Fethiye to Turunc Bay / First Night Aboard Yacht
Trip Start
May 17, 2006
1
9
16
Trip End
Jun 01, 2006
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Fethiye,
Turkey
Friday, May 26, 2006
The approximately four-hour journey to Fethiye is punctuated by several bathroom breaks and much questioning among the clients about what to expect aboard the yacht. The guide was phoning in questions so frequently that I finally called for a list of all possible questions so that we could handle them in one call. Things like can optional excursions be paid with a credit card? (yes) Is there shampoo and soap aboard? (soap, but no shampoo) Is there a fan in each room, and do the portholes open? (air conditioning plus open portholes, but no fans) Are there enough snorkels? (should be) Are there towels for excursions? (plenty) Can we get laundry done anywhere? (supposedly some village where it can be done in 2 hours) What is the thread count of the linens? (a joke)
Arriving in Fethiye we go first to the supermarket to stock up on drinks and snacks (and shampoo)
01 Yacht Harbor of Fethiye
. Anticipation mounts as we drive along the dock to our yacht and clamber aboard via the gangplank. Gasps are heard, punctuated by exclamations of approval and joy as we survey the spacious aft deck and proceed into the bar/lounge area. The yacht is 100 ft. long, and less than one year old. Absolutely gorgeous! Above the bar/lounge is a covered deck with sun lounges. A vast fore deck has the table arranged for dining, plus discretely hung clothes lines with colorful pins.We organize the bags in our rooms then head out for a late lunch (it is about 2pm by this time). Lunch is at an amazing market where you personally select your own fresh fish. You purchase the fish in one place, then take it to another place to have it cooked and served with salad. My salmon steak cost 8 lira, and service (cooking) and a diet coke another 6 lira. Total in Dollars is about $12 after my 2 lira tip. An enormous lunch! We top it off with ice cream as we wander the boat-lined waterfront back to our yacht.
Boarding the yacht I meet the captain for the first time. He is assisted by four crewmembers: a cook, an engine doctor (his term), and two deck-hands. All are very friendly. The captain's briefing describes a trip without many actual land excursions, and some of the passengers don't snorkel or swim, and have signed up for the trip expecting to go ashore frequently and be able to see things
02 Boarding the Yacht
. There is an awkward period of translating back and forth, and showing the captain our printed itinerary, and finally he seems to understand what we are hoping for-the perfect combination of land and water adventures offered in this area.We hoist up the gay flag and motor out of the harbor, cameras clicking wildly at the Lycian Tombs that can be seen in the hillside above the town. We only motor a short way around a point of land to a beautiful blue cove, Turunc Bay, already occupied by a few other yachts. As soon as the anchor is dropped, into the clear water we jump for an hour or so of swimming and frolicking.
Before dinner it becomes apparent that there are a couple of cabins with air conditioning issues, and all attempts to repair the situation fall short. Fortunately there is still one unoccupied cabin aboard, so one dissatisfied client is able to move into a room with great air. Dinner removes the last shred of possible doubt about the quality of this vessel. It is absolutely astounding, with fresh fish (sea bass caught just this morning), and an amazing array of vegetables. With a few bumps along the road, the second portion of this journey is now successfully underway!
Comments
Fethiye
Hi Danny,
ha ha ha ho ho ho hee hee hee! Loved the part about all the questions! Very funny!
This trip seems amazing! That yacht looks like paradise. It's so cold and rainy here in Holland right now, it's nice to see that not every place in Europe is miserable qua weather at the moment!
XXX
Sonny