot and depth of the water.
Join Nancie at Budget Travellers Sandbox for TRAVEL PHOTO THURSDAY
Queensland Road trip to Misty Paluma Range
You’re right about the blue colour – absolutely sublime. Between the swimming , the climb and the lunch it looks like it was an amazing day. I’m a tad jealous.
Ha Ha – you do even more exciting things Leigh – it was good though 🙂
What an incredible trip! I bet the underwater ruins were something to see. I did wonder if that man was alive. Glad you clarified. 🙂
It was great, thanks for commenting Tonya. I guess he was trying to see just how blue the water was 🙂
Great photos 🙂
Thanks Lily, your comments are appreciated. 🙂
The water really is so incredibly blue in Turkey. We didn’t do this tour whilst we were in Kas but we did drive into Ücagiz and couldn’t get over the number of boats for hire. It must be crazy in summer with everyone trying to see the ruins!
When I was young I always thought of the Greek Islands when I thought of the Mediterranean, but there are so many countries that no doubt think of it as “theirs”. At the moment I think of it as Turkish. 🙂
Wow, it is definitely blue, blue, blue, Jan! I’m drooling over your photos, drinking in the calming blue.
I’ve been thinking of redecorating and blue, a color I never even considered, keeps popping up for me. Wonder if that’s a hint?
Anyway, thanks for showing me the lovely, calming blue of the Turkish (yes, you are right!) Mediterranean (and helping me decide on blue for my new color scheme).
Wow, I would like to see your home decorated in blue, you will have to do a post when it is done!
I’m glad that you clarified you didn’t alter the photos. The water and sky are so brilliantly blue. Getting to see underwater ruins would be so interesting. I somehow didn’t realize that they had them there. And by the way, I’d be bringing sandals along on my swim, too. I don’t like sharp rocks digging into my feet.
I thought I had better clarify that Michele, because the water is so blue it doesn’t look real, does it!
yes it is very blue…wish some of the boats were still available when I was there in November..but I’m sure the water was probably colder than your images 🙂
Hi Noel, You would think that someone would want to take you out for the day, the water would have been fine for a quick dip 🙂 By the way I have been dreaming about the destinations on your Valentine Day blog post and shared it (and bookmarked it for when I need to dream).
These photos are gorgeous, and what would I do to jump in that blue, blue water filled with sunshine right now!:-)
Hi Jess, I live in North Queensland where we have lots of beaches (fantastic) and islands (superb), but our water is not blue blue, like the Turkish Med. I wish I was there right now too 🙂
You’re so right, Jan – the water is BLUE BLUE BLUE. It looks amazing. And the BBQ lunch doesn’t look bad, either!
Blue reminds me of Essaouira in Morocco and the Turkish Mediterranean. Such a beautiful colour. In the Mediterranean Sea the water was so blue you could not see through it. 🙂
Wow! Those blue waters are enough to make me want to stay there for weeks. I can look at that for days. You had such great activities planned out. Had to laugh at that man floating. Beautiful photos!
I love the word Blue, it holds so many good memories for me Mary. 🙂
What a fantastic trip. I love the colour of the sea. I would have been the one they all laughed at trying to swim ashore with my sandals atop my head and nearly submersing in the process! The ruins look fascinating – it all does. Time to plan a trip methinks 🙂
I love boat trips in general, but this one was pretty amazing. So glad we did it Jo. 🙂
LOL to “My swimming is hardly of Olympic standard and the sight of me gallantly side stroking to shore while holding my sandals overhead would no doubt have provided free amusement.” That is so me, Jan! Wow, and I thought Lake Tahoe had blue water. Loved this post! 🙂
Thanks Mike – I do love blue water. I haven’t seen Lake Tahoe, but Lake Tekapo in the south of New Zealand is an eerily blue lake.
I did this boat trip with my daughter many years ago; we loved it! I especially liked the underwater ruins and she loved swimming in the lovely warm water. Turkey is so full of interesting things, it would take years to see and do it all…
I know Sophie. Turkey is a country that keeps on delivering 🙂
I’ve always wanted to take a gulet cruise through the Turkish turquoise coast! so beautiful.
-Maria Alexandra
We did a day cruise. The time of year we were there was too windy for the normally 3-4 day Gulet cruises, although some still operated they had to hide in bays a lot. You can even do a yoga retreat on a Gulet!
gosh the water looks so blue! Stunning, you were so brave to swim to shore…but the tour and the food {yummy} sounds so worth it.
The glass panel boat sounds incredible, maybe another time?
I am not that brave Lisa. I am sure Marty would have helped me if I looked like sinking 🙂
I loved Kekova. We didn’t snorkel, because we were there so late in the afternoon, but we were on a small skiff and looked down at all the ruins under water. It was soooo peaceful!
I am glad you got a good viewing of the ruins Corinne.