Karataş is a small town south of Adana, at the coast. I did not spend much time there, apart from drinking tea and finding the way to nearby (people said: 3 kilometers, it felt like 4) Magarsa. I read about Magarsa in a book I have (Ancient cities of Turkey. A guide to 118 ancient cities from Anatolia to Thrace. Yaşar Yılmaz. ISBN 978-605-4793-23-5, Istanbul 2014). The book indicated I’d see traces of an ancient city when walking west, “where the holiday compounds come to an end”. I saw plenty of compounds, and little traces. As a matter of fact, except for a pile of stones shortly before reaching the theatre, and some structure in the corn field in the distance I did see any. So I missed the ruins of the city walls, the port, a bathhouse, a temple. I did see the theatre, or rather: what was visible. Because it was still being excavated. To see such work was a treat by itself (due to heavy rains in the previous days no workers were in sight, the ground would be too hard to work).
I walked on till a cliff-like point, where as so often the military occupied the best spot. It may be that it’s there that the temple, harbour and city walls are hidden from the public view. Still, it was a glorious day and I much enjoyed the friendly people, the countryside, the walk. To get to Karataş there is a frequent bus to Yüreğir bus station in Adana.
The two being so related I give Magarsa a sub-gallery in the Karataş gallery.