2 year of #TheLongestTrip that the war sent us on... 36 articles and 75 best photos in one post 🏝️⛵⛱️

Two years have passed since our longest trip, which we went on because of the war.
In March 2022, we arrived for the first time in Kemer, which became our second home. And after an active first year, when we visited more than 27 cities in different countries, we came here again to enjoy the quiet life of this small resort town. This year we spent in our beloved Turkey, and we explored many new unique places.
Last year I spent my birthday in Kemer. A huge bouquet of red roses and a walk in our favorite canyon - this was the beginning of the second year of our #TheLongestTrip

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When we walking along the seashore in Kemer, we were awestruck by the magnificent mountains that surrounded us.
But the highlight of our walk was undoubtedly the upside-down house known as Villa Kemer.
This bizarre attraction was a real head-turner, with its topsy-turvy architecture and eye-catching design.

Kemer, Turkey

Once in March 2023, we were driving along the highway and noticed an amazing phenomenon!
One particularly stunning feature of the Kuzdere is the twin rocks - two massive formations that jut up from the forested slopes like giant sentinels. They are an iconic landmark of the area, and you'll be able to see them from miles around.

Kuzdere, Turkey

We went to the top of the forest and saw the highest mountain of Takhtala, covered with snow and a mountain range that looked dark blue. It was a fascinating sight! We sat down on the ground warmed by the spring sun and rested from our noisy life. I immersed myself in the silence and harmony of nature, which gave me the healing power of this magical high mountain meadow...

Kemer, Turkey

The Rocks of Kemer are a set of rock formations located along a forest road in Kemer. These formations consist of sedimentary rocks, mostly sandstone and limestone, formed over millions of years by the movement of ancient seas and rivers. Over time, erosion and weathering caused the rocks to take on unique shapes and patterns, with some forming jagged peaks and others forming smooth, rounded curves.
Being among these wondrous mountains, I gathered daisies filled with pine air, for tea.

Birthday present... What should it be for you? Personally, the best gift for me on my trip is a rental car :) And I got it from my friend for three weeks! In honor of my anniversary of driving abroad. So, 3.04.2023 I went on a cruise through the best cities of Turkey, which I have long dreamed of! A breath of fresh air in my #TheLongestTrip….
The old town of Kas, which is truly the pearl of Turkey! The unique two-story multi-colored houses on the steep street made a fascinating impression on me :)

Kaş, Turkey

On the way, we stopped at the village of Demre, where there are amazing ancient Lycian rock tombs. This is an incredible miracle! I looked at these mystical tombs, built of stone in the mountain, with trepidation in my soul.

Demre, Turkey

There used to be a mighty ancient city of Telmessos here. I climbed the hill above the city of Fethiye, where the ancient tombs of the Lycian civilization could be seen in the rock... and looked with admiration into the valley, where ancient ruins rose against the sea...

Fethiye, Turkey

We drove from Fethiye to Bodrum along serpentines.
Spring freshness was in the air. A tree blossomed with snow-white flowers among the pines. The edge of the sky was yellow-hot and purple. Against the backdrop of the blue mountains in the distance, it looked fabulous!
These Turkish mountains are a wonderful combination of nature, which is similar to the Carpathian mountains and the Crimean mountains. After all, nature has no borders.

I noticed strange round stone structures on the hill. There were several of them and it interested me. We decided to go there to find out what it was. Beautiful views of the city of Bodrum and the sea opened from here.
In the Middle Ages, windmills on high mountains served a double function. In addition to processing food (as per assigned jobs), they also took part in protecting civilians from uninvited guests as observation and warning towers. Factory work stopped, a warning sign of danger.
This is a rare phenomenon for Turkey - to meet here wind stone mills, which are a common phenomenon, for example, in the Netherlands.

Bodrum, Turkey

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While planning to visit the city of Kusadasi, I noticed on the map a strange island on which stands the Güvercinada Kalesi fortress, which protected the port at the mouth of Kusadasi Bay.
Kusadasi fortress was an island. But now it is connected to the land by an embankment, where there are pleasure yachts that take tourists on excursions by sea.
The construction was supervised by the Ottoman admiral KhayraddDin Barbarossa. The fortress became one of his bases. It had powerful walls surrounding it on all sides, which were supposed to protect the Turks from attack.

Kusadasi, Turkey

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Cleopatra's paradise... In Turkey, all the most beautiful beaches are called Cleopatra's beaches for some reason.
In April 2023, I again returned to where I was in October. This place enchanted me. Among the flat sandy beaches of CEŞME, I suddenly found a pearl - Güvercinlik Koyu Beach

Cleopatra Beach. Chesme, Turkey

I sat for a long time and enjoyed the song of the sea. I always enjoy the ebb and flow. It has a positive effect on my nervous system and relieves the stress of my active life :)

We had a great day at Buyuk Menderes Delta National
This was a nice find for us in early May 2023 on the way back from Cesme to Kemer on your cruise along the west coast of Turkey.
We saw before us a road between the pine slopes of the mountains on one side and a steep descent to the sea on the other. Entrance to the park was free. Above the precipice we saw a wooden gazebo and an observation deck, and we parked our car here and went out to enjoy the scenery.

