BOOM, BOOM, BOOM....BYE!....BODRUM to ISTANBUL

We got very little sleep last night.  The night clubs were going full blast and the boom-boom didn't stop until 4am.  I wonder if it is every night or just on Friday and Saturday.

Laura and I were, in hindsite, very lucky.  We had coffee with Sidar and a chance for quiet conversation before he left.  We should have kept his coffee cup!

Selo had arranged everything and hugged us as we left for the airport around 11:00.  He has another group coming on board this afternoon.

Our ride in from the Istanbul airport was a TRIP.  Our driver wanted to show us the City Wall and took us through a different route... trying to find the hotel.  It was a riot... not lost on us just because we were tired.

WHICH WAY NOW???

FINALLY... WE SAW AYA SOPHIA... AND KNEW WE WERE FINALLY HOME.

We were all tired but we were planning to go to the Turkish Baths, Cemberlitas, one of Sinan's wonders, so we got settled and off we went.  What a GOOD decision!  It was WONDERFUL.  We got the whole nine yards including a wonderful massage.  Check out the link!

ALL CLEAN AND RELAXED!

Then we had to decide where to have dinner....



Bathing with friends :)

CIFTLIKKOEY to BODRUM

On our last day we picked up a fellow traveler.  He was promptly named Odyssus... by Amber, I think.

ODYSSEUS, he stayed with us all the way to Bodrum.  We didn't even tie him to the mast.  HE JUST KNEW HE HAD FOUND A GOOD GROUP TO TRAVEL WITH.

On the way to Bodrum Laura and Sidar played Tavla one last time. :(

THIS LAST GAME WAS A DISSAPPOINTMENT... SIDAR WON.

BUT... LAURA WON YESTERDAY AND HAS BEATEN OTHER TURKS, TOO!

To meet the Mayor of Bodrum....or not. That is the Question.

OUR LAST MEAL

NIKOS HAS BEEN AN EXCEPTIONAL CHEF

RAKI HAZE

KNIDOS to CIFTLIKKOEY

Leaving Knidos, I wanted to get a picture of the Lighthouse that the "youngsters" hiked to while Cynthia and I played among the ruins.

Another big surprise today. We are going to have tea with Erdal's mother!

ALL THE WAY WAS UP HILL.... BEAUTIFUL, BUT UP HILL, JUST THE SAME.

REUNION

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PATIO.  THE WEATHER HERE IS LOVELY AND I THINK IT IS CUSTOMARY TO SERVE GUESTS ON THE PATIO.

ANOTHER VIEW FROM THE PATIO

MOM IN HER KITCHEN

AFTER TEA CAME MEZAS!!!

HAPPY CAMPERS.  TIM, BARB, JOAN, MARINA

THE VIEW FROM MOM AND DAD'S HOUSE

SIDAR AND HIS SAILING BUDDY

After tea at Erdal's home we walked down into the village and had Turkish Coffee with a friend on Sidar's.  He moved to CIFTLIKKOEY because he enjoys the peace and quiet of the area.  The drive to Bodrum is about an hour and there he practices plastic surgery, mostly cosmetic.  What a life.  He has a sailboat too... why not?

SYMI, GREECE to DATCA, TURKIYE and in to KNIDOS

We spent the night in picturesque Symi with colorful houses piled on top of each othe up the hills.

Up early and now it has been decided that we will spend the next couple of days along the Turkish Coast.

GOODBY TO SYMI

NIKOS RAISING THE ANCHOR FOR THE LAST TIME IN GREECE

ARDAL RAISED THE TURKISH FLAG.  LAST NIGHT MOST OF US SLEPT UP TOP WITH OUR COZY BLANKETS.  WHERE'S TIM!?

 

 We stopped in Datca for our Captain to process our passports and had a festive breakfast.  To Us!

Marina, Tim, and Barb were happy campers with a renewed supply of Nutella.

DACTA, TURKEY

We steamed up the coast and will dive for ??? after lunch.  To be continued...

THE BEST SURPRISE YET!  We are stopped at Knidos, an ancient city whose history before 700AD is not well documented.  It may have been a trade center with the Aegean Islands and Crete as early as 3000 BC.

CLICK TO ENLARGE FOR HISTORY OF THIS OLD SEAPORT

CLICK TO ENLARGE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THE HISTORY OF THIS OLD PORT

Sidar took us out snorkeling and we saw fragments from century old shipwrecks just outside the breakwater.

Then we explored the ruins.

My camera batteries died so will have to get some of Laura's pictures BUT.. as I had predicted we had a full moon tonight.  That alone was awesome but then Sidar shouted "NO WAY!"  He had been texting (a common occurance) and found that there was going to be a FULL LUNAR ECLIPSE in a couple of hours.

Paloi, NISYROS to Symi Town, SYMI

We motored with sail assist from Nisyros to Panormitis, Symi for lunch.  (I wonder if the crew thinks that sail assistance is view as sailing by the passengers)  Maybe it is, by some.

On the way Sidar gave us a lesson on navigation and how to use the points on the chart such as light houses and mountains to triangulate a position.

