Day 10 Monday

Today was another quiet day with only three sites to visit.  

We left Kalkan and followed the coastline with islands scattered in the ocean on one side of the high way and rugged mountains on the other.  The 1 hour boat trip to Kekova took us past islands with holiday accommodation and their moored sailing boats.   Very noice…. Access only by water…This area has evidence of early settlement on many of the islands and was an area of pirate activity.

On one island are the half-submerged ruins of the residential part of Kekova, caused by  terrible earthquakes of the 2^nd century AD.  Half of the houses are submerged and staircases descend into the water.  Foundations of buildings, the ancient harbour and broken crockery are also seen below the sea.

Next we visited the ancient town of Myra, the city is well known for its amphitheatre and the rock cut tombs carved in the cliff above the theatre. Because of a terrible plague in 542-3 AD, Muslim raids, flooding and earthquakes, Myra was mostly abandoned by the 11^th century.  What remains is very impressive - a large theatre with the backdrop of Myra’s famous rock-cut tombs. 

The last visit was to the Church of Saint Nicholas whose significance lies largely in the remarkable mural frescoes depicting religious scenes, in many rooms and the huge vaulting ceiling of the main body of the church. 

After lunch we were off again for the trip further along the coast to sea side city of Antalya.