In America, people wish each other a “Happy New Year.” In Germany people wish each other a “Guten Rutsch,” or “a good slide” (into the new year.) In the past, Kathrin and I have taken trips to places that offer festive events with fireworks and multi-course meals, like to Danzig, Paris, Budapest. And, of course, we have stayed in our home town of Frankfurt (although our level of festiveness in Frankfurt is below the other destinations!)
We decided to take a different approach for our slide into 2024. We traded in fireworks for serenity and took part in a yoga New Year’s retreat in Adrasan, Turkey.
Now, you might be thinking to yourself, “Hey, that doesn’t sound like a New Year’s destination. What about the party, the countdown, toasting in the new year with a glass of champagne?” Rest assured, we had that, on a smaller, more mindful scale.
From 27 December to 3 January, we filled up on OMmazing wellness and peace of mind. We connected with some lovely people, young and old, and our 2 yoga instructors, a dance therapy instructor, and her husband, a self-proclaimed emotional coach.
The yoga instructors and dance therapist were part of the official program, and their classes were fully booked. The emotional coach tagged along with his wife, and offered sessions for anyone interested. Unsurprisingly, he had nothing to do for the entire time. Maybe out of desperation, he offered a slack line training on the last day. I gave it a try and was surprised how challenging it is.
A typical day consisted of a choice of yoga sessions in the mornings and afternoons, with an occasional creative dance class sprinkled in. Meals were always vegetarian buffets. The kitchen staff put a lot of effort in the dishes they offered.
Over the course of our stay there were some mindful outings. On one occasion we went on a silent hike, taking in the sights, and sounds of our environment, as well as our thoughts. We also had a sunrise meditation session at the beach. The most memorable trip was to the eternal fires of Mt. Chimeara. The flames, fueled by methane gas, have been burning for over 2500 years, and gave birth to the myth of the Chimera, a fire breathing beast with the body and head of a lion, with a head of a goat on its back. Beneath the fires is an ancient Greek temple dedicated to the god of blacksmiths.
The big event of our stay was, of course, New Year’s Eve. It started with a dinner, and was the one time we had a meat choice in a meal. The staff went all out for the occasion, but the most impressive part was dessert. The hotel had a pastry chef who, along with an assistant, prepared each dessert individually with a lot of fanfare. One at a time, everyone in the group got up and took the chef’s creation.
To ring in the new year the staff organized a bonfire on the beach. We enjoyed a glass of glühwein, the dance therapist offered a challenge for those willing to dance a jig. All in all it was a very enjoyable way to ring in the new year. We didn’t miss the fireworks at all.
Our time at the resort was thoroughly relaxing and we enjoyed it very much. But all good things must come to an end, so 3 days into the new year we said goodbye to the staff and our new friends, and headed into Antalya for 2 days of sightseeing.
We hired a private car for a tour of two ancient Roman sites and a park with a waterfall into the ocean. We shared this tour with Moritz and Daria, a couple we met in the retreat, who happened to be spending a number of days in the area for their honeymoon.
Our first stop was at Aspendos, an ancient Greco-Roman city with a basilica, stadium, and theater. The stadium was overgrown quite a bit, making it less impressive than the other two sites. In contrast, the theater was very remarkable, one might even say monumental. It’s the best-preserved theater in Asia Minor, and one of the most intact in the world. It was an experience walking through it.
After walking around a bit amongst the ruins, we returned to the car and headed for another ancient town, Perge. What began as a bronze age settlement grew and was taken over by the Greeks, then the Romans, who built it up into a major city. It too has a theater, and a stadium. In contrast to Aspendos, the theater is run down and the stadium is better preserved, so we spent more time touring that. In addition, the agora, with its many columns, were an grand sight.
Our last stop was at Düden Falls, or more precisely, the lower Düden Falls. The falls are located in a park northeast of Antalya. Admission is free and it was a very nice, relaxing place that offered plenty of activities and food possibilities. But people really come here for the falls, and they don’t disappoint. It’s a dramatic sight to see the water falling into the Mediterranean Sea.
Once we had seen all there was to see, we piled back into the car. We dropped off, Moritz and Daria, before going to our own hotel. The receptionist gave us a restaurant recommendation. We had a decent, and surprisingly expensive, meal. We concluded that the receptionist made the recommendation not because of the food, but that the hotel gets a kick-back. Who know. Afterwards Kathrin went back to the hotel while I went on my evening photo walk.
The next day was our deep exploration of the city. We walked all over, and were immersed in Antalya’s history. We saw Hadrian’s Gate, built in 130BC to commemorate the visit of the Roman emperor of the same name. Hidirlik tower was just down the street from our hotel, and was a beautiful sight to see in the evening. The statue of Attalia II, the founder of the city, stands at the entrance of a shopping district. Antalya Harbor lies in the heart of the old city, and offers hints of its Greek, Roman, Ottoman, and modern Turkish history. All in all, a very enjoyable, if not long, walk with a lot to see.
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