Cleopatra’s Wedding Gift
by Lena
ALANYA ~ TURKEY
After the death of Julius Caesar, the Romans who ruled these regions, handed over the Kilikia region to Antonius.
While the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra VII , known for her captivating beauty, was touring in the Mediterranean, she met Antonius.
After falling in love, Cleopatra and Mark Antony got married.
Antonius eager to impress his new bride, who has everything any woman can wish for and who is incredibly hard to please,
chose the city then known as Korakesion, now Alanya, as a wedding gift to his beloved Cleopatra…
If you look around travel blogs, tour packages, trip advisor and other travel materials, you will rarely see pictures and stories of stunning Alanya.
Most travelers and tourists usually choose Istanbul, Cappadocia, Mira & Pamukkale, when visiting Turkey.
All the above places are remarkable, but none of them hold 1 million years old caves with natural blue water
Dim Cave – 1 million years old
Damlatas Cave ~ The stalactite and stalagmites inside the cave were formed in 15 thousand years.
Gorgeous Taurus Mountains
View from my balcony at VILLA TURKA
Taurus Mountains from Alanya Castle
Historic Castle with breathtaking views
Byzantine Church. Inside Alanya Castle. Citadel Of Alanya Build in 1226
View of Cleopatra Beach from Alanya Castle
View of Cilvarda Bay from Alanya Castle
Small Hammam ( on the right ) Ehmedek.
Dimchai Mountain River, where you can have dinner on water and watch the beautiful scenery
Dim Cai
It’s also a place where you can swim and ski on the same day…
In Alanya the color of the sea turns from blue to turquoise.
It’s truly a magical place …
It is also known that the cedar and pine trees extending as far as the coast, had been cut by Cleopatra and sent to Egypt to be used in the construction of ships for her fleet…
Legend has it that this is the exact place where naked Cleopatra made her way every morning, through the secret pathway from the top of the mountain to swim in these turquoise waters.
It really felt great being back in the arms of Turkey, with it’s colorful energy, warm hospitality, delicious food and my favorite Turkish coffee…
I stayed at one of the most spectacular places in all Alanya!
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I felt like a true princess, living behind the historic walls of Alanya Castle …
It’s hard to believe that this place has been in business for only about 9 months.
I would give it 5 diamonds for service, representation, character, price and breathtaking views…
My room …
View of Red Tower and harbor from my balcony at Villa Turka
The delicious, home made breakfast is served daily and is included … you can have it in your room or on your private veranda overlooking the harbor, sea, Taurus Mountains and the whole Alanya City …
View from my room
Night view of Red Tower and harbor from Villa Turka …
Full moon from Villa Turka
I spent my days catching up with my mom, whom I haven’t seen for 9 years, exploring the history of Alanya and it’s million years old caves ….
The Alanya Castle is a must!
Most tourists are being taken there by huge tour buses or cabs ( which are incredibly overpriced ) but I would suggest to hike up to it and get a little lost ..
you never know what you might find..
This place is hidden on the other side of the main entrance to the castle…
The Aksebe Mousoleum. Build in 1230
If you are walking by yourself … you will be able to hear strange noises in the grass all around castle …
Your hike will be rewarded with these kind of views …
watching sunset from the highest point ..
sitting inside of the old Turkish Hammam
When you walk up to the Castle you are able to see how local women weave clothing
Suleymaniye Mosque was built by Seljukian Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat in 1231. It’s the oldest mosque in Alanya.
Ehmedek gate ( pictured below ) is special to the people of Alanya. During Ramadan in the days when there was no electricity, a gun would be fired to let the people know it was time for dinner. The sound of the fire would echo from the Taurus Mountains and even all the nearby villages would hear. Though there is no more need for this, as there is electricity and clocks, the tradition is kept and the gun is still fired even today …
Ehmedek Gate
Border Between Bashfulness & Boldness
” A promise “
Kızıl Kule ( Red Tower ) Completed in 1226
here you can rest after a hike ..
View of The Harbor and the castle walls from Red Tower
Inside The Shipyard
inside the ship..
The Lighthouse of Alanya
After the visit to the castle, I walked back to my villa and stumbled upon what is known by locals as one of the best places in Alanya, that makes Turkish Gozleme…
The making of Gozleme
Alanya is also a home to some serious nightlife …
Alanya’s colorful nightlife
You can choose between tourist clubs and local bars… But I guarantee, you will enjoy both very much…
This city doesn’t sleep …
At one of the local dive bars ” Harem ” I was even introduced to a couple of Alanya mobsters…
who couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw me there…
since ” tourists ” don’t usually go to ” Harem “.
I had a wonderful time sipping on my “Black Russian” and listening to an amazing singer…
Locals requested songs and send her drinks and money through a waiter as a “thank you”.
