The GHOST town of Kayaköy - Sailing A B Sea (Ep.060)

In this episode of Sailing A B Sea we visit the ghost town of Kayaköy in Turkey. It's been deserted since 1923 when there was a population exchange between Greece and Turkey.
For your convenience, we’ve included Amazon links. As Amazon Associates we earn a small percentage from qualifying purchases (at no cost to you).
Turkish waters and Cyprus pilot guide amzn.to/3xJgykU
Mavic pro fly more combo amzn.to/3uU4nQf
Birds Without Wings book by Louis de Bernieres amzn.to/3tfQdr5
#SailingABSea
A brief history of our story and in depth personal blogs that bring you along on our journey can be found at www.absea.com.au/
GET MORE WITH PATREON - / sailingabsea
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK - / sailingabsea
READ OUR BLOGS - www.absea.com....
PICS ON INSTAGRAM - / sailingabsea
Still photos and videos are shot using the Canon EOS M3 with either the EF-S 18-55mm IS STM lens or the EF-M 55-200mm IS STM lens. amzn.to/2RpDNzU
Underwater video is shot using GoPro Hero 4 Silver amzn.to/3uF9eED
Sony action cam HDR AS300R amzn.to/3t7AJpW
Still shots & video Samsung Galaxy S6
We record live sound when possible with a Takstar SGC 598 amzn.to/2OEQjdR and voice over sound with a Yeti Blue amzn.to/3wNio3B
Intro music: Truth of the Legend Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons...
Epilog - Ghostpocalypse by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommon...)
Source: incompetech.com...
Artist: incompetech.com/
Dark Walk by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommon...)
Source: incompetech.com...
Artist: incompetech.com/
Forever Yours - Wayne Jones
Tragic Story - Myuu
Et Voila - Chris Haugen

[@SailingABSea]

If you're not already a subscriber to Sailing A B Sea click on the 'red subscribe' button now and remember, if you want to be notified when we release a new video you need to click on the 'bell icon' too. This is one of the fastest and easiest ways you can help to grow our channel. Thanks guys and girls.

[@christrinder1255]

Kayakoy is a lovely place and well worth a visit for anyone staying in Olu Deniz, or Fethiye, on holiday. Thanks for showing, and bringing back lovely memories 👍👏😊

[@SailingABSea]

Agreed Chris, we found it to be quite enchanting.

[@teichteich9633]

Interesting place! Thanks for showing it to us!

[@SailingABSea]

Glad you liked it. 👍

[@murraywestenskow2896]

You guys are doing a wonderful job. Your artistic talents are improving, and your story telling is excellent. How did I feel as you wandered through the ghost town? I felt a weird vibe as I considered the hundreds of years and many generations of people who lived and died there, and how their existence is so foreign to our modern world. Almost like another planet. Yet - I remain hopeful that those long ago people lived happy lives and found contentment in their time and space. Who had it better? Them or Us?

[@SailingABSea]

Hey Murray, thank you for watching and we're glad that you're enjoying what we're doing. Cheers.

[@SailingABSea]

[Aannsha] Hi Murray westenskow, thank you for telling us about your experience as we took you around Kayakoy, and I'm glad that you were able to connect with the place through our video. We also value your comments about how you see our editing improving. 😊. Imho, storytelling is such an important part of a video experience and it's great that you appreciate that too. 🙂 Thank you.

[@jwrappuhn71]

Good vid ya'll.

[@SailingABSea]

Good comment jwrappuhn. 👍😀

[@kidocq]

Interesting site, definitely to visit next time we go to Kas. Beer and coffee were appealing too…😀😀😀🍻

[@SailingABSea]

Yes Michel it is worth a visit. Not sure it would have the same vibe in the summer when there are a lot of people meandering around. We were very fortunate to have it to ourselves. 😀👍

[@kidocq]

Sailing A B Sea Maybe will go back to Kas in 2-3 weeks as we are still negotating for the apartment we visited but this time with a proper agency and at much more realistic price … Hope you are well 😃😃

[@SailingABSea]

Hey Michel, that's great news about the apartment. If we are still in the area when you return maybe we could go out for a day sail.

[@kidocq]

Sailing A B Sea Definitely would be great ⛵️⛵️⛵️

[@ianwilson3206]

Aannsha Shelley told me that clove oil is the only oil that kills mould spores. Good luck with your cleaning..

[@SailingABSea]

Thanks Ian and Shelley, got to keep that mould under control.

[@SailingABSea]

[Aannsha] Hi Ian and Shelley, thanks - I used to use clove oil in our home in Queensland, Australia which did get mould in the more humid months, but I found after a while it used to make me feel ill. I did some research and discovered that there are a few oils that are natural fungicides including oregano, thyme, cinnamon, clove and tea tree/melaleuca. I had a good quality tea tree at home already and tried that and it did the job, so I've used it ever since. I also don't get a strong reaction against it, which is a huge bonus. :)

[@TheBoabby50]

There is a wonderful book set around the time of the population exchanges named "Birds without wings" A fictionalised history of that period by Louis de Bernières who also wrote the better known Captain Corelli's mandolin. A fascinating insight into Turkish history of this period and well worth a read.

[@SailingABSea]

Thank you for that information, we'll check out the book, Aannsha is an avid reader, I (Baz) am a slow reader. 🤔

[@SailingABSea]

[Aannsha] Thanks TheBoabby50, I've just downloaded it on Kindle :)

[@1958pobs]

TheBoabby50 think I will too ! Thanks for the suggestion, would love to know about it.

[@boatsontv2BCTV]

Hey Baz, There's a plastic bin beside where you "droned" the town that would hold lotsa water and save the joint (love your verbs)

[@SailingABSea]

LOL I love making up my own verbs. I'm thinking of calling them Bazisms... What ya reckon?

