|
St. Nicholas Island
or Gemiler Island has remains of a sizeable Byzantine settlement and
though many of the buildings are in ruins, there is still sufficient to
see, including some marvelous mosaic floors, to make a ramble ashore
worthwhile. According to local folklore the island was a pirate stronghold
at some time and given its location on this lonely bit of coast, where a
look-out on the high hills above could signal the approach of ships going
north or south, it would seem a likely location for the thinking pirate to
base himself.
At one time the island was said to be ruled by a Queen whose skin was
extremely sensitive to the sun. A covered road was built from her palace
to the sea so she could walk out of the sun to the water’s edge for a
swim. Parts of an arched road still exist on the island.
TIP: Stroll to the top of Gemiler Island to see a breathtaking
sunset. Grab a bottle of wine and some glasses and make it a sunset
cocktail party! It's easy to get back down - even in the dusk.
TIP: From Fethiye, you can hike from the "Ghost Town" called Kaya, a former Greek settlement abandoned
after the 1923 population exchange. Meander through the semi-ruined houses and
churches that conjure a sad, dramatic history, and aim for the white
chapel at the tippy top of the hill. There is a path that leads down to
the sea near Gemiler to a cove called Soguk Su. At the end of the path is
a restaurant perched atop the cliff overlooking the cove. It is quite the
location. You can have dinner there or just enjoy a cocktail. Make sure
you have Hasan's phone number so you can call him from there to pick you
up in the dingy when you are finished. If you eat there, ask the
proprietor to take you back to the Gundogan at Gemiler in his motorboat.
|
