22/8/2007 - Antalya'nın Kaş ilçesinden Kalkan beldesine giderken Kaputaş

21/8/2007 - Kalkan'a nasıl gidilir ? İşte haritası ve çevredeki yerlerin

5/8/2007 - Kalkan Avrupa’nın en romantik tatil yeri seçildi !

ANTALYA - İngiltere’de yayımlanan The Independent gazetesi, “Kış ortasında bile güneşli olan bu belde, özellikle yeni evliler için çok iyi bir seçim” ifadesini kullandı.

Antalya’nın batısında yer alan Kalkan, doğal güzelliklerinin yanı sıra 3 bin yıllık Likya uygarlığına da ev sahipliği yapıyor. The Independent gazetesinin önerdiği Kalkan beldesinde, şu ana kadar 600 İngiliz vatandaşı ev aldı.

Gazete, yeni yılda egzotik bir tatil geçirmek isteyenlere de Afrika ülkelerinden Mozambik’teki İbo Adası’nı; tarihi yerlere ilgi duyanlar için Mısır’ın Luksor kentini, keşif isteyenlere ise Karadağ’ı önerdi.

Aşağıdaki adresten alıntıdır...

http://www.ntvmsnbc.com/news/395814.asp

4/8/2007 - KALKAN !

KALKAN

Kalkan (Greek: Kalamaki) is a town on the Turkish Mediterranean coast, which averages of 300 days of sunshine a year. The area includes many historical sites and many fine beaches. The word Kalkan is Turkish for 'shield'.

Kalkan is an old fishing town, and the only safe harbor between Kaş and Fethiye; famous for its white-washed houses, descending to the sea, and its brightly colored bougainvilleas.

Until the early 1920s the majority of its inhabitants were Greeks. They had to leave the town in 1923 because of the Exchange of populations between Greece and Turkey after the GrecoTurkish War. They emigrated mainly to Attica, where they founded the new town of Kalamaki.

With much of the surrounding land still undeveloped and with many nearby remains of ancient civilizations, Kalkan is the ideal resort for those who want calm and relaxation, enjoy the natural beauty of the cleanest seashores, of rough mountains covered with pine forests, and also for those who want to explore the remains of the ancient Lycian cities in the neighborhood.

Lycia, "The Land of Light", which is the first known federation in history, included the many city states between modern day Fethiye and Antalya, and its capital was Xanthos (Arna in Lycian language), which is Kinik today, 17 km from Kalkan.

Kalkan was an important harbour town until 1970's as the only sea port for the environs. It declined after construction of Fethiye road but revived after the emergence of the tourism industry in the region.

Although part of the Antalya province administratively, Kalkan is connected more closely to Fethiye economically and for transportation.

British newspaper The Independent listed Kalkan among the best tourist destinations for 2007. The paper recommended Kalkan especially for those seeking a romantic vacation and who do not want to travel far from their home country in Europe, and defined the town as a destination of choice.

4/8/2007 - History and Architecture of Kalkan !

History and Architecture of Kalkan

Kalkan does not seem to have been a place of settlement in antiquity (then known as Phoenicus), though it was the place of the only safe harbour between Kaş and Fethiye and would have offered safety to ships during rough weather.  Indeed, a fierce battle was once fought in the bay after Roman and Rhodian ships, unable to attack the neighbouring Lycian port of Patara due to bad weather, found short-lived safety in Kalkan's bay.  Read about the battle here.  Today's ships still find safe harbour in Kalkan when the seas are rough.

The Lycian coast was famous for its piracy and Kalkan bay no doubt provided a convenient hiding place for pirates to suddenly pounce upon the many heavily-laden merchant ships sailing by.

