Return To Istanbul

 

 

Time had flown by so quickly. Seven weeks had flown by as quickly as we had flown through the Baltics and Eastern Europe. We didn't get to see everything on our list but we definitely got a taste for the area and met many wonderful people. As we boarded a flight from Bidapest to Istanbul, I started to reflect on our travels. I always find the time waiting for an airplane the perfect time to reflect on my travels. I asked mom "What would you do different with our trip?" She replied "Nothing." I laughed. I was happy she had enjoyed it and the hauling a backpack, climbing 4 flights of stairs to our rooms, walking all day in the cold and taking public transport had not been too rough. I told her I loved every place we had been but if I was doing it again, I would have limited the trip to 2-3 countries. I felt like I was rushing the experience and did not have time to know the country. Mom looked at me and asked what countries I would have done. I loved it all but I know now I would have chosen the less tourists ones: Bulbaria, Macedonia and Albania. She laughed and asked if it was because they were the cheapest. Obviously! I have gotten really cheap with my mo ey now that the bank account has dwindled to less money. I have been on the road 10 months and spent 80% of my budget. I find myself watching my finances closer as the trip will be winding down. Originally, I had planned 12 months and $25,000. Now I am thinking I will travel until the money is gone. If I can make it last 14 months would be fantastic! Then I would not return to the USA until late spring. Time will tell how cheaply I can travel Central and South America.

Mom and I arrived in Istanbul at 10 AM. We had become experts in Istanbul travel and we got our bags and went to the Havanas bus for the trip to Taksim Square. We had booked an apartment near the square and close to where we stored our luggage. We checked in to our apartment and then I left mom while I went to retrieve our bags from storage. As I walked with my bags, it hit me that mom was leaving me and returning home in a couple of days. I had an extra few days in Istanbul before I flew to Nicaragua. I was going to be on my own again until December 27th when I meet up with my friends Christy and Steve. Where has this year gone? I can't believe how time passed so quickly while I have had the most amazing experiences of my life! As I was still in my reflective state of mind, I returned to the apartment and mom and I started emptying the bags looking at everything she was taking bak to the USA, including the gifts she had purchased and a few things I would not need on the remainder of my journey. We    relaxed and decided to spend the day relaxing. I needed to write and upload photos. It felt fantastic to just stay still for a day. By late afternoon, I was ready for some Turkish food and a walk to see the lights of Istanbul. We went to a family restaurant and enjoyed our favorite mezes (beets, lentil and pomegranate salad and hummus) then chicken kebabs. I missed the Mediterranean food.

After dinner we took the tram to Sultahmet and walked to the Blue Mosque. It was open and mom and I decided to go in. There was no line which meant very few tourists inside the mosque. It was nice to be able to see it without the hordes of tourists. We entered and took our time truly enjoying the magnificent architecture and tranquility of the mosque.

 

Afterwards, we walked outside. The courtyard was empty. There was a Muslim woman standing in the center admiring the architecture. She was serene and beautiful. I turned and saw a woman sitting in a doorway. They were beautiful in the serene courtyard of the Blue Mosque.

As I was taking a few shots, a young man approached and asked if I would take a few photos of him. Of course. I put my hand out for his camera and he said "No, with yours. You can email me the photos." I was taken by surprise and told him I can't promise anything but sure. Why not?

As he looked the pictures I had taken, he scrolled through the other shots I had photographed and asked if I would send them also. I said it would cost him $1000. We laughed and he promised any free legal aid that I need. Sounds fair to me. He and I chatted about life and our travels. He was a lawyer from Budapest here in Istanbul for work. I was intrigued as he told me his backstory. He was an orphan after his parents were killed. He was 7 when he went to live at an orphanage. He explained it was a difficult life as he and his family were Muslim gypsies. He had no known family when he went to the orphanage. The other kids bullied him because he was different. He told me itade him work harder to be the smartest kid in class and to never have to depend on others. He graduated high school with the highest GPA and received a full ride scholarship to law school. I was intrigued that he his drive was so strong and he had succeeded at all of his dreams. He got his law degree and was now working for a NGO helping orphaned children. I had tears in my eyes when he finished his story. I thanked him for sharing his life story with me. We met by chance and he was willing to open up and share his life. He didn't want anything or was trying to brag. It was all very humble. Why are we so fearful and closed to other people? Being open and sharing with people provides a more I retesting experience. It also breaks down all of our prejudices and stereotypes. I feel so blessed to meet people on my travels! I have changed so much from the shy timid girl of my teens into a confident woman in my 40's. I never imagined my life would be the axing story that has unfolded these past few decades. I could not have dreamed this reality. I said my goodbyes to my new friend and went to find my mother.

