Trek on the Lycian Dolomite Coast, to the city of Apollo. A brush with the Satyrs ( fortunately non-
Rocky is just a word, Treking in Lycia is a song of stone. While almost all of the Lycian coast is limestone formed, the area between Kalkan and Kekova has the hardest, therefore sharpest rocks available anywhere. Ken Harvey, our local trekking Geologist explained the formation of the hard, sharp rocks that almost look volcanic, with holes and stacks to be found. The passing of water through the limestone, dissolving some of the minerals, leaves the red clay earth which marks the thin red line of the Lycian Way passing the silver rocks along the shimmering shoreline.
Weather was a balmy 23 degrees with 20 days to Xmas. My bag became heavy as layers came off and went into the bag.
The lone Palm was out lunch-spot, an oddity in this area. We speculated that it's seed had either floated from Egypt with the currents, or had been left behind by a Muslim breaking his Ramadan fast in the traditional way with a fig, just after watching the sun set over the horizon.
From here the hot climb started passing 2 Lycian Watch towers, the Hellenistic blocks in good order, remnants from a time when early warning of attack and defense in a tower was a vital part of life. There would have been some isolated farms here evidenced by the ancient olive press we stumbled across. At the top of the ridge, a herd of huge goats passed us by, not concerned by our presence. The great billygoat as he reared up to nibble a high branch reminded us of the Satyrs, a rowdy drunken collection of rogues who were the followers of Dionysus, god of wine and debauchery. Satyrs were known for their caustic wit, and unbearable insults, where the modern term 'satire' comes from. At the end of the trek, the most hard of us went up to Apollonia ad Lycia, a small hilltop settlement of great antiquity. Her we found many typical Lycian Sarcophagi a huge covered cistern and remains of a tiny theatre: Most impressive was the Byzantine church, built when the area was resettled after the end of the Pax Romana, when the coast became a dangerous place to be after the 6th C AD.
Lycian built defensive tower near bogazcik
