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Leaving Fethiye (with all our stuff in tow again) we headed down the coast to Kas, not far from where we’d finished our hike the day before. Our main reason for going there was to do a sea kayaking trip over nearby ruins of a city that earthquakes sunk below the water line. Unfortunately, on our first full day in town the operator told us that it was too rough to go out. We decided to stick around in hope that the next day was better and took what ended up being a really good day trip to the town of Demre.

It’s near the ancient Lycian city of Myra and we visited the rock tombs of the necropolis, the theatre and the church of St. Nicholas. Back in 168BC when the Lycian League was formed there were 23 city state members who sent 1, 2 or 3 representatives to an annual senate (depending on their population). Myra was one of only six cities to be allowed to send 3 representatives. Its rock tombs are the most impressive we’ve seen and form a backdrop to the ancient theatre, something which is apparently relatively common. In the Christian era Myra remained an important city and in the 4th century AD St Nicholas was the bishop there. A basilica built in his memory has been a popular pilgrimage site ever since, even though the relics themselves were taken by Italian sailors in 1087 during a period of battles between Islamic invaders and the Byzantine Empire. The historical figure, who was one of the most popular saints of Tsarist Russia, is more popularly known today by the name of Santa Claus. This transformation probably came about because of his reputation as the protector of children and for secret gift giving.

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Tags: Antalya, Basilica of St Nicholas, Chimera, Kas, Kekova, Myra, Olympos