We walked on to Hagia Sofia. It was beautiful in the lights. I wanted a couple of photos of the fountain and mom said she oils meet me on the other side of the park. I was captivated at the beauty of the parks. 

I found my mother chatting with a fellow American abou travel. I joined the conversation and we shared our stories. We said our goodbyes and wished one another safe journeys.

In the morning, we went to the Grand Bazaar for some Christmas shopping. Mom had a list of items she needed to buy and we shopped for a few hours. I hate bartering but we did pretty well on purchases. Mom left with everything she needed and we went for dinner. She was leaving in the morning and this was my opportunity to see what her highlights were from the trip. 

Favorite country: 

Michelle- Turkey

Mom- They are all so beautiful! But probably Croatia or Austria.

Favorite city: 

Michelle- Budapest 

Mom- Split

Favorite sight: 

Michelle- nature- Lake Plitvices, most memorable- Auschwitz

Mom- Lake Bled, Ljubljana

Funniest moment: 

Michelle-Mom's poncho in the rain! She looked like a walking condom! 

Mom- falling in front of the bus! 

Best food: 

Michelle- lamb chops! 

Mom- Too hard to choose. She lived lamb chops, goose leg and pug knuckles. 

Best hot chocolate: 

Michelle- Dubrovnik, first hot pudding chocolate was one I will never forget! 

Mom- all of them! Who can complain with hot chocolate! 

I loved traveling with my mother and having her share in my amazing adventures. We have so many fantastic memories that make me smile. I realized what traits I inherited from her and how we are alike in some ways and extremely different in other ways. I am so proud of her for coming on this trip and enjoying it. Thanks mom! 

I spent my final days in Istanbul relaxing and going to dinner with friends I had met in the city. I loved Turkey and Istanbul. I will return one day. Leaving Istanbul and thinking of my time in Turkey. The things that I think of when I think of Turkey:

•the best yogurt! Beats the Greek yogurt that use to be my favorite. Delicious, creamy and perfect with a little honey. 

• Family. I have met people that took me in and treated as one of their members of family. Ethem at Ocak, Omer at Pamukkale, Turan and Halil in Istanbul. I have so much love and appreciation for their acts of kindness and willingness to share their cities and culture with me. 

•Flag. The Turks are proud if their flag and I saw it every day, multiple places. Even when traveling to ther countries, I could recognize a Turkish family because they seemed to hang a flag outside their homes. Some countries did not appreciate this due to the years of fighting with the Turks throughout history. The national pride reminds me of home, USA and Turkey are the two countries I have seen the most flags flying. I will  always recognize the Turkish flag. 

•Lamb. Turkish know how to cook lamb. It is responsible for my love affair with lamb chops. Nom nom nom!

•Men. Wow! They were gorgeous and enjoyed flirting. Yes, 90% are full of it but the ones I met and spent time with we're sweet and romantic. If you single ladies are looking for a fun vacation where you want some male attention, go to Turkey. The men still treat you like a lady and open doors and want to take you out for dinner. They even insist on paying. Most will listen to you and ask about your life, help you plan what to see and show you their city. It is a predominately Muslim country so they are conservative in public and only kiss you on the cheek. I would tell you to be careful. Some our just looking for a "good time." 

I left Turkey on December 9th with a heavy heart. It was difficult to say goodbye to a city I had loved. But, it was time to move on. I was flying to Paris for a 22 hour layover (yay!) then on to Atlanta for a 24 hour layover before arriving in Managua, Nicaragua. Yes, long travel time but I used my frequent flier miles and only had to pay $347! 

Good bye Turkey...Bonjour Paris! 

 

 

Istanbul Sightseeing

 

After 4 days of rest, my mom was feeling better and was able to walk much better. We moved to an apartment and my friend Janjira arrived in Istanbul! We celebrated with a beer! 

The next morning, it was time to see the sights of the city. We started walking and exploring the neighborhood near Istikal Caddesi. Mom and Janjira found a comfortable step to relax.

