Twenty Years Ago, Today, Sunday, October 4, 1998: Ucagiz, Turkey
LOG: Calm – so sanded & put 4th coat of varnish on cockpit.
CHASING SUNSETS: p 228, “We would have liked to have dove on the ruins, but a special guide was required for all diving in Turkey. Unguided diving was forbidden because there are so many underwater ruins and antiquities that the Authorities wanted to preserve from damage and looting.”
Twenty Years Ago, Today, Saturday, October 3, 1998: Ucagiz, Turkey
LOG: Stayed put. Dinghied out to tombs in sea. Small islands all covered w/ruins.
CHASING SUNSETS: p 228, “Most of the surrounding islands are covered in ruins, so this must have been quite a metropolis in its hey-day.”
Yes, that is the castle way up in the mountain that I climbed yesterday.
And yes, the water is very cold. Ryan jumped in, as Dad asked so he would be in the picture, and popped right back up. Dad took a quick pix, and Rye hopped into the dinghy to be wrapped in towels then snuggled in blankets.
Twenty Years Ago, Today, Friday, October 2, 1998: Ucagiz, Turkey
LOG: Dinghy to Kale Koy – ancient Simena. Walked up to castle w/2 ladies who sell scarves. One age 52 helped Carole up & down. Lunch ashore at Ibraham – big hands to attract yachts to his wharf; Hassam flags to attract. Walked through tiny village to more tombs.
CHASING SUNSETS: p 228, “We dinghied to Kale Koy (ancient Simena), past rocks with stairs cut in them leading to the top of the rock, but nothing else; past huge sarcophagi with holes smashed in their sides by ancient grave robbers, and tied up at the wharf at the foot of the stairs to the castle. Two ladies immediately attached themselves to us and were our guides up and down the very steep staircase. Carole’s assistant was short and heavy and looked much older than Carole. She leapt up and down the stairs like a gazelle, a fact I was smart enough not to mention more than once. The view from the castle walls was worth the climb.
Carole: Those stairs had no railings, glass smooth stone surfaces, and sheer drops. Laurie was lucky I didn’t just sit down and scoot my way up and down on my bottom. It was gorgeous though, and well worth the terror.”
Twenty Years Ago, Today, Thursday, October 1, 1998: Ucagiz, Turkey
LOG: Calm. Walked across isthmus to Sicak to see Aperlae ruins & sarcophagus – some under water. Goats everywhere. More camels. Up anchor – 3-mile motor to Ucagiz, ancient Teimiussa – anchored in 23 ft.
CHASING SUNSETS: p 228, “The sarcophagi lined the shore, but the water was too murky (a first in Turkey) for snorkeling. We had walked across the isthmus from Polemos to see the ruins of the ancient city and port of Aperlae, some of which are under water. Ryan and I snorkeled but saw only vague outlines.”
Chasing Sunsets 