Datca Peninsula

We relaxed in Marmaris for a few days, enjoying the pool at the Marina and visiting the town with Chris.

May 26/08

We took a drive along the Hisaronu Peninsula, a narrow mountainous finger of land that stretches west of Marmaris on the southern arm of the Datca Peninsula. The road twisted its way through pine clad hills climbing high above the town of Icmeler.

Icmeler

is 8 kms west, around the bay, and a touristy beach suburb of Marmaris. We strolled around Icmeler, busy with vacationers lazing under beach umbrellas.

Continuing our drive along the ridge of the Peninsula, detouring around goats and donkeys, the rugged steep rocky terrain rewarded us with aerial views of the brush covered valleys and clear blue-water inaccessible coves.

Ciftlik

We ascended to the seaside town of Ciftlik, where we walked along the beach and ate ice cream. A very pretty little community.

We returned to Marmaris for another day of relaxing.

Datca Peninsula

We spent the day driving the long narrow finger which lies where the Mediterranean and Aegean Sea meet. The roads, carved into the side of steep barren cliffs, were twisty and so narrow that at points we had to sound our horn around the blind corners because there was no where to go if you met an opposing vehicle.

The western half of the peninsula was rugged and rocky, dotted with olive trees and almond groves. Definitely a rural farming community, with donkeys still used for the majority of the work.

High above the winding ribbon of road far below, were glimpses of tranquil anchorages in secluded coves and we looked forward to the days that we could spend relaxing in these anchorages.

Old Fashioned Windmills

Silhouetting the roadside were old stone windmills, surrounded by bougainvillea gardens. The grounds and the windmills were deserted.

	Along the 85 mile drive we stopped at a few villages along the way, most still unaffected by tourism and maintaining much of their traditional way of living
			A lonely donkey tethered in the hot sun was happy to see us	Knidos port marked the end of the drive. Ruins from 360 BC are scattered around a yacht filled bay

Back in Marmaris, we spent a few days relaxing before driving east toward the Lycian Coast to explore the tombs.