Goodbye Bodrum

Today was our last day in Bodrum. We took a morning cruise on a party boat, visiting the hidden coves and private getaways of Turkey's rich and famous. Because all beaches are consider public with free access to all, homes that sit on the waterfront cannot protect their property from locals and tourists who can paddle up to the shore and lay claim to a strip of sand on which they can bake in the hot Mediterranean sun. Our Captain dropped anchor in front of a stunning home in a crystal cove and invited us to dive in and swim, and take advantage of the beauty of the private beach which belonged to an Istanbul fabric designer. I cannot imagine an American entrepreneur sharing his seaside turf with marauding tourists, but here it is unremarkable. The sea was deep, crystal clear and a brilliant shad of aqua. The salt content is high. Feeling buoyant and energized by the refreshingly cool water, we floated on our backs luxuriating in the calm and wrapped in the beauty of the natural surroundings. We return to Ankara now, which is baking in the hot dry sun of the plateau. New adventures await.