Bodrum

Having spent a very peaceful night in Sea Gardens bay after a very good moussaka lunch w are now in Bodrum for our overnight stay before we depart back to Blighty tomorrow afternoon.

Lots of  Gulets in this harbour mostly doing charter business but as my summing up at the weekend will show, not all are they seem to be.  Some look very expensive but that is not all money can buy.  One of the most important aspects is that the Captain and his crew have to work with ease and continuity, and be professional and helpful in all manners of their jobs.

 I can imagine the harbour side will be very noisy tonight as all the bars compete for business with loud music but hey we've got 4 hours on the plane to sleep tomorrow.

It is very humid and hot today with cloud cover so we are having iced drinks to cool us down.

One of the highlights of this morning is that Chris who has been on a fishathon since we set sail actually caught a nice octopus on his rod and line, so Sezayi our Captain had to go snorkelling to get another of which he was very successful so it looks like that is what they are having for dinner.  Bill and I are going out to a recommended restaurant on our own for a change to eat some lamb.

More later ...

Sea garden bay

Haven't had the wifi for 2 days until now.  Been to 4 more bays since, one they got the kayak out and I paddled rand in the crystal clear waters for half an hour.  I've been swimming without the wetsuit most days as it's so difficult to get on whilst its so hot I've just jumped in with a swimsuit.  I'd describe the water as refreshing but not too cold, but like gin it's so clear.  Mary's husband is yet again on another fishathon.  Yesterday he had a really good bite with a large fish (it now must have weighed 4 kilos !!!)

Also the other day we had an ice cream man in his moron boat whizz out to us as we were moored with a few other boats in a huge bay.

So here we are in another by called the Sea Gardens.  The skipper, Sezayi, his father used to own all the land around here when he was alive I've just been told.

More later....

Tuzla

Got a signal eventually on the on board wifi.

This bay is very secluded and there are no other boats, we moved from one bay earlier because it was too windy.  So here we are having had a lovely meal again from a BBQ from Chris, Mary's husband cooked some bream and steaks for me and Mum ( Betty, Mary's Mum we all call Mum!) they were delicious.  Earlier for lunch we had stuffed peppers which had a lot of flavour with the salads and tzatziki.

Travelling on the Gulet was a bit rough to get here but well worth it as it's so peaceful.

As we are alone I got the clarinet out and we had a bit of a sing song, all merry and jolly!

English Bay

Moored here for the night.  Dinner again was very nice, home made koftas with spicy beans and salad  with scallop chips.  Got out the clarinet but as there are others nearby decided it was too late to start partying.

Today decided to go to Marmaris which is about 40 minutes away on the other side of the mountains 1) to have a proper Turkish bath and 2) to get some boat stores.  I also went into a jewellery shop and bought some earrings and a new wedding ring !

The Turkish bath was a new experience not to be missed.  Mary, Sezayi Mary's mum and I got there via another of Sezayi's friends who had to take us to one out of town as the one he knew as shut.  We first off went into the sauna and seeing as it was 100 degrees outside was ridiculous so I managed to stay in there for about 3 minutes.  Next room was a huge marble room with several basins around a huge plinth which was hot !!  It's supposed to be relaxing but I found that very strange after the sauna so poured cold water over myself to cool down.  We then were instructed to lie on the plinth whilst a young lad then took a mitt like sandpaper and got rid of all my dead skin, then soaped me all over to clean up.  I was then drenched with lukewarm water.  After this lot we then went upstairs where the were several booths to have the massage.  If I thought my osteopath Audley was a strong man this one was stronger and  I had to cry out if the pain was too much and I have a high threshold when it comes to massage.  Then it was back to the changing rooms and dress.

So all in all an interesting day away from the boat but I'm glad to be back.

So now just having a G&T with Mary and recovering !

Special Bay

After a lovely breakfast of  bread, jams, eggs and honey we set off to this beautiful bay where we stopped for lunch.  Yid and Tungey cooked us a superb lunch of baked aubergines, spicy beans and salad, the food is so different but very simple and delicious.

Mary and  I went swimming this morning and the water wasn't too cold, Bill and Chris sat on board the only thing that was wet were their drinks.  Currently sipping a glass of wine from lunch.  The weather today is hotter about 26 degrees plus, very comfortable.  The sunbeds on the boat are really relaxing and there is always a place where you can be alone.

Now we have moved into another bay around the corner presumably for the evening.  We have heard thunder storms over the mountains but the threat of rain has now thankfully gone.

Chris is just about to hand me a nice gin and tonic ......

Oracler bay

Stopped here for the night yesterday after a 2-3 hour steam with sails from Gumusluk.  This bay is fantastic, the water as clear as gin.  Mary went in this morning but I can't be bothered to put on the wetsuit again to go in so may have to grin and bear it with just a swimsuit :( anyway we're for the off now after a lovely Turkish breakfast to somewhere new.

Going to look at the local charts of the area now...

Golden Princess

So here we are now on Mary and Chris's Gulet which we joined this morning in Gumusluk harbour.  We set off to a lovely bay for lunch not far from the town but by an island and a lovely beach.  I donned the wetsuit with great difficulty - I never used it again - and jumped in for a swim (water was cold!!) and lost an earring but saw it on the sea bed ...Yid, one of the trainee yachtsman (also doubling as a gin wallah) working on the boat jumped in and retrieved it for me as I had no fins on.  Thank you Yid !!

