On the Road in the Taurus: Alara, Mahmutseyedi, and Rescue from the Storm

Today we had a very special trip planned. Through our tour guide, we had actually managed to rent a scooter. This scooter had absolutely nothing to do with the vehicles we were usually used to. 125 cc, more was simply not available. It was also much smaller than usual.

With this vehicle, two not-so-light adults, both about 1.80 meters tall, wanted to drive into the mountains. That promised to be amusing.

We first drove along the main road until the turnoff into the mountains that my phone, which I held in my hand the whole time for navigation, showed me.

Alara

Our first destination was Alara, a small village just a few kilometers behind the coast and yet it seemed very secluded.

A river winds through the village, along whose banks there are some excursion restaurants and picnic spots. But Alara is known for the ruins of a castle that spectacularly perches high up on a rock and almost seems to merge with it.

.We had already tried several times to find the path to the castle, but so far without success.

The exciting ride continued, always higher up into the mountains. The view of the coast became more and more spectacular. We drove through pretty mountain villages, where we got an insight into everyday life. It was beautiful.

Lunch Break by the River

At noon, we stopped at an excursion restaurant where I had been with my sister more than 20 years ago.

The place was romantically situated by a river, surrounded by rocks. We ordered local specialties, and the food was excellent.

Mahmutseyedi

The tour continued to the village of Mahmutseyedi, a typical village where, away from the tourist crowds, you can visit a beautiful old mosque that impressed with its simple elegance.

Now the weather got worse and soon it began to rain. Since it had been very hot on the coast, I was only wearing a light summer dress, which soon became completely soaked. I had underestimated the weather in the mountains.

Then the scooter also gave up. Nothing worked anymore; it simply refused to go on. We had no choice but to push the stubborn vehicle through the pouring rain.

Shelter from the Storm

Then we suddenly saw a village below us. Quickly, we got back on the scooter and rolled down.

Luckily, the local guesthouse was open.

The host, an exceptionally warm-hearted man, immediately recognized our dilemma. When he saw how wet we were, he quickly pushed a table and two chairs next to the open fireplace so we could dry off and warm up. He served us hot tea – a blessing.

When the rain finally let up, we set off again. Fortunately, the scooter decided to start after all. Since we didn’t want to take any risks and the weather didn’t seem really stable, we decided to drive back to the hotel.

The way down to the valley went over countless hairpin bends; the view was breathtaking again and again. We finally stopped at a place with an especially beautiful panoramic view over Alanya and enjoyed the view and another hot tea.

Back at the hotel, a hot shower was more than necessary. Then it was already time for dinner. This day will remain unforgettable for us.