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Bodrum, on the north shore of the Gulf of Gökova,
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 century 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 Gökova 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 cozy restaurants are as good a
reason as any to Iinger 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 the
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
Hisarönü lap the breathtaking shores that hold the
legacy of both ancient and modern civilisations.
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 antiquity, once
graced this temple.
The town of Datca has become a popular stopover
for yachtsmen, and offers many colorful seafood
restaurants, pubs and discotheques. In the Gulf of
Hisarönü is the peaceful Keci Bükü 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 Hisarönü: 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. Kumlubük, 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.
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