On Monday, we took a touring day off. So we relaxed for the morning and did some research about onward travels. We have to be out of our current location on Wednesday November 4th and we don't yet know where we're going. More about that further down!
After lunch, we went out for a walk. There are still quite a few back roads around here that are worth exploring... gravel roads that we can walk to right from our location here in the village.
We did 10 kms (6.2 miles) and only saw one car the whole time!
This lizard blends in well with the rocks.
The one road we were on ended in this big flat area.
There were a couple of small piles of gravel, but no machinery or equipment, and no signs. And very little garbage. Strange. Would have made a good boondocking spot! We actually see a lot of spots that would be good for a free overnight in an RV. We think Turkey would be a great country to visit in a motorhome!
Walking along the road.
You can just make out a Turkish flag on top of the hill.
We want to hike up there another day.
Scenery along the way.
In the middle of the road we came across this strange creature. He was frozen in position... not moving, even when we tried to get him to move by tossing a little pebble his way. The one car we had seen had just driven past a couple of minutes earlier, so we thought maybe he was injured. I found a long stick and managed to get him to move onto the stick and I placed him in the ditch at the side of the road.
A common chameleon. This one was frozen in this position.
They have very strange feet!
Doing the research later, we figured out that it was a common chameleon. And it seems they really are quite common in this area. They do not live in North or South America, so we have never seen one in the wild. Apparently they are very docile, and sometimes don't mind being picked up. They can bite, but they are not poisonous.
So we have to be out of here on November 4th. Where to go next?
Well, we want to see Cappadocia. It's a popular tourist area, and normally we try to avoid those areas but it's the end of the season and there aren't many tourists around to begin with. So it's probably the perfect time to go. But, it's also a bit out of the way.
It's an 840 km (521 mile) drive from our current location.
840 kms (521 miles) one way from here to Cappadocia.
And, there are a lot of things worth seeing along the way. But that brings us to a problem, because winter is coming. Turkey gets decent winter weather along the southern coast, but inland is further north and above 1,000 meters (3,300') in altitude. Cappadocia is known to get below freezing temperatures and dustings of snow starting in mid November.
So if we want to see Cappadocia we would have to head that way as soon as we leave here and not do too much sightseeing along the way. From there we would head back south to Mersin and then stay mostly on the coast with a few day trips inland as we head east back to this area over the next two months.
But, Cappadocia is also more expensive because it's a touristy place. It will still be there if and when we return in a motorhome some day. That would certainly be the cheapest way to see the area.
Our other option is to head inland to Pamukkale (another place we want to see) and then west to the coast near Izmir and the ruins of Ephesus. Much less driving, and less chance of bad weather. Then back along the coast to this area and then east along the coast as far as time allows before we have to return the rental in early January.
So, we will decide over the next day or two because we will need to book accommodation.
Today we are doing a day trip down the next peninsula. The road is supposed to have lots of great scenery.
We walked 10 kms (6.2 miles) yesterday.
Total distance walked in Turkey 99 kms (61 miles).
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We loved Pamukkale and stayed there a couple of nights as we like to travel slowly. That said, we actually wished we only stayed for a single night. A friend suggested we arrive early in the day, enjoy the hike up the hill and a 'swim with the gods' and head out of town that same day. We thought that sounded too rushed, but realized later that we would have preferred that option.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you've already reviewed a LOT of places and itineraries, but if you want, I can dig up our itinerary and share it with you. We were there for 3 months in 2010. I was blogging back then as well, but stopped abruptly while still in Turkey, so the blog ended in Kas. You might find some inspiration though from the places we visited before I stopped writing. http://thaneandmelissa.blogspot.com/
Thanks for sharing your travels!
Thank you for the link to your blog, Thane actually left a message a few days ago with the link as well so we have had a look at it and have got a few ideas from it, thank you once again.
DeleteWe will keep in mind what you had to say about Pamukkale, so that we plan a short stay there maybe one night and if we feel different about the area then we can add on more time afterwards.
We have decided not to do Cappadocia on this trip and instead will return to Turkey sometime in the near future when we have our RV and better weather, that way we won't feel rushed about our visit there. We are really looking forward to seeing more of what Turkey has to offer and we are sure it is not going to let us down.
Oh, by all means see Ephesus and Cappadocia! Also Pamukkale - I know you like to keep costs down, but who knows for sure when you'll be back in that area!
ReplyDeleteWe will most likely be going to both Ephesus and Pamukkale but we have decided not to go to Cappadocia on this trip. Our reason being that it is going to be getting cold up there by the time we arrive and there is a lot to do in the area but we can't find affordable accommodation that will suit our needs so it would then mean staying somewhere more expensive and buying meals which in turn would mean a much shorter visit. We would rather come back in the next year or two with our new RV when the weather is better and feel free to just take our time and really explore the area properly.
DeleteMy 2 cents do not miss Cappadocia and while you're in the area there is an underground city where as many as 30,000 early Christians hid from the Romans. A must tour and see.
ReplyDeleteYour two cents does mean something to us but it isn't going to happen on this trip. We are going to return to Turkey sometime in the next year or two in our new motorhome when the weather will be much nicer. This way we will be able to stay for a much longer length of time and really explore the area without it cutting into our budget like it would if we were to go now and only stay for a couple of days. We know that we could easily stay in the Cappadocia area for two weeks and still find more stuff to do, also the Ihlara Valley is close by with lots of hiking opportunities. :-)
DeleteTake a look at Konya, interesting place, not such a long drive and very few tourists. Good place to have a Turkish bath.
ReplyDeleteIzmir we liked too, a commercial city offering a look at the real Turkey. Ephesus doesn't disappoint neither does the area it is in. Pamukkale is a tourist trap but spectacular for all that.
From where we are it is still a long drive, I think that Konya will have to wait until we return again in the next year or two with our motorhome. The weather at this time of year is just going to be the best time to visit and we really want to be able to enjoy our time visiting places like Konya and Cappadocia and not feel rushed which is how we would feel if we were to head there on this trip. When we have the motorhome we will be able to explore at our leisure.
DeleteAt this particular time with COVID around we are not really wanting to hit big cities like Istanbul or Izmir, we may change our minds about Izmir as we get closer to the city but unfortunately, I think we will be passing it by, preferring to stay in smaller places.
Fingers crossed we will make it to Ephesus, it is definitely somewhere that we both want to see and explore.
I experienced 30 below faherenheit in eastern Turkey in January. It can get really cold.
ReplyDeleteYep, we are very aware of that and that is why we aren't wanting to be anywhere in that area or too much north of the coast by the middle of next month and on into January when we will be leaving.
DeleteBTW if you get a chance to try Ankara Cola if they still sell it, dont't. vile stuff
ReplyDeleteNo worries there, neither one of us drink any kind of cola drink!
DeleteWhat is "Ankara Cola". I did an internet search and didn't fine any info. Lots of stuff about Coke Cola in Turkey though.
DeleteI couldn't find reference to it either, although I did find one called Cola Turka.
Delete