European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 27, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Turkey a town Worth visiting near Kas is Denre Home of the Church of St. Nicholas. Scaffolding provides a temporary roof Over the Basilica during renovation left. A drawing of what the Basilica looked like in former times above. A religious painting adorns a Wall inside St. Nicholas below. Tiny alleyways and narrow streets that slope gently Down to the Harbor. The whitewashed Walls wooden balconies and colourful plants creeper and vines give the place an attractive aspect. Kalkan offers a Good alternative base. Its Harbor is however nowhere near As appealing As that in Kas. For those not staying Here a visit is recommended. The Road from Kas is Beautiful hugging the coastline and passing the Kapotas Gorge. Kalkan itself is Worth seeing. An evening visit combining dinner with a Sunset Panorama Over the Bay is particularly enjoyable. In the opposite direction a similar length drive leads to Pere. This Dusty town contains the byzantine Church of St. Nicholas. Nicholas the fourth Century origin of our Santa Claus tradition was born in nearby Patara in the fourth Century and became Bishop of Myra. A number of legends grew up about his life including the Story that he anonymously gave bags of Gold to three Village girls who had no dowry enabling them to marry and possibly saving them from prostitution. Nicholas has become the Patron Saint of Many different groups including children sailors and unmarried girls. The Stone Church in Deere was built to Nicholas memory but various repairs and modifications have since taken place and in 1087, merchants from Bari ransacked the grave and took the Saint s Bones to Italy. The Church once used As a mosque seers to have no real Center but includes a series of moorish archways a number of badly aged frescoes and a sarcophagus believed to have once contained the Bones of St. Nicholas. Outside in the Garden stands a Large Black statue of a hooded bearded Santa Claus with a sack Over his right shoulder and two children standing in the folds of his cloak.". It is said that the modern tradition of giving presents on dec. 6 reputedly the Date on which Nicholas died began with the dutch protestants in new Amsterdam North America who linked the St. Nicholas Story with. Nordic legends of a magician who punished and rewarded children. Myra the town of which Nicholas was Bishop now a few Miles Inland from Deere. This was one of the earliest lycian cities and was probably established in the is photos by Michael Abrams fifth Century . St Paul stopped off Here on his Way to Rome to Appeal to the emperor. Now this formerly important City and religious Center is uninhabited and Cut off from the sea. It is interesting to note however that the entire Plain is covered with greenhouses which produce Flowers and vegetables. Ironically the silting which led to the Harbor s decline has since become an important source of income for the town. The main reason for visiting Myra today is to see the lycian tombs and the roman theater which lies at its foot. The tombs Are particularly impressive a vast honeycomb that spreads across the whole Hillside. There Are carved friezes and Geometric decorations and it s great fun to clamber around the Hillside exploring these ancient tombs. Kas makes a perfect destination whether for a relaxing coastal Holiday or a base from which to explore ancient Sites and cultural relics. The town near Antalya and Fethiye could be visited on a Day trip but its peaceful Friendly atmosphere makes a pleasant contrast to the noisy Brash character of the nearby resorts. Co under your own steam and find a Small guest House where you can enjoy the relaxed Pace and Solitude of this fascinating and Scenic area. Richard mover Ley is a free Lance writer living in Darmstadt Germany. The Castle above the fishing Village of is men a offers a panoramic View of the coast. For is Richard mover Ley october 27, 1994 stripes Magazine