Chapter 3 – Do You Know the Way to Kabek Beach…
It’s supposedly a short walk to the beach from our inn but we decide to drive. Kabek Beach is well known. It’s a beautiful cove on the Turquoise Coast. We drive down the road and find some action; parked cars, a market and a little restaurant and figure this is the way to the beach. After we park, we start down a path that we’re directed to but end up in someone’s backyard; some old guy yells at us and Roy thinks he wants money for us to take his picture, either that or he’s going to the bathroom! So we turn around and start again and end up nowhere.
A Desoto truck, circa 1940 calling itself a “jeep seferi” is shuttling people so we hop on for a ride down. Let me describe this road…first of all it’s a dirt road fit for only one car. It’s very, very steep, with a drop off that I don’t want to look at and it winds down to the beach; did I mention that it’s about 3 miles down. I’m not sure how we would have hiked it, especially in flip flops! When a shuttle truck comes from the other direction the driver has to maneuver his way to let them pass. But, it’s a spectacular drive.
At the bottom we hop out and find our way to the beach, passing through a yoga retreat called Shambala. Besides Shambala, there’s also a tree house inn.
The beach doesn’t disappoint; it’s a beauty. A picture postcard perfect cove with that famous turquoise water. It’s not a sandy beach but smooth stones of varying size which I have to collect to bring home (that should add a little weight to our luggage!). The interesting thing about Kabek Beach is that people set up creative makeshift umbrellas for protection against the sun. Roy blows up his float and he’s off he goes – he’s in heaven.
We spend a couple of hours; it’s hot, really hot and the water feels good. We meet a couple from Italy and chit chat with them. He sells cork for wine bottles and gives us a good tip on a restaurant.
Time to go so back up the hill in the jeep; another hair raising ride. We reach the top and hop off. What a great first day in Turkey!