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The water in the sea was so transparent that you could see the small stones on the seabed. The one shimmered with different shades of turquoise color and the shine of the morning sun made the water magical and attractive! And on the slopes of the rocks grew strange dwarf flowering plants.

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Buyuk Menderes Delta National park. Turkey

I found some fascinating places in Turkey when I was driving back from Cesme to Kemer. As I wrote earlier, these two cities are located on the shores of different seas. Cesme is on the shore of the Aegean Sea and I don't know why, but there is almost always a cold wind and the water temperature in the sea is much colder. And even I, a person who likes to swim in cold water, did not feel inspired to swim in this windy climate. But after driving 500 km from Cesme, it was as if we had moved back in time from March to May!

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Göcek, Fethiye/Mugla. Turkey

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Suddenly, near the town of Gocek, we found a cozy bay İnlice Olta İle Balık Avcılığı Sahası, with a unique color of its sand. We drove along a narrow winding forest road and found ourselves on a wide seashore surrounded by mountains on both sides. There was a pine forest on the slopes of the mountains. The air was clean and filled with the smell of needles and flowers.

We set out from the city of Fethiye on steep serpentines through the mountains and stopping on the roadside we saw a mysterious abandoned city in the distance, which was really like a ghost.

The city ghost... An abandoned city... A place where a person especially acutely feels the value of today's moment... When suddenly, in one moment, an earthquake destroyed the lives of hundreds of people who probably also thought that their lives were stable and under their control.

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Kayaköy, Fethiye. Turkey

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We spent almost a month on our trip along the West Coast of the Mediterranean and were returning back to Kemer at the beginning of May.
It was 7 in the morning. We stopped on a serpentine road above the sea, put the car in emergency mode. Do you do the same if you park your car in an unauthorized place? 😜
It was a moment of heavenly pleasure - swimming at dawn in the Finike Mağralı Koy

Mağralı Koy. Finike, Turkey

And so we got out of our car, climbed over the fence of the serpentine road and stopped for a moment, enjoying this turquoise lagoon. The color of the water was magical. There were shades of blue, turquoise and emerald. Orange rocks guarded this semi-circular cozy bay, which beckoned me to dive into its waters! The morning was gloomy, a little rain was falling... There was a feeling of magical mystery of being alone with nature, which is eternal and beautiful in its uniqueness.

We returned to Kemer at a beautiful time, when the sun is already warm, but there is still no terrible unbearable heat. And so there were walks among the blooming luxury of the Turkish spring.
We lived on the main street of Kemer and drank coffee on the balcony, watching the active summer life of Kemer during the peak tourist season.

Kemer, Turkey

It would have been the most wonderful sea trip of our lives, if not for seasickness...
Once, back in Egypt, Victoria @bugavi and I went on a yacht and we were very sick. Therefore, this time, when we were offered an excursion to the island of Suluada (Kumluca/Antalya), we were afraid that our well-being would not be good.
But our birthday girl Darinka @darine.darine dreamed of visiting this island, which is also called the Turkish Maldives.
And we bought a tour in June 2023.

Suluada island, Kumluca/Antalya

How strange and different can be the circumstances that affect people's happiness! A beautiful sea excursion continued among fascinating rocks. But we looked at it all through the prism of our problem. And in the process of my terrible health, I filmed a video of these beautiful landscapes. Finally, our yacht arrived at Love Gorge.

The moment came when we went to Izmir region again. There were several reasons for that. But the main reason was that I wanted to feel how comfortable I would feel in the summer on the shores of the Aegean Sea.

Izmir, Turkey

In July 2023, I visited Cesme again. Here I often spent time on a lonely beach that I called my remote paradise. I got maximum pleasure from the fact that here I hear only the sounds of nature. Two hours of being in this secluded paradise filled me with harmony and happiness.
And we also spent one day in a closed luxury beach club FLY-İNN

Çeşme, Turkey

At the beginning of August 2023, we returned again to the Antalya region and spent an unforgettable time here, visiting new exciting corners of beautiful nature.
When the heat subsided, we often went to the remote Club Med beach after lunch.

I had no idea that not far from Kemer, at a distance of 15 km, there is another Hidden Paradise... Cennet koyu
The majestic pine trees on the edge of the cliff created beautiful pictures against the background of the turquoise Mediterranean Sea, which looked so deep and magical!

Cennet koyu. Chamyua, Turkey

Life presented me with another magical find Beldibi Mağarası
Cave of Beldibi, which is located at a distance of 14 km from the Kemer.
After passing through the tunnel Chamdag, we discovered a beautiful beach.
The water was so warm and the sea was so attractive that I went swimming and swam behind this majestic rock, seeing what was happening behind it. There was a small cozy bay, hidden from all people.