They enjoyed the quiet street early in the morning. The only activity was the cable car clanging down the street. 

 

Over the next few days, we explored the sights of the old city. We took a 2 hour cruise of the Bosphorus Straight, separating the Asia and European sides of Istanbul. It was a nice and relaxing way for Janjira and mom to get an overview of the city.

 

 

It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and the sights were beautiful. 

 

Early the next morning, we visited Aya Sofia. It was built in 537 as a church and converted to a mosque in 1453 and converted to a museum in 1935.

The size of the cathedral is unbelievable, the Statue of Liberty can fit under the dome. But the beauty of the cathedral is stunning. Many of the Christian mosaics were covered with stucco when the building became a mosque. As I explored Aya Sofia, I was taken back by the grand size and the beauty of the sun streaming in through the windows in the early morning.  

 

 

 

 

Our next stop was the Basilica Cistern, my favorite sight in Istanbul. A ?? century underwater basilica that was lit with soft lights. It was a spectacular sight. 

 

The area was quiet and serene, even with tourists filling the interior. I think everyone was in awe. The guidebook and websites sounded like the steps were difficult so, mom decided to relax on a park bench and would look at photos afterward. Janjira and I wandered to the wishing pools (made our wishes) and to the back of the complex where the 2 large medusa heads were waiting.

Before we could leave the Basilica Cistern, Janjira insisted we do the tourist thing and dress up for a photo as Sultan's harem. I finally gave in.

 

 

 

 

It just isn't me! I kept waiting for someone to ask me for a ride on my magic carpet or to grant them 3 wishes. Ha ha! 

You can't go to Istanbul and not visit the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque). It was nicknamed the Blue Mosque due to all of the blue tiles adorning the interior walls and domes.

As we approached the exterior of the mosque, we saw separate  areas for men and women to wash before entering the mosque. The people wash their faces, arms, hands and feet. They finish by washing their mouths with water before entering for prayer. 

Tourists are only allowed to enter the mosque at certain times of the day. It is closed during prayer times. Upon entering, we removed our shoes and placed them in the bag provided to tourists. All women were required to wear a headscarf to enter. Here is my mom in the Blue Mosque with her headscarf. She looks beautiful. 

The tiles of the mosque beautifully adorn the domes and walls.

 

As we exited the mosque, we were approached by salesmen wanting to sell us carpets and to visit their shops. I realized quickly how to keep them from bothering me. I told them I am a poor backpacker but my friend Janjira loves to shop! She had lots of men wanting to help her part with her money! I don't know why she wouldn't play along.

We also visited Topkapi Palace, home to the Ottoman Sultans for 400 years. After losing mom and Janjira for 2 hours (I lost my museum card and had to buy a ticket), I found them and we toured the grounds.  The grounds and museum are large and included an 82 carat diamond, guns and swords, a tour of the Harem and holy relics. I am a bit of a sceptic. The museum supposedly has the staff of Moses and turban of Joseph. I am skeptical they are real, not sure how you could ever prove it. Yes, I am a scientist and I don't believe anything without proof. 

Janjira and I went out for a goodbye dinner and drinks. Early the next morning, Janjira left on a flight. I had a fun time with her and it was good to see a friend. 

Mom and I decided to stay 2 more days to wait for the end of Bayram and then book travel to Ephesus, Turkey. We explored the Grand Bazaar which had shops with everything for sale! Ceramics, rugs, tapestries, spices, nuts, jewelry, leather & clothing. You want it, this was the place to buy it! 

As we returned to our hotel, we saw women making gozleme....mmmmm! I love the Turkish food. So delicious!

 

Istanbul is a beautiful and amazing city. I love it! I can't wait to return at the end of our trip. 

We changed our minds and decided to buy bus tickets north to Plovdiv, Bulgaria. We were leaving in an overnight bus. Goodbye Istanbul! Hello Bulgaria! 

