Spring Break, Part 2 of 3
After a few days in Fethiye waiting for better weather, it didn’t come. Did that stop us? It should have! We had a nauseating 7-hour sail to Kas and luckily our guests were great sports. Kas is a beautiful town on the coast with a lovely waterfront, excellent fish restaurants and quaint shops.
The ancient Antiphellos amphitheatre overlooks the Mediterranean and was built in the 4th c. BC. After many photos there followed by a beautiful day exploring the town, we spent the evening playing cards and hanging out on the boat. Just as we were about to go to bed, a fierce wind blew up and it was all hands on deck to lift the anchor to move to a better spot. While we were able to reset the anchor, it was a reminder that our engine troubles still plagued us and it was a rough night. The next morning, we made a very hasty decision to have everyone except Russ, Hannah and Osman depart the boat for sightseeing on land while the boat sailed back to Gocek for repairs. Therefore, the last two days of the visit were spent driving winding coastal roads in a big white van. I’ve taken my role as tour guide to a whole new level.
Our big white van stops, in order:
Kekova Adasi - a gorgeous barrier island with a small town accessible only by boat or on foot. We hiked up to a castle and then found lunch at the only open restaurant in town.
Demre - A bit further along is the town of Demre, where the original church of St. Nicholas sits. Of course we had to see where Santa Claus was from, and it’s a far cry from the North Pole! The church is beautifully preserved and the kids especially enjoyed the nutella waffles afterwards.
Chimaera - Near the town of Kemer is a mountain of flames that burn eternally due to the methane gas that emerges from the rock. Some consider it the source of the original olympic flame (I’m sure the Greeks do not agree). A fun spot for our inner pyros.
Mt. Olympus Teleferik - After driving straight uphill in the big white van for nearly 10km, we finally arrived at the base of the cable car. The cable car took us to an altitude of 2365 meters where we stepped out into snow for 360 degree views. It is the second longest cable car in the world and the mountain is considered by ancient Greeks to be the home of the gods.
That evening, we arrived back at our starting place, the hotel in Antalya. Another hammam, dinner and dancing in the hotel restaurant and final goodbyes before their early departure.
