Antalya

Panoramic view from Antalya looking towards Taurus Mountains.



The sea is very rolly as we sail on to Antalya and Pippy is lurched against the switchboard, accidentally turning off the central navigation – all the nav instruments. Quickly turning it all on again, we find we have lost our depth-sounder which although we are in very deep water, usually still gives some sort of reading. Due to this we change our plan of going into Kaleici Harbour (the small ancient harbour right in downtown Antalya) where the depths vary quite a lot. We cancel this plan and head instead for Setur Antalya Marina, the new marina in the port area of Antalya where depth is not an issue, but unfortunately it is quite a distance out of town. We are soon tucked up in here and ride the ‘dolmish’ into town to meet up with Deep Blue. It is a mind bogglingly slow trip and the driver lets us off in a strange place where we have to walk another 2km to the harbour. Not to worry, we are charmed as we cut through the narrow streets of the old city and really envious of Deep Blue when we see where they are moored right in the middle of this gorgeous city.


Whose ice cream is it anyway?

Antalya Museum is the big attraction for us here as we have heard it is one of Turkey’s best and we are not disappointed as we spend most of the following day exploring the halls with their magnificent exhibits from ancient times, some of them dating back to 8,000 BC. Hard to pick from the ancient coins, clothing, pottery, carpets and stunning range of huge marble statues, but the favourite is probably the Hall of the Sarcophagi with many exhibits recently recovered from overseas where they were stolen and taken to.








Typical of the many fabulous exhibits at Antalya Museum




Matelot spends two nights in Setur Antalya Marina (Celebi Marina) which is very nice with great staff, luxury showers, washing machines and internet, but the travelling and expensive taxis soon get to us.



Images and reflections of Kaleici Harbour





On our second night we sleep on board Deep Blue in the city, then move Matelot into Kaleici Marina, squeezing in alongside Deep Blue. We love waking up in this magical old harbour where pirates have probably moored in times past. The view of the snow capped mountains in the distance, the old castle wall, the clear blue sky, the flowering bouganvillea and blossom trees, the murmur of the city around us, the many men we see in this place who truly resemble pirates – not bad! We are lucky to fit in here because it is usually too full of trip boats and gullets to take any visiting yachts. We wander freely through the old city, soaking in the atmosphere.

Monday 11 May. The time really is upon us for Deep Blue and Matelot to go their separate ways. We are planning to make Alanya, and a reunion with Hasan our next stop, while Deep Blue now have Jonathan and Jane, friends from the UK on board and are heading back towards Kekova Roads for a nice cruise with them. We enjoy a final farewell dinner at the fantastic Otantik Hotel, a boutique hotel and restaurant in the old city. The food is top class and the ambience in the open courtyard lovely. All this for much less than it would cost in NZ. We can highly recommend this restaurant. There is much fighting talk over dinner about setting up a starting line tomorrow and having a race to see who gets to their destination first! Lots of gauntlets are laid down!


A last dinner out together....




We are pretty organised and keen to get away the next morning, so we throw our lines around 7.30 am when DB are just getting started for the day. Before we know it we are out of the harbour but embarrassed to admit that 30 minutes later we notice what has to be Brenda’s white bra and panties hanging from the flag halyard, where our Squadron pennant should be - and was there when we went to bed last night. We wondered why people were laughing and waving as we departed the harbour!




They really have got us good this time! We turn around and go back for a boat hook swap of items once DB has exited the harbour, say more goodbyes, then lay Alanya ETA 10 hours away as we watch DB disappear into the distance.

Aurevoir Deep Blue....