Back in Istanbul- Feels Like Home

I returned to Istanbul on a late night flight, arriving at 11 PM. Unfortunately, as was bound to happen at some point, my luggage was lost. I went to the desk to report it and was told to sit and wait while they tried to locate my backpack. After a couple hours, they brought it to me. Yay! But it was now 1:00 AM and I had an hour transfer to Taksim Square and a 20 minute walk to the hotel. When I finally arrived at the room I had booked, I was told they had charged me as a no show. I asked if they had a room and they did for the first night but not the second night. Ugh! Oh well. I just wanted to sleep. I would deal with all of this in the morning. After a good nights sleep, I started searching for a room. Since my mother was meeting me in 2 days I decided to book an apartment down the street. I got directions and was told I could check-in early. I packed my bag and walked to the location on the map. I looked around but no apartment building. Then I read the directions and realized it was a few blocks away in a neighborhood that was tough looking. I stood at the street trying to figure out if it was right. What lie ahead was building covered in graffiti and windows were missing. Crap! I booked a place in the hood! Mom was going to have a fit! I took a deep breath and continued walking. When I arrived at the apartment, I asked if this was a safe area for a woman to walk alone at night. The woman assured me it was but I decided to remain cautious. The room was large and spacious. Very clean too! I hoped it was safe. Only time would tell.

That evening, I went to see my friend David the barber. We had tea and talked. He told me I would be safe and to stop by and he or one of the barbers would walk me home if I was scared. He is so nice! I went to have dinner at my friends restaurant and we caught up. He insisted I stay until his work was done and then he would walk me home. I stayed and soon we decided to go out for drinks and dancing. It was a fun night in Istanbul and the walk home was safe. I was feeling better about the location. 

I awoke the next morning excited! My mom was arriving in Istanbul today! Yay! I spent the day relaxing and then went to meet her at the airport. I had asked my brother to send her flight info & followed the information he provided. I arrived at the airport to find out they was no American Airlines flight 68 from London at 16:20. I wondered if I was at the right airport but decided she was probably on the British Airways flight from London at 16:40. I waited. And waited. One hour passed. That was ok. She had to go through and get a visa, passport control, get her luggage and customs. I rationalized she should be coming soon. At an hour and a half I thought she must have forgotten to get her visa and was back in the lines a second time. When 2 hours passed, I started to get worried. I went to the information desk to ask for help but since I was not certain what flight she was on, nobody could do anything. I waited longer. I searched the airport arrivals looking for her. Where could she be? I found a cafe with Internet and tried calling my brothers and sisters to get confirmation on the flight information but nobody answered. Ugh! I had lost mom before she ever arrived! I knew she would not leave the airport, she didn't know how to get anywhere or where we were staying. I started searching the groups of old people waiting for their tours. She had not sat down with the tour group. Then, I started to worry as I remembered that my brother had said she was sick before she left. I sat waiting for someone to get back to me. Then, I saw her finally come out of customs! She looked lost and tired and did not have her bag. Uh-oh! Everything had gone wrong. She had forgotten to get her visa, went through the long passport control line only to have to repeat after she went back and got her visa. Then, her bag was lost. After 2 hours and 45 minutes she finally arrived! I was happy to see her in one piece! We went to the shuttle bus and made our way back to Taksim Square. Luckily we did not get back to the apartment until dark so, she could not see the graffiti on the buildings. That surprise could wait for morning light. We had picked up some dinner on our way back to the hotel and had a smorgasbord of Turkish foods in our room. Then we called it an early night and went to bed.

 

The next morning mom was tired and her back was in pain. She wanted a day to just relax and let her back rest. I was invited to breakfast with a friend and she did not want to join us. I left her sleeping. The breakfast was a traditional Eastern Turkey breakfast which was delicious!

He definitely knew how to order a meal. The waitress brought me my tea and told me she would read my tea leaves after I was finished. At the end of the meal, she looked at my tea cup and told me my life was overfilled with happiness. Laughter surrounds me and my life will always be positive and happy. Money will never be an issue (Yes, where is that coming from?). She also told me this was the year I would meet my husband. I suspect this is what she tells everyone.  I thanked her for the reading. My friend offered to order something for my mom but she had said she was not hungry so, I declined. I returned to my hotel to check on mom. She was napping. When she awoke we went for a short walk but her back was still making it difficult to walk. We had dinner and checked out the local protests and police on Istekial Caddesi. Yes, the police were out in full gear with guns and tear gas ready if the evening activities got out of hand.

Mom insisted she needed a few days of rest. The next day, I complied by getting her food and letting her enjoy time to rest. I am hoping she will feel better and be ready to see the city.  More rest and another walk and I realized I needed to move her to a more central and flat location. We packed up all of our stuff and I carried it to a new hotel on Istekial Caddessi. We would stay here until my friend Janjira arrived when we would move to a 2 bedroom apartment. 

