MEDITERRANEAN

2022

My summer trip to Turkey included an adventure along the Mediterranean Sea, a blend of rugged cliffs, pine forests, shrublands, ruins and crystal-clear waters. In order to get the most out of the experience, I decided to stay in Ölüdeniz, from which I moved around. Ölüdeniz is a beautiful town on the Mediterranean famous for its blue lagoon, a paradise like few others. Not far from the coast, a whole mountainside is covered with the Karmylessos ruins, a former Greek town depopulated during the Greek genocide of World War I, now reclaimed by nature. To the west, the Dalyan Delta holds the remnants of the Lycian civilization—stunning tombs carved into the cliffs of the coastal mountains. To the east, the Saklikent National Park is home to one of the world's deepest canyons—a serpentine marvel carved by flowing waters throughout eons. As the trip came to an end, I decided to spend a night near Kekova, an island with sunken ruins emerging through the aquamarine waters—ruins from an ancient town destroyed by an earthquake thousands of years ago. Termessos was my last stop before my flight to Lebanon, ruins from a Pisidian city built over fifteen hundred meters above ground, known for its spectacular open-air amphitheater and scenic views—accessible only after a long walk through steep forests. The combination of natural beauty, cultural heritage and historical significance makes the Mediterranean a truly special region, no matter the coast you choose to sojourn.