What I Didn’t Know I Didn’t Know

I’ve been meaning to do this for a while actually, and by a while I mean about the past nine months. Work appraisals always flagged up my tendency to put things off until I was really in the mood to do them, which I always rebuffed (when I got round to it) but in all truthfulness it’s a pretty accurate description of me.

School reports mirrored those of my fathers almost identically in saying if I spent as much time applying myself to studying as I did to making people laugh I’d be a genius (ish) but hey you can’t be all things to all people.

Sunset Restaurant

sunset restaurant sunset
Please click image to enlarge slider Main Meals, Famous Khachapuri Georgian Pie Alcohol, Soft Drinks & Coffee Indescribable view of Bacardi Bay and Rhodes between the mountains Sounds of Nature The Sunset Restaurant is a small mountaintop restaurant, it looks over the Datca Peninsula (aka Reşadiye Peninsula) and Rhodes Island in the far distance. It is
. . .

Jazz Bar

jazz bar exterior
Please click image to enlarge slider Complimentary snacks and fruits Alcohol, Soft Drinks & Coffee Gulpinar Street Live music every night from 10pm The one and only premier live music venue in Dalyan! Every night is live music night at this venue with regular and guest performers ready to spoil you with fantastic sets full
. . .

Oskay Hotel

Please click image to enlarge slider Breakfast Included, Evening Meal Optional 13 rooms Shared pool Gorgeous intimate boutique hotel in the centre of town situated opposite the river. Situated opposite the river just behind the Jazz Bar in Gulpinar Street, Oskay Boutique Hotel is a charming place for visitors wanting a relaxing break in Dalyan.
. . .

Violets Place

violet garden
Please click image to enlarge slider 2 guests 1 bedroom 1 bathroom Shared pool Beautiful 1 bed apartment with gorgeous shared pool and large gardens situated a short walk from the town centre Dalyan. 1 bedroom ground floor apartment with shared garden and private terrace, guests are limited to 2. Located on a quiet road,
. . .

Yaz Apartment

yaz living room
Please click image to enlarge slider 2 guests 1 bedroom 1 bathroom Shared pool Stunning 1 bed boutique apartment with gorgeous shared pool situated in central Dalyan. Yaz apartment is newly beautifully re-furnished 1 bedroom apartment ideal for couples. The apartment is styled with a modern touch that is located on the first floor. The
. . .

Yeners Place

yeners exterior
Please click image to enlarge slider Snacks & Main Meals,  Alcohol, Soft Drinks & Coffee Main Street Background Music, Livelier Later On Conveniently placed towards the beginning of bar street, Yeners Place is a great venue for something to eat as a starting point or your place to remain for your whole night. Indoor and
. . .

Heybe Restaurant

heybe exterior
Please click image to enlarge slider Breakfasts, Snacks, Main Meals,  Alcohol, Soft Drinks & Coffee Gulpinar Street Soft Background Music, Televised Major Sports Events A few doors up from the street entrance to Palmyra Hotel is the lovely Heybe Restaurant. Notorious for its diversity from the usual dishes, Heybe offers a wide menu freshly cooked
. . .

Dalyan Weather

Dalyan is beautiful in every season - Dalyan Weather Information - Dalyan Weather Statistics - Dalyan Live Weather

Ready to dive into this limitless treasure? The Western Mediterranean Region that houses Dalyan is just like a paradise on earth with its long fine sandy beaches and picturesque ancient ruins.

Dalyan has a Mediterranean climate with plenty of sunshine, mild temperatures and a limited amount of rainfall. The climate of the Aegean is superbly mild. Summers are hot but rarely exceed 40°C, even during July and August. Spring and autumn are sunny, with blue skies and daily temperatures averaging in the high teens. Winters are mild with occasional precipitation.

Rendezvous Bistro

rendezvous signage
Please click image to enlarge slider Main Meals, Desserts Alcohol, Soft Drinks & Coffee Main Street Soft Background Music Newly established in 2017, Rendezvous offers a totally unique menu and a wonderful atmosphere. With a well thought out wine list, themed cuisine nights throughout the week including a full traditional roast on a Sunday, this
. . .

