Musa: Adrasan, Easter 2010

Before this blog gets back to the serious business of writing about gardens and plants, I must just post some final images of our stay in Adrasan this April. First . . . . .

The Land Beyond Efes

We set out on a trek aiming to get to Sazak Bay, a supposed journey of 2 to 3 hours, the path started behind the Arikanda Hotel and skirted the mountain of Musa Dag heading upwards. Our first mistake on this dreadful journey was to not understand the directions given by the hotel staff to reach the path! They told us to follow round the edge of the hotel to reach the path. They meant walk along the edge of the river. We went round the back of the hotel building, climbed the steps to the first-floor then leapt across a yawning chasm (probably with an owl in it) and through a hedge. This brought us into the garden of the neighbours (a lawyer) where we had to scramble through another hedge to reach the path to Sazak Bay. We all performed this feat again on our return!

It was a warm day and the path went relentlessly upwards! The first thing I noticed was the complete lack of anyone selling Efes beer! Bravely we carried on. The photo below shows the author exclaiming the lack of Efes outlets:

Having walked for what seemed like hours, we rested on a large rock named: ‘Uncomfortable Rock’. Photo below: resting on ‘Uncomfortable Rock’

It was at this point that I decided that the 2 youngest Musa’s were holding us back from achieving our target destination. As expedition leader, I took the decision to abandon them! We gave them a small amount of water and left them at ‘Uncomfortable Rock’. (They actually found their way back but not before first encountering a grimacing tortoise blocking the path. This tortoise had a particularly menacing grimace but, taking after their father, they managed to dodge past it. They eventually found their way to the Chill House Bar – just like their father would have done!).

Mrs Musa and I staggered on. Further up the path we could see the main track winding ahead but decided to take a left fork onto a small track that went steeply upwards. Why did we do that I hear you ask??!! Well, dear reader, you must realise that by now we were suffering the effects of lack of Efes, we were suffering from hallucinations and I was slipping in and out of consciousness! We climbed on until we reached a small meadow area, I looked in vain for a bar or anywhere selling Efes and then the dreadful realisation dawned: we were in The Land Beyond Efes !

The sun beat down and the trees swayed in the breeze with a moaning sound. We had to go back! We galumphed (a nod here to Arthur Ransome) down the mountain, not stopping until we reached ‘Uncomfortable Rock’ and from there galumphed on to the Arikanda River Garden. We again leapt the yawning chasm and collapsed onto seats by the river. Cold Efes was brought by concerned staff in an effort to revive us and it did the trick!

And so - that was our terrible adventure to The Land Beyond Efes !

Below is a view of the Bay taken from - The Land Beyond Efes !

Other Stuff . . .

We went with Vahit to the ruins of the ancient Lycian city of Arykanda – an amazing place and I always enjoy going there. It is virtually deserted, anywhere else you would expect to see hordes of tourists.

Photo below: the amphitheatre at Arykanda