Here's a picture of Yid


(all pics to follow later)



This boat is just amazing, 77 ft all told with 5 double cabins and very luxurious.  We've just had a lovely lunch cooked by Tunjay and are now crossing the waters outside Bodrum and Bitez.  Going to stop for an hour whilst someone looks at the engine as there is an oil issue needs inspecting.

I just love it here on board and regret not doing this trip sooner.

This afternoon

Gosh it's so hot.  We has a snack lunch in a restaurant we will go to tonight, saw the Golden Princess come into the bay which is our Gulet we are on from tomorrow.  Mary and here mum came and fnd us at the apartment and had a glass of wine and we all caught up with our travels.  We will be visiting them later after we have had our dinner.

Currently sunbathe on the terrace but it's so hot I've come in to have a shower and change for the evening.  I still seem to be on UK time as we nerve get to breakfast before 10am and it's now gone six but feels like the afternoon.

Here's a picture of that market we went to yesterday (and a mosk turret)

Went to a posh restaurant last night that had a good menu but as I don't eat fish that often went for the lamb chop dish. It was ok but a bit over done.  Bill had white grouper which he wasn't sure of but it was ok.  We've decided to eat in the home restaurant tonight but not sure if Mary arrives today or tomorrow in her Gulet.  We will go with the flo as she probably knows more about things than we do.  There is a market in town today so we are going to that shortly then probably sunbathe on the beach like we did yesterday.  It was so hot by 4pm yesterday afternoon I couldn't sit out in it on our veranda.

Here are some pictures of the bay, the restaurants and some cows !!!

Last night and today

Ended up last night after a couple of early drinks back at our apartment restaurant - the food was very good I had a Turkish pizza which was different to the ones we know.  Chilled out all day here after going for a walk the morning to the other side of the bay.  The sun has been shining all day and we probably stopped out too long in it but hey we slavered the cream on big time.  Relaxing in our apartment later on was great, Bill caught up on some sleep he didn't get last night due to a disco being played until nearly daylight.  I didn't hear a note.

Here are a few pictures of the bay from our balcony and the restaurant below :-

So now we are going out probably to the aubergine place from yesterday for an evening meal, not sure yet.

I think Mary arrives tomorrow in the Gulet so await that text from her.

Gumusluk

After arriving at Gatwick yesterday and checking in easily via the bag drop we swiftly went to the lounge (via Clarins top up skin care purchases) and ate their buffet food and a gin and tonic before our flight.

There seemed to be hundreds of blasted infantile and badly behaved English children and a few very well behaved Turkish children on the plane.  They (English) did eventually settle down but you have to just have deaf ears or plug into music.  Why are they so badly behaved?

Still the good news we the flight was on 3 hours 35 mins a we had an immense tail wind of 100mph.  On arrival in the terminal to collect the baggage there was the family from hell going mad cos not all their bags had arrived but they were still unloading.  Bill said I hope they are not going to where we are as the son was drunk abusive and swearing for no reason.  Happy stupid families.

So next I was really impressed with the meet and greet service that Mary had organised for us which was virtually instant on coming out of the arrivals.  My name in big letters, then we were whisked away into god knows where as it was now 2145 and dark.  I had the number of Mary's friend Gediz who recommended the accommodation but not the place we we're staying at.  There was a tense 15 minutes whilst the taxi driver phoned a number but eventually he went to another taxi rank in the village where we are now.  Then a taxi driver in a scooter took us to a place so dark we couldn't see anything, but after moving some stones to get to a driveway we arrived at our destination.



We met Gediz and her husband Tim who was born in Brighton but has lived all over the world but is settled here now.  He used to be a music promoter in America because I asked after the music here as they said they had a jazz bar up the road.  He also mentioned after he found out I was a musician that they play live music here a lot and that I would fit in.  I've bought my clarinet (a insisted by Mary) so we may have some fun.  I won't bore you with the music details but Tim thinks I will be able to join the band without any difficulty whatsoever !!  Watch this space.

The bay here is fantastic.  The accommodation is very rustic and basic but has lovely views all over the bay.








It's a bit overcast today but warm so I will take some more photos when the sky is blue.  We got up this morning to a lovely warm day a bit cloudy and sauntered over to the restaurants to have a look see but I'd forgotten a couple of toiletries so we got a cab and went to Tescos just up the road !!!

Came back and had a coule of drinks and then a lovely lunch that consisted of calamares fried with a sauce of minced garlic and I had a baked aubergine with garlic and topped with cheese.  It was divine.

So now just chilling out I shall continue my book now and will be back later.

Turkey

We're off to Turkey on the 18th May to spend 4 nights in a B&B in Gumusluk near Bodrum and then 7 nights on a traditional Turkish Gulet owned by friends of ours who live in Park Gate.  We're meeting them out there next Wednesday as they will be picking us up in the bay of Gumusluk.  Here's a picture of the boat :

 

 

Lovely isn't it ?  Sleeps 10, but there's only going to be 5 of plus the local Skipper, Sezayi.  Mary, Chris, Mary's Mum, Bill and yours truly are the passengers.  It's a recce for us as we have friends who are interested in chartering the boat next year. Watch this space for all the info !