Mom insisted I go out and see friends I had met my first time in Istanbul...so I followed orders and went out at night. I loved the laid back side of Istanbul nightlife. Small pubs with local music and dance. My friend showed me the local side and I loved it! Turkey has won me over!

 

Kurdish dancing on the streets after the clubs closed.



 

 

Hieropolis and Pamukkale, Turkey

The hour ferry followed by a 6 hour bus ride from Bodrum to Danizli made for a long day. The bus stopped every hour and each stop was at least 15 minutes. By the third stop I was getting frustrated. I wanted to scream! Why was this bugging me so much? I knew it was all the long stops an I just wanted to arrive in Denzili and get the dolmus (minivan bus) to Pamakkale. I arrived in at 5:45 PM. It had been a long day of travel from the island of Kos. I needed a drink and was ecstatic when the owner of Ozbay Guesthouse, Öner, brought me a complimentary glass if wine. Yay! It tasted so good! A hot dinner and I was ready for bed. But, Öner  talked me into an evening walk to see the Nature park in the evening.

 

I returned to the hotel cold and tired and went straight to my room. Luckily, it was cozy and I slept well.

The next morning, I went to explore the ancient ruins of Heiropolis and the Pamukkale pools. Öner offered to give me a motorbike ride to the top and then told me to walk back down the hill through the turquoise travertines. I jumped off his bike and waved goodbye as I made my way to the ruins. The city was destroyed years ago by an earthquake. Restoration work was ongoing and the theater was amazing. 

 

I explored the ruins of the north gate and enjoyed the views. On this trip I have grown to love the peacefulness of exploring an area solo. It is just me with my thoughts and the sound of nature.  

 

 I also explored the sarcophagus surrounded by flowers or resting in dried travertines. 

 

Then I decided to be a tourist and go for a swim at Cleopatra's Pool. Why not? It supposedly makes you look 20 years younger and it is cheaper than Botox!

 

The spring filled pool was warm but crowded with tourists. I looked around and realized whoa! I could wear a bikini in this crowd. I saw tummy fat everywhere and wondered why is it that Americans feel so ashamed by any fat bulge but Europeans embrace it and put it out there? Are out body images that much worse? I have found that European men are more appreciative of my curves and like a little more voluptuous woman. I love the attention and the fact that they are willing to wine and dine women still. Don't get me wrong, they are talkers and I have met my share of Casanovas but they are handsome here in Turkey!

After soaking in the warm hot springs and enjoying the people watching, I dried off and changed my clothes for the walk down the Pamukkale travertines or the "Cotton Castle". The travertine terraces were formed by hot water that is 320 meters from the terraces. The water falls into terraces and forms the travertines. This water comes out at 35.6°C and contains high concentrations of calcium carbonate. Over time, the formation gets stronger and forms the travertine terraces. It is a stunning sight.

 

 

 

I continued the walk down the hill to the Ozbay Guesthouse. I realized I had been gone all day and it was 4:00 PM. I was hungry. I sat down at the restaurant and ordered a glass if wine and dinner. That was when I met Shannon, a young Canadian woman traveling that has stayed and worked at Ozbay Guesthouse  for the last 3 months. We laughed and bonded immediately. We enjoyed some drinks and wine with the guys and decided we would go to the Red Rock Springs tomorrow.

The next morning was a special day at Ozbay Guesthouse. Their father had died over the summer and according to Islam and Turkish tradition, the family provides lunch for the entire town 52 days after his death. It was a time for remembrance of their father and thanks to the community. Öner and his brothers invited all of his guests to the lunch. I walked over to the open park and he told me to find a seat while he got me a meal. I noticed the men and women were sitting separate so I followed suit by sitting with the women and girls. An older woman immediately brought me a bottle of water and a meal. I thanked her and started to eat. The young girls practiced their English with me and attempted to teach me Turkish. Everyone laughed a I slaughtered the language and could not remember all of the words they taught me. The girls explained that the man was singing the Qur'an. It was beautiful. I watched and smiled to be invited and welcomed into this community event. Women came over to say hello and smile as they pinched my cheeks or touched my hair. I felt so blessed to have another experience like this during my travels. 

