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Carol 202 | profile | all galleries >> World Travel >> Turkey from 2007 to 2009 >> Mersin Area >> Alahan and trip from Tasucu: Nov 2007 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Alahan and trip from Tasucu: Nov 2007

Bob and I spent the weekend at the Best Resort in Tasucu. There isn't much to the resort at this time of year except for a room with a view. Most of the activities are shut down since there were very few guests there. We explored areas north of Tasucu and Silifke during the day. On this trip, our main target was the Alahan Monastery, 60 miles north of Silifke. The drive throught the Goksu River gorge is breathtaking. Then you enter desolate areas of mesas befure hitting scenic pine mountains. We had some extra time after seeing the monastery and decide to follow a tourist sign we saw pointing to a church. The church wasn't worth going 26 miles out of our way, but the mountain scenery made up for it. We enjoyed our seafront hotel in Tasucu and could hear the large waves crashing all night. Salt spray leapt 20 feet in the are when the waves hit the sea wall in front of our hotel. It was the worst sea conditions we had seen and it looked like it damaged the landscape park some in Tasucu.
Cross-shaped baptismal at Alahan Monastery.
Cross-shaped baptismal at Alahan Monastery.		 Cave rooms by Alahan Monastery
Cave rooms by Alahan Monastery		 Ruins of Alahan monastery
Ruins of Alahan monastery		 I love this dolphin relief on some of the ruins
I love this dolphin relief on some of the ruins
Fish reliefs
Fish reliefs		 Relief of a mountain chucker--a kind of game bird
Relief of a mountain chucker--a kind of game bird		 We couldn't figure out the purpose of the hole inside the cross
We couldn't figure out the purpose of the hole inside the cross		 When you enter this doorway you are surrounded by angels
When you enter this doorway you are surrounded by angels
More rock carvings
More rock carvings		 View inside one of the churches
View inside one of the churches		 Bob investigating a tomb.
Bob investigating a tomb.		 Another view of the Alahan ruins
Another view of the Alahan ruins
I think the baptismal would make a nice hot tub.
I think the baptismal would make a nice hot tub.		 One more view of the baptismal
One more view of the baptismal		 Tombs
Tombs		 Bones in the sarcophagus were fossilized
Bones in the sarcophagus were fossilized
Monolithic marker at Alahan
Monolithic marker at Alahan		 The road to the third church of Alahan
The road to the third church of Alahan		 Caught in the act
Caught in the act		 The third church at Alahan is the best preserved
The third church at Alahan is the best preserved
Looking at more of the archways in the church
Looking at more of the archways in the church		 Bob in the larger doorway at Alahan
Bob in the larger doorway at Alahan		 Look at the rams heads holding up the small arch.
Look at the rams heads holding up the small arch.		 Bob
Bob
Carved relief of a more modern-style cross
Carved relief of a more modern-style cross		 Alahan Monastery
Alahan Monastery		 We walked up the hill to get this view of the monastery
We walked up the hill to get this view of the monastery		 We followed a sign to Dagpazari church and went 26 miles out of our way for this.
We followed a sign to Dagpazari church and went 26 miles out of our way for this.
We went across a mountain and down into a valley to find the church.
We went across a mountain and down into a valley to find the church.		 Another typical house in this remote town.
Another typical house in this remote town.		 This gentleman was very proud to pose. He greeted us warmly and proceeded to tell us all about the church--in Turkish.
This gentleman was very proud to pose. He greeted us warmly and proceeded to tell us all about the church--in Turkish.		 Turkish gentleman
Turkish gentleman
The mountains were dotted with twisted cyprus trees.
The mountains were dotted with twisted cyprus trees.		 More scenery near Alahan Monastery
More scenery near Alahan Monastery		 A small mesa north of Silifke.
A small mesa north of Silifke.		 Cliffs in the Goksu River gorge.
Cliffs in the Goksu River gorge.
When you get north of the Goksu River gorge, the scenery becomes very desolate.
When you get north of the Goksu River gorge, the scenery becomes very desolate.		 More scenery between Silifke and Alahan Monastery.
More scenery between Silifke and Alahan Monastery.		 This is a common scene on Turkish roads.
This is a common scene on Turkish roads.		 This was taken from the balconey of the hotel we stayed at in Tasucu. They had some very rough seas over the weekend.
This was taken from the balconey of the hotel we stayed at in Tasucu. They had some very rough seas over the weekend.
My dish was a saute with lamb, onions, tomatoes, and garlic called Sac Kavurma. It's delicious.
My dish was a saute with lamb, onions, tomatoes, and garlic called Sac Kavurma. It's delicious.		 Seas were very rough. If I had tried to get closer to this mermaid statue in Tasucu, I might have gotten wet.
Seas were very rough. If I had tried to get closer to this mermaid statue in Tasucu, I might have gotten wet.

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