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Once
you sufficiently explored Fethiye you may then go out on day long
excursions to such ancient cities as Pinara at Minare village, Tlos at
Döger, and Sidyma at Dodurga returning to Fethiye in the evening. There
are also other ancient sites like Kadyanda in rather inaccessible places.
One day excursions are also possible to the ancient cities of Xanthos,
Letoon, and Patara in the vicinity of Fethiye. If we continue on our Blue
Voyage after Fethiye, with its numerous Lycian rock tombs, we pass the
Capes of Camliburun, Sahinburun, and Iblis Burnu, and arrive at the
Karacaören Islands where there are the ruins of late period structures.
The island has a restaurant and a pier onto which yachts may tie up. From
here, one proceeds to Gemiler Island, which is a good anchorage.
Gemiler Island is filled with ruins. Among the medieval buildings on the
island is a church and on the hill are the ruins of a palace decorated
with mosaics. There are cisterns and wells on the island too. On the
northern side are the remains of a quay and warehouse that are now
partially submerged. The side of the island facing the mainland is
suitable as an anchorage. Immediately opposite this is a restaurant and
places where one may find accommodation. This place is also accessible by
highway from Fethiye. Inland was the ancient city of Carmylessus. Between
here and Fethiye is the village of Kaya. Formerly inhabited by Greeks, the
village was abandoned during the population exchanges that took place in
1922 and is now empty. There are plans to turn it into a holiday village.
From Gemiler Island one reaches Bestas Harbor. Rounding Yogan Cape from
here one enters the gulf of Belcegiz. Ölü Deniz, a beautiful inland bay
that stretches behind the cape, is now closed to yachts. The reason this
heavenly place is called Ölü Deniz ("Sea of the Dead") is attributed to
the following legend. Once a father and son were caught in a storm here
and were in danger of sinking. The son claimed that if they approached the
rocks ashore they could take shelter in a cove. The father on the other
hand asserted that their ship would be driven onto the rocks and break up
and that there were no coves around here anyway. In his terror of running
around on the rocks, the father knocked his son (who was at the helm) into
the sea with an oar and took over the helm himself. Just as the ship was
about to hit the rocks on the cape, she turned into this calm, smooth
watered bay. This is the reason they say the bay is called the Sea of the
Dead, whereas what with the pine clad sandy beach stretched out like a
tongue, the name "Paradise Bay" would be more fitting. Vessels are not
allowed inside the bay to prevent its pollution. There is a good motel
here and there are also many hotels, motels, and restaurants on the
Belcegiz gulf side of Ölü Deniz. Leaving Belcegiz gulf, we must sail past
the high and bold capes of Yedi Burunlar ("Seven Capes")-Kötü, Sancak,
Inkahlik, Yassi, Kilic, and Zeytin, which have a nasty reputation for
contrary winds and confused seas. Once past them one arrives at a beach,
whose dunes with every passing day engulf a little bit more of the nearby
ancient city of Patara which awaits the day when archaeologists shovels
will free it of the sands. Rather than stay here however it is better to
come overland from Kalkan, passing Letoon and Xanthos on the way. Before
one reaches Kalkan there is another harbor called Yesilköy in which yachts
can take shelter. Kalkan is an important port of call on the Blue Voyage
from which one may visit the surrounding ancient sites and also stock up
on whatever provisions one may require. One of the most beautiful ports on
the Blue Voyage is Kas and one may linger on here for a long time. The
town is located on the site of ancient Antiphellos, whose well preserved
theater may be visited today.
Ancient sarcophagi lie scattered about and there are numerous Lycian rock
tombs in the cliffs. Rather than stay at Kas however, it is better for
yachts to anchor at Bayindir 1.5 km away. After leaving Kas, one sails for
well known Kekova where one may visit the ruins of Aperlai at the jetty on
Sicak Peninsula, Tersane Bay on Kekova Island, the sunken city, and the
ruins on the island as well as the ruins of Simena at Kaleköy. The best
anchorage for yachts is Ücagiz where one finds the ruins of the ancient
city of Theimussa. The place is a spot of beauty where nature and history
have merged. Kekova can also be reached in small rented boats from Kas and
from Cayagzi at Demre. After leaving Kekova, one passes Gökkaya Harbor and
arrives at Cayagzi at Demre. Here one may visit Myra and the Church of St.
Nicholas by car and then proceed on to Finike.
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