Cave of Beldibi, Turkey

But it turns out that the secret hole through which it was necessary to get to the small hidden beach was in another place. And so we rented a car again and came back to Beldibi to see this amazingly beautiful natural place!

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Darine and I made our way through this fascinating tunnel under giant stones by the sea and you can see this unique walk in the video :)

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While walking in the pine forests around Kemer, I found these flowers and recognized them!
These flowers resembled the indoor plant Cyclamen, which I bought in Ukraine to treat sinusitis, which had been my problem for many years. I googled it and found out: it really is a blooming cyclamen! It turns out: the homeland of cyclomen is Turkey. Here, this plant grows in the wild nature on high mountain areas in pine forests.

Autumn in the Kesme Boazi canyon is especially magical.

Kesme Boazi canyon. Kemer, Turkey

Beautiful slender forest Mavka among unique stones covered with beautiful purple flowers 💕 This is such a fascinating picture!

In the fall of 2023, I enjoyed the velvet season on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea in Kemer. This is truly the most beautiful time of the year, both in Ukraine and in Turkey. It was October 29, the weather was really heavenly. The daytime temperature is 27-29 degrees Celsius. I photographed the amazing purple flower petals on the cobblestones. Later, I came to the seashore and learned that today is the 100th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey. And I watched the yacht parade!

The Botanical Garden in the heart of Kemer is a man-made paradise!
Especially in the magical lighting of the night lanterns, you will feel the magic of the night in this luxurious man-made corner of happiness.

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At that time, we lived on the first floor of a private house with a garden in a quiet area of Kemeru. And every day we drank coffee on the terrace in the company of local cats 😄 November 2023 came and we changed housing, as the nights became colder and we needed to take care of a more comfortable housing for the winter. And so our dream came true. We settled on the third floor of the building, overlooking the main street Liman and the breathtaking mountains of Kemer.

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In December 2023 we had another exciting adventure - "Flight over Antalya" 😊
I was trembling with excitement and fear when I was in the cabin of the cable car Tünektepe Teleferik Tesisleri, that took me to the top of the mountain in the Antalya. Last year, we climbed the cable car to the highest mountain in Antalya - Takhtali.
So, then I had already overcome my first fear of traveling in an air carriage over the rocky steep mountains of Turkey with deep gorges.

Tünektepe Teleferik Tesisleri. Antalya

Suddenly, at the end of 2023, life gave us a wonderful trip to France. It's been a year since we haven't seen my son. And he invited us to meet him in Paris, where we spent 3 unforgettable days. Life runs so fast... We collect the moments of our beautiful meetings on this Earth, given to us by God...

One rainy day we visited the magnificent Louvre. Paris

Also, we visited 7 famous places in one sunny day.

Finally, our Darina's dream of seeing the Eiffel Tower, Paris came true.

We welcomed the new year 2024 for the first time in our beloved Kemer. It was an interesting experience for us Ukrainians! We are used to a frosty, snowy New Year. But this New Year was among blooming orange trees, on which bees were buzzing :)

It was an amazingly warm winter. We often went to our favorite canyon and I bathed in the icy water of the mountain stream. The evening sun made the orange leaves of the maples like burn and we enjoyed a winter that felt like autumn.

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At the end of January, Victoria decided that it was time to take care of her health, and we started a 30-day challenge, where we all went for long walks on a forest road together every day. In fact, everything was like this: Victoria and Daryna were running, and I was walking behind with a fast athletic walk and carrying a heavy backpack with towels for further swimming in the sea 😂
Every time I come here, I again immerse myself in this pine majesty, as if under the protection of good giants in a magical fairy tale.

At the end of January, the evenings became cooler and we found a new cozy cafe Dem Ocakbası & Restaurant with a traditional Turkish wood-fired oven...

At the end of winter, we had the opportunity to visit Pamukkale, where the famous turquoise baths are located in the limestone snow-white desert.
Beautiful views of the sunset sky and several turquoise pools in the background were visible from above.
And the next day we went to the upper entrance, where there was access to contemplate the unique turquoise baths and the ruins of the old city. So, wait for the next story.

Pamukkale, Turkey

The day came on February 23
And I plunged into memories. On this day in 2022, my @bugavi turned 18. Was a good holiday and the beginning of adulthood... but a few hours later war broke out! Russia attacked Ukraine... And our life changed radically.

On March 1, 2022, our #TheLongestTrip began... which has been going on for more than two years outside our Motherland. I thank all of you who watch our adventures and support us!

I am grateful to the hive organizers for the opportunity I have and have been using for 6 years: to find friends around the world and exchange real life experiences, earn income by working online, traveling. What I value most in my life is freedom. And my daughters and I are happy to be a part of this big friendly positive hive community. 💕

In this reporting post, I have collected together my 36 articles about the best places in Turkey that we visited during the second year of our trip, as well as three days in Paris. I posted 75 of the most wonderful photos that show the beauty of these places and our impressions!
I hope you enjoy browsing 😊