The next morning I got up and met Shannon for breakfast and then we took the afternoon bus to Red Rock Spring. 

 

We both giggled when we arrived because we expected it to be huge and it was just a small little area. We wandered the area and stuck out feet in the water with the Turkish women. 

Then we walked over to the mud bath and decided we wanted to bake in the sun with some mud. I got in the mud bath and covered myself from head to toe with the black wet mud. Then I sat baking in the warm sun. Shannon did the same. As we sat there enjoying the afternoon sun, we became the tourist attraction. Turkish families walked by and took photos of us. We giggled. Then, two old women walked up and pointed to our bucket of mud. We thought they wanted to put some on themselves. We handed them the bucket. They grabbed a pile of mud and started rubbing it on us. What a surprise! They giggled as much as we did. We were so thick with mud that I knew it would take some work to wash it off. I walked over to the shower and started scrubbing my body. When I was mostly clean, I walked over to the hot spring pool to soak. I stepped on the first step and about wiped out. I decided immediately to sit down and slide into the pool. The heat was fantastic. I soaked until the man came to get me for my massage. I love spas am have tried one in all of the countries I have visited. I consider myself an expert on the art of relaxation. This massage was different. I was told to remove all my clothes and lie face down. There was no sheet or dry towel so I covered myself with my wet towel. I lay face down as instructed. I heard someone walk in and his deep voice. He removed my towel and put it to the side. Brrrr! I was shivering and cold! I asked for a dry towel but he did not understand English. I was shivering and had goose bumps. A few minutes into it he grabbed a towel. Thank goodness! But it got taken away when he had me turn over. I asked for it back but he didn't understand. Or pretended to not understand. I was not certain which. I was trying to relax but I was so cold. Then he started to massage my boobs! I wasn't sure if he was just feeling me up or this was how they did massages in Turkey. I started to laugh. I was too cold and it was just odd. I shook my head no and covered my boobs. I was going to have to compare notes with Shannon. Otherwise, the massage was uneventful. When I finished, I was offered tea and a heater to warm up. Shannon decided not to get a massage so I still did not know if that was normal. We took the dolmus back to Ozbay Guesthouse and sat down with other travelers to chat. I loved my time at Ozbay. We laughed and relaxed. I was tired from the fast paced travel of the first 7 months and could tell I was really slowing down. The staff and owners at Ozbay talked me into staying an extra day, I did. I decided to get a flight back to Istanbul to meet my mom and see Ephesus when I travel with her. 

My last day was spent laughing and chatting with all of the local people. I was relaxed and happy. The family included my in their delicious evening meal of grilled fish. Mmmmm! It was a fantastic time with with the laughter of new friends in Pamukkale. I said goodbye with a heavy heart and waved to everyone as my bus pulled away. 

On the bus to the airport,  I met three Malaysian women traveling Turkey. They asked about my trip and were excited when I told them I had spent time in Malaysia. They were so funny and sweet. I laughed as one of the women told me about the handsome Turkish men she had met and how she was sad to be returning home. We giggled and laughed like only women do with old friends. Then they asked me a question that saddened me. They asked if all Americans hate Muslims. I explained that was not true. There are people in America that live in fear and propaganda but not everyone is that way. The three of them wanted badly to travel to America and their eyes lit up as they talked about cities and sites they would like to see. They were afraid to do so because the wear head scarves and had heard how badly Muslims are treated in America. I was sad. I am not preaching but I want to remind everyone that what a few people do does not make everyone from that group bad or terrorists. Be open and learn about other religions and understand extremist groups exist in all races, religions and political groups. That small portion is not everyone. Take a moment and open yourself up to the different cultures, races and religions and find the positives. Welcome others of all backgrounds into your life. Please. I promise you will gain much more than you ever expected. The world is small and we are all much more alike than we are different.



Sailing Mediterranean with V-Go Gulets

V-Go arranged a bus to pick me up at my tree house at 10 AM and transfer to a bus to Demre. On board the bus, I chatted with a Colombian guy that gave me a list of places to visit in Columbia! He talked and I became more excited about my trip to his homeland. I have a few cities/villages to visit when I make it to South America! I also met the Australian couple and an American man that would be on the boat with me for the next 4 days. When we arrived in Demre, I had 10 minutes to get cash and any supplies for the trip. Then we went to the harbor to board our boat, the Bluekey. I got lucky, no roommate as there were only 8 of us on a 16 person boat. We were introduced to the others on the boat and the crew. They did a quick rundown of the rules and showed us to our cabins.

