I was talking to a local the other day about all the places that I had visited in Ordu, and I mentioned some of my favourite places, some of which only a couple of miles from the city. I was shocked to learn that not only had he not been to them, but he had no idea that they even existed. Instead of judging him for this lack of knowledge about the place he had lived his entire life, I sympathized with him as I too have been guilty of the same naiveté.
In almost every place I have ever lived, I rarely visited or explored the local places of interest. Why? Well there is always the excuse that I just didn’t have the time. Life is full. There’s work, family, friends, volunteering, studying, etc. It all comes down priorities. We make space for the things that are important, and we put the less important things on a shelf for another day. It’s wise and commendable that one manages their time wisely, and honestly going out on an adventure is probably not high on anyone’s list of day to day tasks. Unfortunately the things we put on the shelf are forgotten, sometimes even the shelf itself is forgotten.
For me, I have a desire and longing for something new, a little adventure. I am thankful that in this season of life I have an opportunity to pursue this interest of mine a little more than I have in the past. That being said, I do also enjoy an occasional “mini” adventures during the busier times. They give me energy for other less exciting things, and remind me life is not all about collecting the next pay check. Adventure Ordu will highlight some of these “mini-adventures” that you can have while visiting Ordu.
Cotyora is one of the mini-adventures or lesser known points of interest in Ordu. In fact, most people will pass by without even noticing. One of the main reasons is that the location is hidden by the coastal highway, and it is only accessible from traffic leaving Ordu towards Samsun. It is not well marked. Only a little brown sign pointing down a steep brick road towards the sea points the way. After about a 100 meters, there is a parking lot and a small trail leading to the ruins.
Cotyora is one of the original names for the province of Ordu, and the archaeological site was given the name. However, locals also know the site as Bozukkale or broken tower. That is exactly what you will find. A broken tower with only a section of the stone wall remaining. The stone wall is said to be from around the 11th century during Byzantine reign. Other than the ruins there is a small lighthouse and some beautiful rock outcroppings. It is a peaceful location and I provides some great views of the coastline and the city.
Those looking for something a little different with a little history and some beautiful scenery it’s worth stopping by.