Loved the fact that when she was performing, what must have been the most popular love song in Turkey,
the whole place sang with her…
I got chills…
Now, that was truly what we, travelers, call ” off the beaten path ” …
Also, if you’re a solo female traveler, walking the streets of Alanya, don’t be surprised when you turn around to confront the one who dared to whistle at you and see not a man whom you for sure were going to teach a lesson…
but a parrot! …
While in Alanya I highly recommend to rent a small boat and see the surrounding caves…
Don’t do 100 something euro tour with big ships!
First of all, it’s a rip off and second, you will never be able to actually go into the caves.
Walk to the marina and negotiate with a local fisherman to take you on his small boat for an hour around Alanya. He will show you all the beautiful caves …
I paid $ 20…
and got to see this ~
Old Monastery
Lovers Cave ..
Fosforlu Cave
Cilvarda Bay
Korsanlar Cave
Alanya truly is captivating.
No wonder it once belonged to
Cleopatra…
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The woman behind the words …
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Turkish food (not the North american version) is the best. ill post my pics from trip to Oman sometime. reminds me so much of that place.
I’m looking forward to your Oath Ceremony post, but the photos won’t be as gorgeous as these! 🙂
I wonder if the making of Gozleme resulted in that wonderful looking bread in the picture below (almost looks like one of my favorite Indian with methi in it). I bet that bread was really good? Dimchai Mountain River with the orange and green lights reflecting in the water is an amazing picture.
Thank you Elena for sharing this. I haven’t had the chance to visit Turkey but I think you’ve convinced me I should, at least Alanya. I like the caves & the monastery, and the view from your room is just awesome. PS: you were sipping on my favourite drink too, that makes my imagination run wild, wishing I was there! Thanks for sharing this wonderful story of your experience!
Elena, absolutely amazing. Your images in this post are stunning. What an amazing place. Thanks for sharing your journey. Beautiful! 🙂
I’m definitely going to add this to my list of places to visit! Lovely place and photos!
Wow. Great post and my computer’s slow so I haven’t even seen the pics yet.
WOW. amazing pictures. I’ve been to Turkey multiple times but never made it to Alanya. And it seems like I REALLY missed out on something!
Thanks Elena for sharing your impressions. We are planning to do the Lycian way trek this autumn, not all of it (500kms!) but about half and that promises to be equally breathtaking.
It goes from Fethye to Antalya but high up above the coast and well away from the tourist path. We’ll then be visiting a friend in Alanya to relax so thanks for whetting out appetites!
Wow! Really great photos. I want to go. Now. Thanks for sharing!
thank you so much for such an amazing trip..i dont think i knew there was a place so beautiful…the first picture is just out of this world…look at th natural blue water and the caves…love every picture ..its like taking a trip to a place i never knew existed 🙂
Wow. Incredible pics!!!! Thanks for sharing!
Loved the pictures and the tales – especially tickled with the picture of the woman weaving – that is what I do!
Best photos yet! Excellent write up too.
Elena – Just beautiful! You tell a story!!
Thank you Sherry! Love reading your posts about your latest African adventure! Amazing photography too! You should check out my posts about my citizenship, Morocco & Egypt, that you missed ; )
el x
Thank you for sharing this beautiful place with us! Now I am under Alanya’s spell and entranced… Terrific post, Elena.
These are some of your best pics yet, really beautiful, course they have some of my favorite subjects, caves and the ocean.
Those naughty little parrots! Did you write ‘ME’ on the ground for the pic? Love the Promise photo. Nice blog. 🙂
There was some kind of word written in Turkish .. ” ME ” made it into the picture : )
So beautiful! I would love to visit someday! Your photographs are breathtaking!
What happened to your naturalization? I might have missed a post….
Thank you Susie! Well, I got an invitation from the government for Oath Ceremony that will take place on June 27th … : ) I will write a post about becoming an American Citizen after the Oath Ceremony.. I can’t say ” I’m American ” .. just yet..
love
el
How cool is that! Pre-congratulations!
Thanks for sharing a magical place & your beautiful photos
Your photos always amaze me – an absolute visual feast!
oh my god, it is fantastic! than you Elena for this discovery, i think I will go there.
Great post! Turkey is such a beautiful country..hope to visit Alanya next time I go.
Again…I feel like I was on this wonderful excursion…the colors and the exotic scenes are truly an inspiration to me!
Looks like an amazing place!
Stunning photos as always – have heard the the water is clear over in Turkey and your photo has proven it. My pick of all your shots is – Dim Cai – with the strong colors in the river … wonderful. Understand that it has been a very emotional journey for you too and exciting – with meeting your mum after so many years. What a fantastic journey you have been on – two really. Fantastic to hear from you in this way .. thanks for bringing me along.
love it!
Great Post and Pictures!
Great pictures – there is something special about caves!
beautiful pictures as always 🙂