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Written by Ertan Yilmaz
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Saturday, 12 June 2004 |
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Kalkan descends to the sea in terraces of whitewashed houses, its steep cobbled streets and colourful harbour sleepy under the midday heat.
Once the sun has set, the pretty seafront and picturesque alleys come alive again when locals and visitors stroll along to their favourite café or restaurant, or wander around the Aladdin's caves that line the principal backstreets.
The little carpet bazaars, arty jewellery shops where lovely pieces are made to measure in silver and gold, turquoise and amber, and even the fruit, vegetable and grocery stalls stay open until bedtime alongside a handful of outdoor cafés and a few bars catering to varied musical tastes.
Diving down the narrowest of alleyways you soon find yourself in the tiny intricate maze of old houses - some crumbling, some restored - draped with swathes of brilliant bougainvillaea.
During the day, Kalkan is almost disarmingly laid-back, as visitors either choose to enjoy the crystal clear waters lapping the Lycian coast, or go off exploring the wealth of fascinating sites nearby.
The shingle beach next to Kalkan's harbour was recently extended and is more than adequate for swimming and sunbathing, but one of the joys of staying in this area is to explore the coast by sea taxi or dolmus.
At Kalkan's 'beach clubs', just a short boat ride from the harbour, you can swim or snorkel in astonishingly clear water off the rocks, whilst beautiful Kaputas Bay, between Kalkan and Kas, offers a delightful sand and pebble cove at the mouth of an impressive gorge. |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 28 October 2005 )
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