One of our favorite Turkish cruising areas this summer was Kekova Roads, 15 nautical miles east of Kastellorizo, and it was here that we next went. In all, we spent 16 days in July in this lovely protected area enjoying three different anchorages. Along the entire Lycian coastline we had seen Lycian sarcophagi, but never in such abundance as in the Kekova Roads. Here, the Taurus Mountains had made this section of the coast by road almost inaccessible to outsiders until the 20th century, and so a large number of tombs and sarcophagi remained intact.
We spent 4 days at our first anchorage in Polemos Buku enjoying its clear water and peaceful surroundings. On Monday, July 16, we walked through goat pastures across the isthmus following the Lycian Way to Sicak Bay and ancient Aperlai. Here, around 530 AD, an earthquake took place submerging parts of this Lycian community. Still standing were parts of the city wall and many sarcophagi, all containing a stepped base, a lower grave chamber, and a hollowed lid suggestive of a house roof. |
