Dalyan is 25 km. from Dalaman Airport
and 77 km. from Marmaris, Turkey and its beautiful locale and
rich history make it the ideal destination for a one day boat
tour originating in Marmaris. I would like to give you an idea
of what you can expect when you visit Dalyan.
This is a fantastic boat trip because you will visit one of
the rarest corners on the earth : Dalyan Turtle Beach. This
beach is one of the last breeding grounds of the loggerhead
turtles and it is surrounded by fresh water on one side and
salt water on the other. Sailing on the river boats through
the maze-like passages of Dalyan Delta will surely remind you
of "The Afrıcan Queen". A stop-over at the magnificent
Rock Tombs carved high in the cliff gives you the chance to
get all the information about the resort. And finally there
is a "fountain of youth: in the form of Mud Baths. It is fun,
it is rejuvenating and it, surely, is great chance for an unusual
snapshot.
Without climbing up to the Acropolis
in Caunos, it may not be possible to feel how dangerous were
the threats the Caunians lived under when they founded this
city, at an elevation of 152 m. In addition to the striking
panaroma, the break points of your tour will also appear : Amphitheatre,
Church, Roman Bath, Terrace Temple, Fountain and Necropolis.


The City walls surrounding the acropolis, has different characteristics
peculiar to different civilizations and ages, regarding the
form, measurement and workmanship of the stones. It is hard
to notice the distinction between Caunian, Greek, Persian, Roman
and Byzan-tium traces on the same structure. The Acropolis is
on a peak overlooking the southern area and interior seaport.
From this viewpoint it seems easy to imagine ancient shipyards
and merchantmen of that time. This high altitude point had also
been used for rituals, feasts and wine parties.
One of the best preserved buildings
is the Church. A cross on the entrance still remains. It's 2500
year old domes and marble columns adorned by religious figures
are wonderful. The Roman Bath was originally designed as complex
building divided into rooms for education, sporting activities
and meeting. The gigantic windows that were been built for athletes
to warm up by sun after a bath with icy waters, also provided
them with dazzling sights. Two columns found in the Terrace
Temple were the first discoveries that started Caunos excavations.
The Temple, which you can't help being charmed by, remains almost
as it was. The inscriptions on its marble columns mention the
Caunian Gods. The most interesting part of this fascinating
Temple is of course the Sacred Stone. It's told that the object
depicted on the ancient coins of the 4th. century B.C. represents
the stone. There are a lots of inscriptions like this all around.
Love of Byblis : A legendary story
According to an ancient legend, Byblıs was a daughter of
Miletus and Eidothea and sister of Caunus. Byblis was in love
with her brother Caunus. This was a love that could not be between
sister and brother. And as her love grew from day to day Byblis
fell incestuously in love with her brother Caunus and declared
her love to him in a letter. Caunus, horrified, rejected her.
He fled from his sister, but she followed him through Caria..
He came to this part of Caria and founded the city of Caunus.
As for Byblis, she pursued him as he fled her but could not
find him. She was weeping so much and was about to die from
grief and exhaustion when she was turned by nymphs into a fountain.
This is the legendary story of the origin of the city of Caunos..
The Human Factor in Architecture
Another majestic building of the city is the Fountain. It is
interesting to note that the Caunians never designed a city
without a fountain. They were used by visitors coming from distant
seas to freshen up. The fountain that also functioned as a meeting
point for women at the time, is now being reconstructed for
the new visitors. The most striking stage of the journey is
the Necropolis. Of 167 tombs, 'The Temple Faced Ones' engraved
into rocky cliffs belong to the noble inhabitants of Caunos.
These Stone King Tombs are the symbols of the city.
So if you are visiting Turkey it is worth seeing Marmaris with
its natural attractions, daily sea excursions, caretta caretta
turtles, and with the possibility of visiting ancient city ruins
such as Cnidos, Caunos, Cleopatra's Island, Loryma and many
others..
Article Source:
http://www.articlesbase.com/
About the Author
Gurhan Ebren is a retired naval office and currently runs El
Paso Travel, a travel agency specializing in yacht and gulet
charters and cruises in Turkey. You can learn more about holidays
and vacations in Turkey and get great ideas for visiting historical
and scenic destinations in Turkey at his website
http://www.elpasotravel.net