Fethiye

After leaving Kas we visited Xanthos, once the capital city of the Lycian federation . It was once a city of 50000 people in the 6th century and at least twice when attacked by enemy forces, the citys population committed mass suicide and burnt the city . The usual roman theatre and bath houses can be seen. Incredible examples of early terracotta plumbing still remain. Then it was back over the Taurus mountains. A visit to a rug cooperative was fasinating. We saw all the wool and silk preparations and dying that is needed to waeve a carpet the traditional turkish way. These carpets were beautiful but very very expensive.  Then on to the greek ghost town of Kayakoy.  It was a thriving township with a population of 3500 until 1924 when Ataturk instituted the exchange program with greece, where greek and turkish populations were repatriated to  county of origin. Kayakoy became a ghost town and was further destroyed by an earthquake. We walked  up and down pathways through the village in 36degree heat. This was the village where some scences from the movie  the water deviner  were shot. Also the inspiration for Louis de Bernieres novel Birds without wings. A swimming pool in a nearby resturant was welcome relief after the walk. We spent the night at seaside town of Fethiye. Never seen so many tour gulets (turkish sailing boats) touting for business.