 

We all laughed and bonded over drinks and were off to a great start. We sailed a few miles and stopped to swim at Pirate's Cove.

 

As we were relaxing and enjoying tea and biscuits, we saw sea turtles surfacing a few yards away.  I was shocked and not expecting to see a sea turtle! I kept my eyes open and saw another surface a few meters away. I was looking forward to snorkeling to see if I can see any more on the trip.

 

The captain asked if we were ok with spending the night in the bay. No problem, whatever he wanted. No mutiny from any of us! We swam and enjoyed a delicious meal.

Life was great! I could get use to this lifestyle! All of us drank beers and laughed as we learned shared stories from home and our travels. The stars were out and I contemplated sleeping on the deck but decided my cabin would be nice. I curled up and fell to sleep with the gentle rocking of the boat. 

I awoke in the morning to sunlight streaming in my window. I looked out my window to see sunrise. 

Ahhh! It was going to be another beautiful day sailing the sea. Yes, this is the life! I got up and went on deck for an early morning coffee. I sat reflecting on the amazing trip I have had to date. Turkey is fantastic! Each day is more beautiful and amazing than the last day. Yes, this country was winning my heart also! Slowly, everyone started to wake up and the boat became more lively. We joked that the captain had slept in and we had a 2 hour late start. Oh well. All of us were relaxed and enjoying our time. We were served a delicious breakfast (French toast, cheeses, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, jellies and honey) and then set sail for Kekova Island. As we sailed into the harbor, we could see the remains of an ancient castle. After our carb-loaded breakfast, I was ready for a quick hike to explore the area.

 

 

I walked the steps to the top and explored the ruins with two couples. The views from the top were magnificent with the boats drifting in the harbor, ancient sarcophagus and ruins of the castle.

We returned to the harbor and went back to our sailboat then a quick sail to the sunken city before setting sail in the open waters toward Kas.

As the boat glided over the smooth waters, I wrote two of my Bali updates. Put me on a boat with nothing to do but relax and look what gets done! I would be able to update my blog when we arrived in port. Yipee! We arrived at a swimming spot outside Kas to snorkel and relaxed in the warm sunshine.

We spent the afternoon and night at the harbor in Kas. The sea was rough and the captain thought this would be best. Another delicious meal, conversation and an evening walk around the village before bed.

 

I awoke at 6 AM and got dressed. I could hear the crew preparing the anchor. I went up on deck with the 2 Ahmed's and Tom. We drank coffee as the guys fished. Today was going to be our lucky fishing day! In 30 minutes, they caught dinner. We were all excited! I tried my hand at fishing but got bored and handed it back to the captain. Luckily he caught a second fish. Everyone would eat well tonight!

As we floated, I found myself getting into a habit of eating, swimming, sleeping, swimming, eating, swimming and eating. I was getting lazy but it was nice to just relax. These past months of traveling were catching up with me. 

We sailed to Butterfly valley and the Blue Lagoon. We spent time swimming at each of the beautiful bays before we finally came to out destination at St. Nicholas Island for the evening. We were greeted by the most wonderful sight! 

Banana-nutella pancakes made at our boat! Yummy! We all devoured them and then decided to hike the island before dinner.  Our first stop was one of the churches.

 

I turned to look back and our boat was floating in the bay as the evening sun enveloped the bay in a golden glow.

We hiked to the top of the island and watched as the sun set behind another island. Ahhh. Another end to a beautiful day sailing on the Mediterranean.

Our last night on board, we celebrated Tatiana's birthday and played with a local dog that swam out to our boat. Oscar was a cutie and loved by everyone except the captain (hair and saltwater everywhere did not please him).

 

 

I decided to spend my last night sleeping on the deck. I grabbed my pillows and 2 blankets and fell asleep under the stars and moon as the boat softly rocked me to sleep. 

 

I awoke to a beautiful sunrise over the mountains. 

 

It was a beautiful and relaxing voyage along the coast. I am delighted I followed the recommendations of others and took the V-Go cruise. Our journey ended outside of Fethiye. We were transferred to a mini-bus and into town. I loved sailing and will do it again on another leg of my trip.