Day 9, Tuesday, October 11, 2004
Submitted by Carol Schneider Cahagros@aol.com
Antalya A Boat Trip and Visit to Phaselis

            It was another beautiful day as we left Antalya after breakfast and headed south along the Mediterranean  coast to Kemer.  On the right side were the Taurus Mts. climbing steeply from the coast.  It was a good day to be in the sun since Meli was not feeling well.  She was able to rest and sleep without having to do a lot of talking.

            At Kemer we climbed into our exclusive boat for a day of cruising, swimming, and sunning.  The water color changed from deep cobalt, to ultramarine, to brilliant turquoise close to the shore. We passed many resort hotels along the coast. The near by mountains, including Olympos and  Chimaira (with a permanent flame), were topped with clouds.

            The boat stopped 3 times, at coves and a beach, so we could go over board to swim.  The water was cold and clear.  At one of the stops, the crew put fruit on a  platter and floated it on the water for the swimmers.  The lunch buffet was elegant and delicious. 

            Later in the afternoon the boat docked near the ruins of Phaselis, a city on the Lycian border, founded at the beginning of the 6^th c. B.C.  The site is considered among the most picturesque ancient ruins of Turkey.  Evergreen trees grow among the ruins in a tranquil setting.  There are 3 harbors surrounding the city.  We walked along a paved street, passing a theater and baths, to a gate way erected in honor  of a visit by the Emperor Hadrian.

            The bus took us back to Antalya and  supper on our own.
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