Just a note here, this post has taken on a life of it's own and is MUCH longer than I intended. So, get yourself a cup of coffee and settle in for a read ...
Kaş
Last view of the cats of Istanbul, very early in the morning we were heading to the airport and down to the Turquoise Coast and the beach!
We hired a car at Dalaman airport and (carefully - being right hand drive and driving on the wrong side of the road for all of us) headed to the coast. This was the first view of the sea. Could not wait for a swim!
But lunch first. Fethiye.
Fethiye is located on the ancient city of Telmessos and was known by that name until 1934.
Fethiye is located on the ancient city of Telmessos and was known by that name until 1934.
Beer at lunchtime - in this climate a necessity.
There are numerous rock tombs in the hills and mountains around the city. This is the 4th century BC Tomb of Amyntas carved into a bluff in 350 BC by the Lycians, and an easy walk from the road. Delphi and Jacques walked up but it was mid afternoon, really hot and I cheered them on from the shade of a white mulberry tree.
Eventually, after getting lost, language barriers, misunderstandings, we found our way to our villa and were presented with this view.... worth it.
A couple of kilometres outside of Kas, it is perfectly located with it's own semi private cove. No beach, so no waves, just perfect swimming.
First swim happened very shortly after arriving. The first of many.
A main house with the lounge, dining, kitchen and patio, the bedrooms are off to the side in a separate wing. Each bedroom with it's own bathroom and view of the water and airconditioning. Paradise. (Derya Beach Villa on Airbnb - thoroughly recommended)
Stray cats which we adopted and fed.
Neighbourhood dog that checked in on us regularly.
Home for a week. A few days during that week I opted to stay home while the boys went exploring. Can you blame me? I do like ruins and exploring but not when it's too hot. Then I'd rather just swim and hang out in the shade.
But not all the time. I did manage to stir myself and I was very happy that I did!
Myra ...
In the province of Antalya, situated near to the town of Demre, Myra consists of a spectacular Greco-Roman amphitheatre in remarkably good shape.
The rock tombs date to the 4th century BC and are carved into the mountainside. Today they are rough hewn rock but in 1840 an explorer described them as painted in red, yellow and blue.
Hidden away in one of the rooms behind the amphitheatre we found sheep! Keeping as cool as they could on a really hot afternoon. I sympathised.
St Nicholas Church, Demre, Antalya
Built in AD 520 the church and the tomb of St Nicholas were built on the foundations of an older church where St Nicholas served as Bishop. Now days it is a museum and an ancient Byzantine church which has been excavated after having been completely buried by silt. St Nicholas was the inspiration for Santa Claus.
Being 16 feet or so below ground level, it was wonderfully cool.
Mostly for me it was a really relaxing holiday
Shopping happened ..
A few more tombs ...
And before I knew it, it was time to go home (minus the camera which got left behind in the car and made it's way home to me via South Africa in December!)
Some notes, South Africans can apply for a free visa online. www.e-visa-turkey.com. British citizens can also apply online, but it costs approximately £12, or it can be purchased at the airport when you arrive if you forget to do it beforehand (guilty). The local currency is Turkish Lira. We are already planning another family holiday, perhaps not this year, but next year definitely.
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