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Sailing from Bodrum to Marmaris
Blessed with the Love of Aphrodite
 Bodrum,
on the north shore of the Gulf of Gokova, was the home of
the first "Blue Voyager", Cevat Sakir Kabaagac
or the "Fisherman of Halikarnas". It is the undisputed
"hot spot" of the Aegean Coast. This swinging,
singing, dancing town, with its bohemian atmosphere, gathers
together Turkey's artists, intellectuals and lovers of the
good life.
An impressive medieval castle built by the Knights of Rhodes
guards the entrance to Bodrum's dazzling blue bay, in which
the Aegean and the Mediterranean seas meet. The Bodrum Castle
now houses the Museum of Underwater Archaeology. Known in
ancient times as Halicarnassus, Bodrum is the birthplace
of Heredotus and the site of King Mausolus's Tomb (4th centuary
B.C.), one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world.
The yearly throng of visitors has encouraged small entrepreneurs
who have made shopping in Bodrum a delight. Souvenirs abound,
and on certain streets local artists gather to sell their
works - works that come in all forms.
The Bodrum Turban Marina is one of the loveliest and best
- equipped marinas in the region.
A yachting tour of the Gulf of Gokova starts in Bodrum.
The translucent and deep waters of the Gulf on the southern
shore of the Bodrum Peninsula vary from the darkest blue
to the palest turquoise, and the coastline is thickly wooded
with every hue of green. In the evening, the sea reflects
the mountains silhouetted against the setting sun, while
at night it shimmers with phosphorescence.
One of the best anchorages is the splendidly scenic Akbük,
hidden behind a forested promontory. The excellent cosy
restaurants are as good a reason as any to linger for a
tasty meal after an afternoon of snorkeling and diving.
Sedir Island (ancient Cedrai) boasts an incredible beach
with fine sand composed of fossils, and a splendid view
of Kiran mountains across the bay. As you sail along the
island's southwestern coast, forests stretch out to meet
the deep inlets of the bays. The jagged coastline, known
as the Bay of Sixty-Six Inlets, seems to have emerged from
the oft-told tales of pirates.
The waters of the Gulf of Hisaronu lap the breathtaking
shores that hold the legacy of both ancient and modern civilizations.
At the end of the Datca Peninsula stands the ancient Carian
city of Knidos, described by Strabo as "a city that
was built for the most beautiful of goddesses, Aphrodite,
on the most beautiful of peninsulas." Famous as a center
of art and culture in the fourth century B.C., the city
had two harbors: one on the Aegean and the other on the
Mediterranean. The remains of a circular temple dedicated
to the goddess of love overlook remains of the two harbors;
the arcaded way was built of white marble heart-shaped columns.
The legendary Aphrodite of Praxiteles statue, reputedly
one of the most beautiful sculptures of the antiquity, once
graced this temple.
The town of Datca has become a popular stop-over for yachtsmen,
and offers many colorful seafood restaurants, pubs and discotheques.
In the Gulf of Hisaronu is the peaceful Keci Buku Bay;
the Bay Marina is rich in natural beauty: the surrounding
mountains and forests, and the long "Kizkumu"
(sunken "pier"), a natural sand formation. Leaving
the Gulf of Hisaronu: hidden away in its own exclusive inlet
is the town of Bozburun, famous as one of the gulet-building
centers of Turkey. Loryma, at the tip of the Bozburun Peninsula
where the ruins of the ancient harbor and castle remain,
can only be reached by boat. Kumlubuk, a turquoise paradise,
lies on the southern side of the bay; on the north side,
above the water, stands the ancient Rhodian city of Amos.
At Turunc a natural harbor opens out into a wide expanse
of spectacular blue water. The next port is Marmaris.
Activities
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