Following my planning on the GPS the night before I planned to hit a few spots on the way towards Kas (that was not definite destination today) and had all of the GPS coordinates prepared.
First stops were at Limyra to see an old Roman theatre that sits right next to the road and also the one of the oldest segmented arched bridges in THE WORLD. The GPS struggles with smaller local roads so I took a turn I hoped would deliver me where I wanted to be. It did, via the orange orchards the district is renowned for, through someone's farm and out the end of the gravel road onto the main roadway again. I passed Belgian walkers who must have been seeking similar sights.
Limyra Theatre - next to the road and greenhouses.
After a few other theatres in the past days the one at Limyra is not too impressive except that it is not fenced off and sits next to the local road with greenhouses up against it.....almost as though it is in the way of more crops.
Limyra Tombs - next to the road.
Next stop was the Limyra Bridge, with a brief stop along the way to talk to the Belgians who were impressed by the B.M.V. (in their pronunciation) and gave me an orange they must have picked-up on their way through the orchards.
The Limyra Bridge is rather well concealed by the orchards and greenhouses along its length and also the rising soil levels. It is interesting in the sense that overtime it has remained, and continues to serve a purpose (local motor scooters were parked on it), while the soil has built up around it and the agriculture, which Finike promotes and regulates to encourage, covers it from view. Good to see though.
Limyra Bridge - runs between greenhouses and orange groves/orchards.
Next was Arycanda up the nearby valley. It was an interesting extension to the day although I would not have been devastated to miss it. It is a terraced township on the hillside with a lengthy history. Again there was a theatre (the Romans must have enjoyed a show) and agoras and sarcophagi and columns.....I am not bored of it, it is more that in the past few days I have 'hit' several significant sites with incredible histories that another one becomes another one (at least I didn't pay to see this one).
Arycanda mosaics
Arycanda columns with a wonderful backdrop of mountains
Arycanda theatre - I have never been to the theatre so much.
On the way down the hill I took advantage, for the first time, of the natural water sources to fill my CamelBak. The man there assured me it is safe to drink and I hope so - I filled it so full I needed to squeeze some water out to fit it back in. Tastes good.
A fresh mountain stream to fill-up my water.
At the bottom of the hill and back on the coast I passed through Finike and it was time to see Demre (Myra) carved into the hillside. There are carved tombs and a theatre (again) and this time it was 15TL. I accept the need to pay to see historical sites and visit national parks etc because it costs money to make them available and maintain them. Myra was a rip-off. Other sites were much more of an experience and gave a much better indication of cities in earlier times. Myra was being excavated, partly closed-off and was small, very small. Anyway 15TL supports their efforts.
I could have taken this from outside the gates…..
Myra theatre.
After the 'experience' at Myra I thought I had better swing past Saint Nicholas Church (Santa Claus). Next door was the SantaClaus Restaurant and the historical site looked disappointing from outside. Time to head on. I later heard from fellow travellers it is not worth seeing.
View on the way from Demre towards Ucagiz (Kekova)
I wanted to see Kekova on the way (to Kas) and it is a short detour. I arrived mid afternoon and parked the bike near a restaurant and the boats and the many tourist buses. After a short look around on the jetties I decided I needed a relaxing Efes before planning my next move. After more than one Efes I decided I would stay in Kaleucagiz/Ucagiz and not rush the boat trip and move on to Kas. I met some Americans, and after our chatting about how pleasant the place is after the tourists go, I decided to find somewhere to stay. The man who found me in the town square made the decision easy and I coincidently ended up staying at the same place as the Americans.