We spent one day in Finike to visit Arykanda/Arycanda and another in Demre for the hike into the Taurus Mountains. A good thing was that only one night was spent in Demre at the junkiest hotel/inn/pension of the trip. Our bathroom toilet wherever we stayed and thankfully blocked from my memory bank, began running…and running…and running, overflowed and made a major mess. That happens, but then I discovered little red bites up and down the back of my legs and asked Simon if he knew what they were. Bedbug bites! The one and only time during 50 years of travel I’ve ever gotten bit by Bedbugs and the only reason Explore based us in this “fleabag” was proximity to the hike.

The upside of Finike (as well as the majority of the Lycian coast) was the incredible Navel Oranges, the symbol of the town. The juciest, most delicious Navel Oranges we’ve ever tasted that deserve its worldwide reputation. There were orange groves…View image… and greenhouses all around town, along the roads, spilling out of little shops, and we couldn’t eat enough of them. No Vitamin C problems around Finike.

oranges spilling out of greenhouses around Finike, Turkey
Mount Alacadag descends right to the shores of Finike and this is the mountain we may have hiked but I don’t remember. There is snow on the heights of the Taurus Mountains all year, a 180 degree turn from the sunny, warm days we’d grown accustomed to. Simon warned that it was going to be cold, bring heavy jackets, wear pants, carry hats if you had them, for the hike. ex-Marine and I were set. When flying from Chicago in the winter, cold weather gear is always part of the equation but most of the U.K. Explore group had to make do by piling on layers.

The day’s hike began with a light drizzle that turned into a downpour the higher we went on the mountain that then turned into snow. Every article of clothing on, we all shivered going up and down in each other’s footsteps. There is supposed to be a great panoramic view from the top in good weather and we did see the volcanic crater lake, but obviously, today was not the day for views over the Mediterranean.

on top of a Taurus Mountain in the snow, Turkey 

turquoise crater lake in the Taurus Mountains, Turkey
Gratefully, Simon found a little restaurant to warm up in…View image… and dry out with food and drink. We settled in and sat there for hours (I never did take off my hat or jacket). Short and sweet: the hike was over.

ex-Marine warming up in Taurus Mountains, Turkey 

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