Kalkan became an important port during the 19th century - even more so than Fethiye or Antalya, its two larger neighbors.  It was settled 150 to 200 years ago by people of both Greek and Turkish origin subject to the Ottoman Empire and was known by its Greek name "Kalamaki."  Camels brought goods to Kalkan from the nearby Xanthos valley and from as far away as the mountain highlands near Elmali.  Cargo ships were then loaded in Kalkan's harbour to sail for the far reaches of the Ottoman Empire carrying charcoal, silk (you can see many mulberry trees in Kalkan today), olive oil (still produced in Kalkan) and wine, as well as cotton, grain, sesame seed, flour, grapes, acorns used for dye, and lumber from the vast cedar and pine forests.

By the early 20^th century Kalkan had become quite a sizeable village.  At the turn of the century it had its own custom’s house and in 1915 there were reportedly seventeen restaurants, a goldsmith, a shoemaker and several tailors. The first local elections were held in 1928 and in 1937 the present elementary school was opened.

Kalkan in the 1950's

Following World War I, the exchange in population between the new Turkish Republic and Greece took place in 1923 after the Turkish War of Independence.  Most of the Greek origin people then living in Kalkan left Turkey.  Some went to the nearby Greek island of Meis, but most were resettled near Athens.  They were resettled as a community (like most Greek immigrants from Turkey) and named their new town "Kalamaki", after Kalkan's previous name. 

Kalkan circa 1960

Trading continued until it faded away in the 1950’s due to the improvement of the Turkish road system and the adoption of overland transport. With no more sea trade, the population of Kalkan trickled away as people moved to larger coastal cities to find work.  Luckily, Kalkan was saved by the arrival of wealthy English yachtsmen in the 1960's and tourism eventually became the main economy of Kalkan.  Because of this, Kalkan has retained its historic charm.  Strict building and preservation codes are enforced and many of Kalkan's buildings are listed.  Because of the determination to keep Kalkan beautiful, Kalkan has a specialness to it lacking in many other towns along the coast.  

Despite the changes tourism has brought to the people of Kalkan, traditional life still continues for many of the local residents. Historically, many locals of Kalkan have owned land both in Kalkan and in the nearby mountain village of Bezirgan, set in a beautiful valley 17 km from Kalkan.  Today many of these residents continue to follow the pattern of their ancestors, spending summers in the coolness of the mountains and winters near the warm coast.
 

Architecture

Kalkan's Ottoman Greek origin can still be seen in its distinctive architecture which is very similar to the architecture of the nearby Greek island of Meis (Castellorizo).   There is also a Greek Orthodox church by Kalkan's harbour which has been converted into a mosque. 

As you walk about Old Kalkan you will notice much historic architecture.  This architecture is very special, of the traditional 'Kalkan Style', and is well-preserved and protected.  

Old Kalkan's houses line narrow streets winding up from the harbour and are quite beautiful, often covered in bougainvillea. They are characteristically built of stone with small shuttered windows and timber balconies, whitewashed walls and contrasting woodwork. and often have courtyards and gardens. Narrow passages criss-cross between the houses.  To combat the heat of summer,

houses were built for coolness.  Balconies, terraces and courtyards were constructed to create cool, comfortable areas, while small windows could be tightly shuttered from the hot noon sun. Windows and balconies of the upper floors face the sea to take advantage of any breezes. 

Old Kalkan buildings are usually two stories high, unless the road is very steep. In this case there is sometimes a mezzanine. Behind the pediment (the hallmark of the traditional Kalkan house) is the red-tiled roof and chimneypot. Ground floors are usually used as shops or for storage while residents live on the floors above. 

Decorative elements can be seen in the sills placed between the floor levels and the tops of windows and on the corners of buildings enhanced with pilasters and pseudo column capitals. Adorned pediments grace facades, and dentils and cornices decorate eves. 

3/8/2007 - Kalkan Photos !

3/8/2007 - Did you know? Interesting and little-known facts about Turkey

Did you know?  Interesting and
little-known facts about Turkey

Modern Turkey

Turkey is the only secular Muslim country among all the Muslim countries in the world.

In 1923 the democratic Republic of Turkey was established under the leadership of Kemal Atatürk.

Turkey is a young country in more ways than one: over two-thirds of the Turkish population is under age thirty.

