My holiday

The Turquoise Coast

Holidays are so good for you, we should all get them on the National Health.  I feel a million times better than before I went away, after a week not thinking about anything but the smell of pine needles and the feel of the sun on my shoulders and how good that beer was going to taste when we made it to the end of the day’s walk. 

Lunch high above gorge on first day

I’ve been walking part of the Lycian

Way along Turkey’s Turquoise Coast with my best friend and Chief Plotting Advisor.  We started high in the hills, waking up that first morning to blue skies and snow-capped mountains, and ended up walking along forest paths with the sea on one side and sheer cliffs soaring on the other. At times we had to watch our feet, picking our way down stony hillsides or across landslides, but under the pines we could stride out and gawk at the spectacular views. 

Aqueduct at Phaselis

Highlights: spotting the sea far in the distance; the wildflowers along the paths; reaching the sea and finding it just as turquoise as promised; spotting wild tortoises; wandering into the ruins of Phaselis; the sound of the frogs in the hauntingly overgrown city of Olympos; climbing down to the eternal flames of the Chimaera; trees laden with lemons; the last day’s walk through wild hills; and last, but not least, the old town in Antalya (more pix below).  

Oh, and no blisters!

Now I’m home and contemplating my next deadlines, a word blissfully absent all last week.  First up is a one day Crash Course in Writing Romance which I’m teaching on Saturday, and then I must apply myself to finishing the time slip.  I can feel a timetable coming on …

Walking near Phaselis

Meanwhile, copies of Paradise Nights are in the post to everyone who sent me their address while I was away.  I tottered down to the post office laden with packages, but am delighted to have found good homes for so many of the books!  Thank you all for getting in touch.

Start of the walk, near Ovacik

In ruins of Olympos ... shame you can't hear the frogs!

Carpets for sale in Antalya's old town

More photos - I did get a bit carried away, but it was SO beautiful! - here:

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