Oludeniz

We are on the way to start our big trek on the Lycian Way / Likya Yolu. Today we made it to Oludeniz, just over a big hill from Fethiye.

But before I get into the glories of  Oludeniz just an observation. They sure do smoke a lot here. I've seen so many people, young and old puffing away like chimneys. I did a bit of digging and a total of 31.2% of adults (approximately 16 million) aged 15 years and older are smokers, only 15% of smokers are women. So then I got to thinking how expensive cigarettes are in NZ, (approx $35 a pack) how can Turkish people afford to smoke?  Well you won't believe this,   it's 56 Turkish Lira for a pack 20 Marlborough, so about $2.90 NZ!  No wonder the streets are littered with icky cigarette buts and the out doors  has a whiff of ciggy pong. You don't see anyone vaping here, the only vapers are Poms on holiday necking their larger's🤭

Right back to lovely Oludeniz. You can see why they call it the turquoise coast, the water is so blue. 

Travellers discovered the area in the sixties when there were just basic camping sites, a spectacular beach and a hidden lagoon. Hippies and backpackers soon followed as the word got out and now it's a full on resort with beach bars and tourist touts. When you see signs for 'full English breakfast' you know it's not good. The beach was beautiful and quiet today. It's  pre season and the beach bars and cabanna's are busy getting spruced up for May when the season starts. Glad we saw it uncrowded and peaceful. Just the paragliders gently floating down from the massive cliffs above the bay.

Ölüdeniz, means “dead sea”  named for the  salty calm waters of the hidden lagoon. The first settlers in the bay are likely to have been Christians who set up churches in the area during the time of St. Paul, around 50 AD. There was once a number of churches in the region, but earthquakes, sea bandits and development left most of the churches in ruins or destroyed.

As the years went by, trading ships passed through the bay, and the lagoon became awash pirates. It's now a protected National Park. No pirates anymore but watched as a wild boar came out of the forest and trotted along the beach.

A prime example of nature competing / coexisting with the tourist economy that provides vital income to the locals nine months of the year.