Panormitis is a beautiful little horseshoe shaped bay with a tight entrance on the southeast side of Symi.

We stopped for a snack and a swim in late afternoon and when Symi Town came into sight we realized that the crew had waited until the light was just perfect before bringing us in.  There were many ohs and awes and I think we took about fifteen million photos of the place.  It is described as one of the most beautiful harbours in Greece.

Paraionissos, KALYMNOS to Paloi, NISYROS

The crew started up early and we steamed out of Paraionissos Bay shortly after daybreak as there was predicted high surf.  Most were lounging around on the deck as it had been another glorious night.  If I remember correctly there was more Raki after we made it back to the boat.

We stopped off of the SW side of Kos for breakfast.

Paloi, Nisyros.

This harbor is very small and Selo was a master of manuvering the boat between another Gulet and a rented sailboat with folks from the Czech Republic on board. I was surprised when Barb started speaking to them in Czech... her heritage.

Selo is BACKING the Gulet inbetween those two boats!  ASLAN, indeed!

Barb chatting with the folks from the Czech Republic

Nisyros is a volcano and the soil is more fertile than most islands.  We had planned to rent scooters and were scared into renting a car to visit the volcanos and Mandraki.  Renting the cars was a good decision.  We would have been wiped out on scooters and probably would have missed one of the most beautiful towns in Greece.

Laura and I walked around Mandraki alone and were invited to sit with some people in the square.  We said we had to meet friends and begged off... then were invited by another....we were taking photos of some women and he translated for them... then invited us for a coffee.  We said yes and then found we were still within site of the first group.  Awkward.

We were tired after our excursion and ate dinner at The Captain's Table right across from the boat; but I had had two coffees in Mandrake.  I used Barbs computer and at least got the dates started for this blog.  I went in at about 12:00 and Tim was still pounding his computer. 

When we find a place with WiFi we use it to the max.  I don't think I will ever go anywhere without my own computer again.  Those I-Pads are looking better and better.

Panteli, LEROS to Palaionissos, KALYMNOS

LEROS

LEROS Google Map

We started out the day with a walk, read that hike, with Captain Selo.  I guess we took too long... we were supposed to sail but the captain
decided to motor to a Kalymnos bay for lunch and a swim.  Most disappointing for me... I think all the rest are more inclined to swim while I would much rather sail and forego the swimming.

The reason for this stop was that we were invited to go to Sidar's friend Niko's for food and music.  Sidar was not sure about the plan and when we saw the other inhabitants of the harbor we thought we knew why.  You'll have to ask...

But the boats got our attention!!

KALYMNOS

My Camera batteries gave up.  I will get some photos from Laura when she gets home.
Niko prepared a great dinner for us... he wrote down his recipe, sort of, for eggplant and potatoes.  I hope I can duplicate it.  HA!

JOAN and CYNTHIA ENJOY NICOS (#2's) CREATIONS

Sidar sang and played a little half sized guitar that Niko had.  I wish he would bring his own guitar or have Selo keep one on the boat.  He is a very entertaining musician.

SIDAR    BODRUM, BODRUM

I slept on the rear of the boat next to Selo.  He didn't snore to much. The ipod helped and it was a beautiful night.

Isle of ARKI to Panteli, LEROS

The night in Arki had a breeze al night.  It calmed down in ght morning but then came back and today we can sail!

Sidar had planned a lunch stop in Lipsi but we passed Lipsi at 10:30 and will sail on to Leros.


Laura, Tim and Barb went for a wild ride with Erdal in the dingy to take pictures of Zeus.

Spent the night in Panteli, Leros.

Skala, PATMOS to the isle of ARKI

Patmos and the Monastery of St. John... way up on top of a hill.

Patmos religious significance dates from St. John's arrival in AD 95.  He was imprisoned on this island for 15 years.  This is supposedly where he saw the vision from God and dictated the Book of Revelation to his disciple.
Our first stop was a tour the Holy Cave of the Apocalypse.  The youngsters hiked up to the cave while Cynthia and I took the easy way.

Mosaic near the entrance of the cave.

Then we went on up the hill to the Monastery with it's bells, frescos and views.




Barb, Tim, Judy, Laura, Amber (click to enlarge any picture)

 

ISLE OF ARKI

We then cruised to Arki, east of Patmos.  Sidar's guide book of the Greek Islands describes it as consisting of scrub covered dune hills unrelieved by anything of interest.  We found tranquility, a tavern and charming gift shop and the tinkle of goat bells.

Sidar and Captain Selo in the Arki Taverna

 One book mentions: if you want to see the church, find someone on the island and ask for the key.



Joan and Marina found a key

 Dinner was on board Zeus.  I don't remember but I'm sure it was the fish was followed by Raki.




SIDAR SHOWS US HOW TO BONE A FISH

 



SUCCESS!

 
The night spent in Arki was the first i spent on the deck.  I was awakened by goat bells and Erdal and Amber setting out in the dingy to check the fish hooks they had put out the night before.

Success!!