Temsi Restaurant

temsi exterior
Please click image to enlarge slider Main Meals, Desserts Alcohol, Soft Drinks & Coffee Main Street Soft Background Music, Occasional Live Music Located in the centre of town just off the main bar street, Temsi has quickly established itself as one of the must visit restaurants in Dalyan. Equipped for around 30 covers, this restaurant
. . .

Soul Kitchen

soul kitchen dalyan outside seating
Please click image to enlarge slider Main Meals, Snacks & Desserts Alcohol, Soft Drinks & Coffee River View Soft Background Music The perfect place for a light bite, Soul Kitchen is a small family run business that shines due to it’s presentation skills and attention to detail. Perfectly situated opposite Jazz Bar with a stunning
. . .

What I Saw In My Reflection

Lisinia project - burdur lavender fields - Saggalassos - 62

As an avid reader and someone who thoroughly enjoys driving, longer car journeys to me either as passenger or vehicle controller are a real source of excitement as they provide a great opportunity to do these activities for a substantial period of time (try not to mix the two though that doesn’t tend to end well ;)) So when the VA HQ gang decided to head out on a road trip and trial the ideas we had for Reflections of Taurus I charged my iPad and got ready for some serious novel indulgence as we knew the initial leg of the journey would take us around three hours to complete.

Do You Understand Me?

The importance of language

Reading, writing and the importance of language is something that is attempted to be taught to most of us from a very young age. I’m one of life’s readers – give me a good book and you won’t see me for days. My sister on the other hand, is incredibly intelligent but has probably voluntarily read about three books in her lifetime. Some grasp it straight away, others take somewhat longer, some thoroughly enjoy the challenges of learning new words and how to use them both in the spoken and written form, others view it as nothing but necessity. Neither viewpoint can be seen as superior to the other as after all, the right to opinion is something that has been fought for over centuries.

THE KÖYCEĞiZ -DALYAN NATURAL RESERVE MAGNIFICENT ROUTES FOR NATURE AND HISTORY LOVERS

panaromic view from radar hill

The Dalyan Radar Hill Walk:

The walking route in Dalyan starting from Dalyan – Iztuzu Beach Road and ending nine kilometres away at Radar Hill is a walk which supplies breath-taking views. You will reach one of the four lakes of Dalyan delta, the Sulungur Lake after a short hike on the rocks around a small canyon when you turn to the west at the water tank after passing Gökbel, which is on the 7th kilometre of the Dalyan-Iztuzu road.

THE CAUNOS GUIDE

view of river from antique theatre

Caunos is not a large archaeological site, despite its being mentioned in ancient sources, but at its heart it shelters many mysteries that have been revealed to some archaeologists for the very first time. Every stone visible amongst the thick undergrowth and the remains of every structure tell the story of past ages to those who wish to understand and be acquainted with it. From the mountains to the Delta extending out to the sea, this panorama of natural history unfolding is one from which dreams are made.

HISTORY OF CAUNOS (BIRTH, RISE, ABANDONMENT)

The Sacred Chamber of Aphrodite – Euploia

The most ancient find of the Caunos excavations is a piece of a protogeomeric amphora dating back to the 9th century BC. In addition to this, the geometrical style designs of ceramic vessels patterned with concentric circles drawn between lateral bands or with semicircular motifs, were products of local pottery workshops and Herodotus’ comment that the people of Caunos were the natives of the land, brings to mind a settlement that dates far back. However, no architectural objects that can be dated to before the 4th century BC have been found in Caunos as yet.

THE MOST ANCIENT SETTLEMENT IN THE KÖYCEĞIZ-DALYAN ECOSYSTEM IS THE CAUNOS ANTIQUE CITY

Caunos Ancient City - Dalyan - Koycegiz Lake

While giving important information of Caria’s history and Caria’s cities during the Persian Wars, Herodotus, whose father was a Carian from one of the prominent families of Halicarnassus, and whose mother was a Cretan, speaks of Caunos saying: “Harpagos (Persian general), who brought Ionia to heel, marched against the Carians, Caunosians and Lycians.”This passage relates to the Persian invasion of Western Anatolia in 546 BC, with Caunos and its adjoining cities highlighting it as an independent region with a different language and different customs. In Chapter 1.72 of his History, Herodotus elucidates : “I believe that the inhabitants of Caunos are natives of the region. But they say that they came from Crete. Carian influence is traceable in their language, or vice versa…”

