Destination Golf Turkey 2015 2015 | Page 7

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