Turkey is physically one of the highest countries in the world, the average height is 6,000 feet.

Turkey is one of the few agriculturally self-sufficient countries in the world.

More than two-thirds of Turkey's borders are coastline, these stretch for fully 6,000 km (3,730 miles) along the Aegean, eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea.

Turkey is one of the riches countries in species of flowers due to its varied landscape and climate.  There are approximately 9,000 species of which 3,000 are native.  In Europe there are only 11,500 species.

Turkish History

The Turkish people trace their ethnic origins to a group of Ural-Altaic tribes who were located in the 2nd c. BC in what is today Mongolia.  

Esperanto is based on the structure of the Turkish language.

The majority of Turks were converted to Islam in the 9th c. AD. 

The Ottoman Navy brought the Jewish people who were expelled from Spain to safety in the Ottoman lands in 1492.

Tulips are not native to Holland.  They were actually introduced from Anatolia in the 16th c.

Christian History in Turkey

St. Paul was born in Tarsus (located in southern Turkey).  His missionary journeys signalled the arrival of Christianity in Asia Minor from 47 AD.

Christianity first bloomed in Anatolia with the first church of Christianity dedicated to St. Peter in Antioch.

Early Christians fleeing from Roman persecution found refuge in Cappadocia's underground cities.

Anatolia became the heartland of the eastern realm of the Roman (Byzantine) Empire.

The Greek Orthodox church is still located in Istanbul.

The Garden of Eden was said to be watered by a river which separated into four streams as it left the garden.   Two of them, the Tigris and the Euphrates, are found in the mountains of eastern Turkey.

Mount Ararat, the highest mountain in Turkey, is believed to be the place where Noah's Ark landed. 

The Seven Churches of the Apocalypse were all located in Anatolia -  Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.

St. Nicholas - today's Santa Claus, was born in Patara (next to Kalkan) and lived as the bishop of Myra in Demre (also near Kalkan).  

Followers of Jesus were first called "Christians" in today's Antakya.

All Ecumenical Councils were held in western Anatolia.

Over one hundred Christian churches of many different sects are found in the city of Istanbul. 

Ancient History in Turkey

"Anatolia" means "east" in Greek.  In the Turkish language it means "the land full of mothers".

The oldest known shipwreck was excavated near Kaş (a coastal town next to Kalkan).

King Midas, son of Gordius, the last and the most famous of the Phrygian kings, ruled over the whole of Asia Minor in the 6th century BC.

Many city names originated in Anatolia such as Philadelphia, Paris, Antioch, Troy and the continental name "Europe". 

Alexander the Great embarked on a campaign against the Persians in 334 BC crossing the Dardanelles, occupying Gordium (this is where the fabled cutting of the Gordian knot took place) and defeating Darius the Third.

Two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World stood in Anatolia -  the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus.  

The words "Veni, vidi, vici (I came, I saw, I conquered)" were said by Julius Caesar when he went to Anatolia in 47 BC.

The Lycian federal system of government with proportional representation was used as a model by the authors of the United States constitution.

3/8/2007 - Kalkan Hotels !

Kalkan Hotels

Here are a few hotel listings for the independent traveller.
 

		Tekinberk Hotel Only a 5 minutes walk to the village centre, comfortable rooms, sea views, in a quiet neighbourhood.  All rooms air-conditioned and en suite.
		Alternatif Atlantis A small, intimate boutique hotel, sea views, centrally located just a 5 minutes walk to the village centre.  Suite rooms, air-conditioned and en suite.
		Kalkan White House Located in the heart of the village, wonderfully tranquil and yet just a few minutes walk from the beach. All rooms air-conditioned and en suite.

3/8/2007 - Kalkan is a place to fall in love with ...

Kalkan is a place to fall in love with ...

A small peaceful Mediterranean resort and fishing town on the beautiful Turquoise Coast of Turkey, Kalkan has not been touched by mass tourism.  More sophisticated than the usual resort town, Kalkan appeals to travelers looking for more than a "sun and sea" holiday. According to the Sunday Times, Kalkan attracts the kind of visitor who would also enjoy Tuscany or the Dordogne.  The Guardian likens the town to "the Italian Riviera minus the poseurs."