COUNTRY OF NOBLE SUMMITS CARIA AND CARIANS

rock tombs view with river

In the Anatolia of antiquity many people some of whom were natives of the land and others immigrants, lived in separate regions defined by geographical boundaries Historians and geographers of the First Era used to give the names of places according to their inhabitants. That is why Caria means Land of the Karians.” This country of mountains, highlands and plateaus cover the south of today’s Aydın, the southwest of Denizli and the entirety of Mugla (apart from Fethiye). This expansive area encompasses the lace-like Aegean coast, bays, peninsulas and islands.

THE COUNTRY AT THE HEART OF THE SEA

dalyan boats

Cevat Şakir Kabaagaçlı, known by his penname, “the Fisherman of Halicarnassus”, writes about the “Sea Islands” as follows: The Aegean coast is a place where bays and headlands embrace the sea… Noble peaks and great headlands fall into the sea, rise out to become islands. These headlands that dip in and out of the sea form a series of islands, just like a line of pearls.”

Blue Crabs of Dalyan: Life Cycle and Hunting Regulations

blue crabs in dalyan

The blue crabs that were brought to Turkey for their economic value and released in lagoons in the Northern Aegean and the Saros Bay reproduced and multiplied. However, probably because they were not able to find the natural conditions they required in this region, they migrated to the Southern Aegean and inhabited the Güllük and Dalyan lagoons, extending right over to the Karadeniz fish trap in Taşucu. Today a large number of blue crabs are hunted in the Dalyan delta and are served by restaurants with various sauces and cooking methods.

Dalyan Beach Sea Turtles Research, Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (DEKAMER)

Dalyan Turtle Hospital - caretta caretta, iztuzu, sea turtle,

Sea turtles are one of the oldest species alive on the planet earth. It is essential that they are protected and treated in case of injury in order to ensure the continuation of the species. In America, Mexico and Brazil, where the beaches are 40-50 km long, there are sea turtle research and treatment centres at almost all of the beaches. In the Mediterranean, there are Sea Turtle treatment centres in Italy, Greece and Israel. The fact that such a centre was founded in Dalyan, at Iztuzu Beach, and was chosen the “Best Open Air Zone of Europe’’, is significant in terms of promoting Turkey’s reputation.

The Life Cycle of the Caretta Carettas

The Life Cycle of Caretta Caretta Sea Turtles

Sea turtles have been living on earth for 110 million years, the human being, however, for only 2-3 million years. Of the eight species living in the world’s seas, five are present in the Mediterranean. It is estimated that only a limited number of individuals of the Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), the Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and the Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) species enter the Mediterranean for nutrition or by mistake.

FLORA AND FAUNA STORIES

Flora and Fauna of Dalyan

Holy Trees of the Gods and Goddesses
Most of the flora and fauna specimens you will come across when hiking in the Köycegiz-Dalyan Special Natural Reserve hold some very old secrets that they will whisper into the ears of those who wish to know and understand. Some plants were used medicinal in ancient times and even today by those who are practitioners of alternative medicine. Some of this plant life provides delicious food and spices enjoyed by the locals, while some others warn you that they are poisonous through their shiny colours.

THE KÖYCEĞIZ-DALYAN NATURAL RESERVE

Dalyan-Koycegiz natural reserve

The well-preserved architectural texture of the Dalyan and Köycegiz District centre, allows for a building plan in harmony with the natural and historical environment and is a successful application for the Special Environmental Preservation Corporation. Thanks to the wastewater purification plants of the two settlements, the aquatic ecosystem is protected from domestic waste pollution to a significant degree.

The Last Migration Waves and the Forming of Dalyan’s Core Population

migration

When the Ottoman Empire, despite its many victories was ultimately defeated in the first World War, the Moudros Treaty was unwillingly signed and the whole of Mugla Province was left to the Italian forces. Interested in the rich chrome deposits in Köycegiz and its vicinity, the Italians placed a small garrison in Köycegiz to control the region. Although in occupation, the Italians treated the locals and Ottoman officers fairly, (even turning a blind eye to the organisation of the National Forces), and quietly after the War of Independence.