"Blue Voyage from Antalya to Kas (and back)" Fletcherclaytor's photos around Antalya, Turkey

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Entry from: Antalya, Turkey
Entry Title: "Blue Voyage from Antalya to Kas (and back)"
Entry:
"We flew from Istanbul through to Antalya...over some amazing, sharp rock-topped mountains and down to the blue green Mediterranean. The sun was out and it was warm. We prayed for good weather, and I prayed for calm seas, a sturdy boat and no sea-sickness. This was to be the famed Blue Cruise--the small yachts that stay close to the shoreline and journey to the nooks and crannies of the coastline to see ruins, small towns and as we found out, sometimes just to park for a dip in the sea with beautiful, remote beaches around you. This would turn out to be one of the most relaxing weeks I've had in my life...and I got a great tan :) The day we got there was our anniversary. We put our stuff on the boat, "Be Happy"...our cabin #4 was the last one on the right as you walked from the front of the boat...so, the boat itself was nice, but no great shakes. The "facilities" were less than nice. Bryan took to calling it the "sandbox". The water ran cold out of the shower faucet, which hung over the toilet. It smelled bad in there. We kept the door shut and the portholes open. Our room was basically a bunk almost for 2, with a small space for luggage. It would do--it was only about $650 USD for both of us for the entire week--meals included. And the sun was out, we were on the Mediterranean and celebrating our 6 years married / 18 years together anniversary! We ate a huge afternoon meal at the Ship Inn--steak with mushroom gravy and fries--while watching boats and oil tankers come and go. The crew at this point consisted of one young "cook" who made some amazing rice and fish dishes. We waited for more passengers to arrive and watched a Turkey vs. England soccer match with him on a small TV that first night. Four French folks arrived at 4:30 am--Denise & Serge (in their 50s), Pierre & Annette (in their 70s). Yet, they made it up for Turkish breakfast--Hard boiled eggs, tomatoes, small cucumbers, feta cheese, bread, olives, jam, coffee, tea. And that gorgeous sunlight. YUM. It had been hard to sleep in the smelly little room--but I'd get plenty of naps on the deck each day. In the marina, I got up super early and used the showers/bathrooms at the marina and admired the full moon shining over the mountains and the sun coming red over Antalya. There was an old boat with great lines..."The Ark", that I admired and photographed and sketched. Bryan and I walked the marina--just about the only people awake it appeared "I just want my coffee and hard-boiled egg" :) We still needed to wait for 4 more passengers...but that day we pulled out of the harbor and motored to a quiet cove. The rock-top mountains in the distance looked like they had pink snow on top. We lounged in the sun on the open deck--warm and cooled by a gentle breeze. I sketched the island as I lay there on my stomach. Lunch was called with a bell...green bean salad with tomatoes, onions, and oil, plus couscous, bread and yogurt. The crew seem to fish constantly, from a tiny boat and from small lines simply thrown over the side of the yacht. We pieced conversations together...Serge (alias MacGyver) liked to fish and fix things. Denise was crazy about "Ah-lan-Jack-shone". The boat's crew began calling Pierre "Papa" and Annette was the epitome of French grace at any age. They played dominoes--goal to match ends to get to 7s. The other 4 people--again French, but younger and much more boisterous--arrived around 2:30 am. Claude & Frederique, Nadine & Jerome. We left for Kas around 10am...motoring west in the sun. And so the days passed. Polite breakfasts passing the eggs, Nescafe, the big green thermos of hot water, olives...and then a move up to the deck with a book and sunscreen lotion. Motoring to a new location--the blue green Mediterranean under us, the blue sky over us and the coastline dotted with ruins of abandoned Greek stone homes or ancient buildings. The dinner bell rang for every meal--and then there was rice, salads, potatoes, tomatoes, water, breads, Nescafe and chai. One night there was champagne and wine and raki galore."
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Photos from this trip:
1. "Sunrise"
2. "The Antalya Ark"
3. "Sunset"
4. "Sunrise again, waiting for Nescafe"
5. "Kas carpets"
6. "Kas windows"
7. "Kas"
8. "Kas Evil eyes"
9. "Bryan with Annette, Pierre, Denise & Serge"
10. "Beach time, Be Happy in the background"
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