After getting to sleep at 1230 when the music stopped, we were a bit bleary eyed going to breakfast.

Found out that it was the Turkish equivalent of a hens night, with the wedding of a local girl tomorrow. Apparently attendance is a pretty loose arrangement , with our host saying he might go depends how busy he is.

Chatted with US couple who are planning to hike a section of the walk today. No maps, not quite correct clothes and no idea on what state of track might be – so might make it an interesting 3 hours or so.

Walked past mosque, after strange payment arrangement at local store – maybe they are only ones with card payment facilities, and asked whether many people attended. Well maybe not the right question when there are 85,000 mosques which few attend and only 55,000 schools where attendance rate isn’t particularly high nor is quality of education.

Got driven by number one driver to drop off point, but was a bit worried our praise may have gone to her head because she pulled her headscarf over her eyes whilst trying to adjust and just smiled.

Dropped off high above Myra and walked down a steep road with views across the rooftops of numerous greenhouses in one direction and strangely heaps of high rise apartments on the hillsides de in the other.- facing mountains not the sea.

Got passed by the usual coasters and spotted a very big central school, with the noise of kids ringing out.

Struck our first ruin at the bottom of the hill in a park where a lone local was using the free exercise equipment. Sadly when we got to other side of monument we found our first graffiti on a historical piece.

On the flat we passed what only could be described as a Steptoe and son house   The next door neighbour deserved a replacement satellite dish from the provider as it was rusting away.

Whilst hothouses were aplenty there was a sprinkling of orange groves, which we expected in an area known for citrus production.

Lots of beautiful little kids along the way living in very impoverished conditions. 

Unlike other areas there are more dogs than cats and a friendly pat of one created a pied piper effect as we moved along – despite Jane shooing them away.

One thing Turkish people are is patriotic. If there is a pole they will hang a flag, some even emblazon it on their roof.

A seemingly ordinary stretch of road and land soon turned into the entry to Myra Ruins. It was an amazing sight with tombs all the way up the mountain side and a well preserved Amphitheatre. We wandered around taking a raft of photos that will obviously need editing after snapping everything in sight.

Did a bit of souvenir shopping and came across a family with the cutest little 3 yearold charmer. She was an automatic choice for one of Jane’s kangaroo pins and her joy on getting it was heartwarming. We left her holding her pin and finishing off her second ice cream, courtesy of Dad’s leftover.

A local with no vehicle in sight sidled up offering a taxi ride as we left, which we politely declined.

It was a flat road into Demre with no industry visible. We passed the most colourfully school you could wish to see, with kids heading home at 100pm.

Petrol is ridiculously expensive at just under $3 a litre, little wonder everyone defers to a scooter.

Demre /Myra is the supposedly home of Santa Clause and the theme was everywhere.

The sight of an Uber Eats driver sent us on a search for lunch and an ATM. First part was easy. But first couple of banks rejected our cards. Luckily over lunch we heard a guide point one out over the road. 

Lunch was nice, other than the warm beer. I managed to snap a shot of Jane and the chef, under a sign which requires some explanation.

Next it was off to see the Church of St Nicholas, not only famous as Santa, but the patron Saint of Russia. If they are short of troops in Ukraine I know why – half the population are touring here.

It was a beautiful old building which is under restoration. The bits you could see were simple but memorable. Some of the ceiling fresco’s are still in great condition.

When we got home we found out that the plastic covering the floor of the main Chapel was because they had actually found the tomb of St Nicholas recently – apparently good enough for front page coverage on Google.

There are only two archaeologists working on restorative work which still has three years to go. 

Out of the church and it was the Xmas decoration hunt for Jane and baggage minding for me with strict instructions not to pat any more stray dogs.

A rude Russian beauty gave the ice creamseller the rounds of the table about the size of her serving – perhaps if she had looked in the mirror this morning she would have realised the girl may have been doing her a favour.

Flushed with success we were off looking for our pick up point across the other side of town – where else at a bakery.

Passed a carnival, but could not elude the evil eye of the ride operator to snap a shot in the dodgems. Further along an ambitious old scruffy dog lay asleep beneath a huge meat sign on a butchery wall.

Jane found her next car – a BMW convertible into which only she would fit – glad it wasn’t the bag carrier.

Finally spotted the cafe and walked past a flash hotel with a flock of chickens in the front yard. Not sure if they were going on tonight’s menu or escapees from elsewhere.

Waited about an hour for ride to arrive in a country which appears to work on Fiji time.

Got picked up, crossed a huge dry river bed that even had a road through the middle, before doing a Cooks Tour of where we might have walked had we not changed the path to avoid the rugged mountain crossing . It was plain dangerous with steep narrow paths very close to big drops.

It was then again onto the winding coastal road with its hairpin turns and great views of the coast. The hate in him was looking for every opportunity to overtake, which meant a tight grip on the door handle for me.

There were many beaches we could walk to after our 12km return walk to the ruins tomorrow. We also had a look at the finishing line for Friday.

Stopped and triple parked while host collected some freshly baked bread for dinner, then it was off hime to a place now surrounded by high rise unit towers. It’s an old but very clean place with only four rooms.

Only there 30 minutes and it was a call to the table for a vegetarian dinner , served quickly as it was mine hosts wife’s birthday.

Sat around chatting with some other walkers and picked up a few tips for the rest of the trip.

Still trying to work out why our photos are taking so long to load.

Got about 3 days rain predicted and hoping it does not affect flow of river we have to cross on weekend.