Eastern Mediterranean
Camping Akcakil
From the far east we came down to the Mediterranean coast and to Camping Ackakil near Tasucu. This campsite is nicely located in a small bay, it has a restaurant and wifi and toilets and showers although not enough of these. It is very popular with convoys of motorhomers, we have seen a Swiss group and a Dutch group here and we were going to leave after a day but found ourselves hemmed in by the Dutch (it's a small site and the owners tend to not turn anyone away) but there were worse places to be stuck and we took the opportunity to get some washing done and talk to John and Sue Hughes from Ely (and if you are that far from home this meant that they were close neighbours to us here in UK) who told us about their trip to Syria and Jordan. This campsite had free wifi and a restaurant. The loos and showers were a bit limited but no worse than any others in Turkey. If you read the Caravan Club books then the description would read " facilities could be stretched in high season".
Mamure castle
From Akcakil we travelled to Mamure Castle on Sunday, along a coast road of highly variable quality – very bendy, very hilly, rather battered and sometimes non-existent where they were doing roadworks. Apparently a Dutchman had told Sue that the road was “not good” – a bit of an understatement. En route we shopped at a roadside stall and bought a big batch of cherries, apricots and green plums for €2. At Mamure we stopped at Camping Paradise – where the Akcakil Dutch had camped previously. Nice location near the beach and adequate facilities, but best of all it was right next to the very fine old Castle (3YTL entry fee) which had terrapins in the moat.
Mamure terrapins
The castle is thought to have been built in 12 th century but it is possible that it was built on top of a 3rd century Roman castle. There are 36 towers and you can scamper over large parts as the UK " elf & safety" brigade has not reached here. In fact I think "elf & safety" does not do abroad at all.
Camping Osay
The next day we had intended to look at the nearby Anamorium (more ruins) but next day was Monday – we seem to be bugged by this problem wherever we go – so we carried on along the coast road which was much better quality now. Once we got close to Alanya we entered ‘Tourist Turkey’ with almost continuous hotel/apartment blocks, shops, outlets and emporia selling – especially – jewellery. Not nice to look at or be in, though we did find a Carrefour Express with an ATM which was handy to stock up with food and cash. We were fortunate to find Camping Osay near Manavgat – a little haven of quiet and peace but only accessible from the other direction (due to a big median strip between the carriageways).
The good thing about our pitch was that we were a short distance from a Spectacled Bulbul’s nest and we had an opportunity to take plenty of photos of this bird which does not live in Europe at all, so as keen birdwatchers we did get a bit overexcited.
The good thing about our pitch was that we were a short distance from a Spectacled Bulbul’s nest and we had an opportunity to take plenty of photos of this bird which does not live in Europe at all, so as keen birdwatchers we did get a bit overexcited.
Spectacled bulbul
Click here for Aspendos the most splendid amphitheatre in Asia said Attaturk.
