conveyed. It is the sound, waves lapping
on pebbles, rich and wonderful.
Stones are normally a deterrent for the
holidaymakers seeking a beach.
At Oludeniz that is an advantage.
One reason so many tourists are bowled
over by Turkey on a first visit is that they
have little idea what the country has to
offer.
They discover a dramatic coastline, and
are occasionally taken aback by the
ancient ruins that pepper the coves and
hillsides.
The coastal countryside seems littered
with them. Ruins with a view. Harbours
that were so old they are now two
kilometres from the shore.
They marvel at how exotic it all is, with the
melismatic tone from the mosques calling
the faithful to prayer five times a day.
And the endless cups of explosive black
coffee and sweet amber tea that are
offered at every turn.
By now you are casting envious glances at
the old hands on their gulets, those pine
built motor yachts, who spend a whole
holiday sailing along the coast, exploring
ancient towns that are still inaccessible by
land.
Next time around you will book a gulet
cruise, which is something that nearly all
the tour operators now offer. The Turkish
coast seems made for boats.
From the Bodrum peninsula to Kas, there
are countless little bays and inlets to
explore, many of them accessible only by
boat, and scattered with archaeological
remains. This stretch of coast is also a
great location for flotilla holidays, and, for
the more experienced, bareboat charters.
In the words of Her