Because of its great charm, Kalkan has a growing number of perennial visitors who say the town is the only holiday destination they would choose to visit repeatedly.  There is simply no other town quite like Kalkan along Turkey's coast.

Kalkan curls snuggly around a historic harbour sheltered at the foot of the towering Taurus Mountains.  (Read more about the geography of the region at our Lycia website here) The town overlooks a beautiful bay in which islands seem to magically float upon the shimmering sea.  Narrow streets twist down to the harbour, lined with old whitewashed villas with shuttered windows situated alongside small local specialty shops and restaurants in historic buildings.  Overhead hang original carved Ottoman Greek timber balconies garlanded with thick masses of brilliantly coloured bougainvillea cascading to the streets below. It is a very special place with a unique atmosphere. 

Why is Kalkan so special?

Not only is Kalkan beautiful, but unlike other Turkish coastal resort towns Kalkan's main economy is tourism and therefore its citizens put much pride and effort into the town's historic preservation.  Because of this, Kalkan has retained the texture of its history by protecting its distinctive Ottoman Greek architecture (it was once an Ottoman Greek and Turkish fishing village).  Very strict building codes keep the town small and architecturally blended with the historic heart of the town known as "Old Kalkan". 

Besides the famous "Kalkan Style" historic architecture, the many excellent restaurants of Kalkan contribute to the special atmosphere within Kalkan.  Good dining has always been the way of life in Kalkan and continues today.  In fact, Kalkan is said to have the highest number of restaurants and bars per inhabitant or square meter on the Turkish coast (over 100 of them!).  Additionally, Kalkan is especially renowned in Turkey for its numerous roof terrace restaurants and bars which offer a wonderful view of the town, sea and stars.  It's also nice to sit at one of the many fine harbour-side restaurants and watch the pleasure boats and fishermen leave early in the morning as you eat your breakfast, or see the fishing boats return with the day's catch in the evening.

There is lots to do during the day and nightlife is fun, but laid-back. You won't find noisy, wild nightlife here, like in some other coastal resorts.

Kalkan has many fine qualities, but without a doubt, it is the people of Kalkan who make the town extra special. 

The people of Kalkan warmly welcome you, and you may at first be surprised by the universal friendliness within the town.  This, along with warm Turkish hospitality is the basis of life here and the people of Kalkan sincerely enjoy getting to know their guests.  So don't hesitate to accept one of the many tulip-shaped glasses of çay (tea) you will be offered while you amble along Kalkan's winding streets.  You won't be hassled while you are a guest of Kalkan - the town is hassle-free and is proud to be so. You will find a mixed population here, consisting of locals, some Istanbul Turks and Turks from other cities who have made Kalkan their home and own small businesses, as well as a small number of well-educated foreigners who have settled in the town. 

So, "Hoş Geldiniz!" - we extend a warm welcome to you from Kalkan and look forward to meeting you soon... 

ALINTIDIR http://www.kalkanturkey.com/about_kalkan.htm 

28/7/2007 - Kalkan'a nasıl giderim diyorsanız işte size haritalı yol tar

Antalya'dan Direk Kalkan'a, Antalya Terminalinden otobüsler kalkıyor.

Yolculuk otobüsle 4 saat civarı sürüyor. Özel arabanızla gitmek isterseniz yolculuk 2-2,5 saat civarı sürüyor. Yolculuk size biraz uzun gelebilir ama Kalkan'a vardığınızda değeceğine emin olabilirsiniz...

Avrupanın En romantik Tatil yeri seçildiğini unutmayın ve tatilin tadını çıkarın...

Özellikle sahilde Musti'nin Restaurantında yemek yemeyi ihmal etmeyin ! Musti'yi bulmak kolay !

Kalkan'ın en neşeli insanı kim diye sorun onu gösterirler...!

Yakında size resimlerini de göstereceğim...