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Turkey - along the coast

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Kas

The port of Phellus in antiquity.  It was famous for its sponges in Roman times.  Now its popular place to catch some UV rays and enjoy that fantastic Turkish cuisine.  And if you're not interested in antiquity you're welcome to ignore the cool Roman era tombs looking like little temples carved into the cliff overlooking the town. 

Myra & Patara; Santa & Apollo

According to the book of Acts, the prisoner St. Paul stopped in Lystra (Myra) not far from here on his way to Rome in 60 CE (AD).

The popular bishop of Myra, St. Nicholas, was spared further persecution when the Roman empire embraced Christianity under the rule of Constantine.  Released from prison he continued his illustrious career in the service of Christianity. 

St. Nicholas was born a little further along the coast in Patara around 300 CE(AD).  This hospitable Mediterranean clime, popular with sun-bathers and scuba divers makes a marked contrast with Santa's North Pole headquarters.

The ancient Apollonian oracle at Patara once rivaled the oracle at Delphi.  Apollo spent his winters here and his summers on Delos.

This was all a thousand years before St. Nic came around.  As bishop of Myra he is said to have saved three girls from a life of prostitution by throwing three bags of money in their father's garden to finance their marriages.  He still rises for 50 or so days of the year on our planet from Tokyo, to Hong Kong, to Moscow, Madrid and Milwaukee in his guise as  the round and jolly character in a red outfit.

After sitting quietly for 700 years, the mortal remains St. Nicholas were hijacked to Bari in 1087 by a group of zealous Italians.