[@SailingABSea]

A few comments have made us realise that we ended this video with an unintentional cliffhanger. We did make it back to the nearest town and filled up the fuel tank, then decided to take the main road back to Kas. Cheers.

[@jamesg5001]

How do you find sleeping on the boat? I am a light sleeper. Wondering if wave slapping on hull or other noises keep you awake? Is it quiet at anchor?

[@SailingABSea]

Hi Canuk, I (Baz) am also a light sleeper and in the beginning the slapping on the hull, creaking lines or wind in the rigging did tend to keep sleep at bay. Eventually, you get used to the 'regular' noises and they become quite comforting because you know that's how it should sound. Then when a different sound happens I'm instantly awake and up to investigate. It's an interesting lifestyle choice. Great question, cheers.

[@kateristrobel2022]

People in power said we won while the generational inhabitant of this town lost more than a place, an identity. Thank you for sharing.

[@SailingABSea]

Agreed Kateri.

[@ritamatthews2655]

48 different beers??!! You can’t be serious! Do tell! Tuborg, Efes, and ?? We’ve been to Kayakoy a few times. Each time that Church has been closed and in high season. We were told they were doing reconstruction works on it but each time we never saw anyone working there. Either way it’s a very interesting site. Each time we’ve been there we were anchored in Cold Water Bay. We hiked up from Ali Tuna’s Restaurant. Great place btw but not cheap. Last time 80 TL per person for a three course meal.

[@SailingABSea]

Heiniken, Miller, Corona, Budweiser (that can't be classified as beer) LOL. Cold Water Bay is on our overnight anchorages list. Ali Tuna's now is not on the list. Thanks for the heads up.

[@ritamatthews2655]

You can anchor just outside his beach with no obligation to eat at his restaurant. It is pricey. During the day it is full of trip boats, very loud party pirate ship types. The whole Gemler Island area is the same. Very busy high season. It’s a turn off but Gemler is worth a hike and cold water bay is idealic after 5 pm.

[@SailingABSea]

That's excellent info Rita, really appreciate it. What are your sailing plans this year?

[@ritamatthews2655]

We get back to Shantaram April 2 and launch on the 23rd. We’ll see. Things are still up in the air. It’s either Turkey or the Adriatic with Greece thrown in between .

[@SailingABSea]

Fingers crossed that it all works out for you and that we get a chance to meet up and share stories.

[@sailing-etanche]

Great video again! And??? a few drops of fuel left?

[@SailingABSea]

We did make it back to the petrol station and then decided to take the main road back to Kas. Thanks for watching. 👍 🍷

[@razisn]

Per Wikipedia the village desertion started due to ethnic cleansing persecutions long before the population exchange en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kayaköy

[@SailingABSea]

Thank you Razin. Researching history is sometimes like finding a black cat in a dark room at midnight.

[@stuegor]

The town looks like it was established a very one time ago. And how many beers varieties did the pub have ?

[@SailingABSea]

43 if I recall correctly Mr G. I only had 1 because I was driving.

[@elmasselcuk]

So you find the gas station =)

[@SailingABSea]

Yes Selcuk, we made it home safely with plenty of fuel. 👍 😀

[@ozeraydinkaya7393]

Hi , there is only one mistake. The Greeks attacked the Ottoman Empire, to obtain land. Republic of Turkey was founded at the end of the War of Independence. If the Greek government did not attack, they would live the same way.

[@SailingABSea]

Hi Ozer, history is sometimes a difficult area to find full information. Thank you for helping to make it more understandable. Are you living in Turkey? Maybe we can meet you this year as we sail to Istanbul.

[@ozeraydinkaya7393]

Hi . ı wrote you from instagram. But you did not answer . I would like to invite you Urla iskele and also İstanbul. I will try to organize berthing for your Sailyatch according to your schedule @@SailingABSea

[@SailingABSea]

Hey Ozer, thank you. If you email us it is easier to communicate. absea@healingtruth(dot)com.au

[@SailingABSea]

[Aannsha] Hi Ozer, sorry about that - I generally 'operate' Instagram and I haven't quite managed how to check the messaging system there. As Baz says, do contact us at our email address, as we do appreciate your offer. 😊

[@ozeraydinkaya7393]

Hi I send you a mail. @@SailingABSea

[@johnlord7854]

Another great video you two :) Must have been terrible having to leave your home town of many years :( Why cant we all just bloody get on, without all the violence :( Regards, John. New Zealand.

[@SailingABSea]

Agreed John.

[@SailingABSea]

[Aannsha] John, thinking of you all in New Zealand at this time 💚

[@johnlord7854]

@@SailingABSea Thank you. We are a peaceful country - this is a big shock to us. We accept people of all race and religion here.

[@peterward8349]

Did they say why the Turks didnt utalise the dwellings after the exodus ?

[@SailingABSea]

No Peter, we couldn't find any info on that. Quite a lot of the building materials have been repurposed.

[@elmasselcuk]

It's in 1920. Education is very low. And the people left houses Christian and the people stayed in Turkey is Islamic. Imagine the rest. Even in some places, they cut their orange trees because they were bread by Christians. It's hard to imagine how they lived so long together happily even they are not in the same religion. And with a sudden click, they became enemy.

[@johnlord7854]

@@elmasselcuk That is such a shame :(

[@SailingABSea]

Agreed Selcuk. It's amazing to us (now) how friends can suddenly become enemies.

[@kz4506]

There are eyes on you , mmmmm scary

[@SailingABSea]

The eyes in the sky...

[@peterward8349]

A what else can fit down your shirt

[@SailingABSea]

(Baz) I'm always delighted to see what Aannsha has hidden down her shirt. LOL 😂 👍

[@SailingABSea]

[A] Now that would be telling! 😉😅