Graptolite - Bodrum to Byzantium

Graptolite's Sailing Log
Martyn Pickup & Heike Richter
Tue 1 Sep 2009 12:06
36:49.20N 028:18.56E Marmaris Yacht Marina, Turkey, Tuesday 1st September AM

After being nagged at by several of my loyal readers I suppose I had better
bring this blog up-to-date.

Tom flew out to Dalaman airport two weeks ago and was put to work in
Marmaris installing a new anchor chain on Grapto. By Wednesday lunchtime,
after almost getting heatstroke we were ready for a sail up to Bodrum. A
quick test of the engine before departure was a complete failure with a flat
starter battery. As we had been connected to shore-power for days it seemed
to be much more of a problem than just charging the thing up.

Having already agreed to meet Heike in Bodrum there was no choice but to
hire a car and drive. We stayed at the excellent Movenpick Resort in Gumbet
and also at the famous 1960's hotel the Kismet in Kusadasi. From there we
explored the ruins of the Roman cities of Priene, Milletus, Ephesus and
Dydimus. It's amazing what they did in those days with a bit of marble and
plenty of slaves.

Back to Marmaris for a couple of days by the marina pool and it was time for
the long taxi ride back to Dalaman airport. As Tom flew back to Gatwick and
home to get his exam results, I flew up to Istanbul to meet Heike again for
yet another weekend. Our hotel in the Sultanahmet quarter had probably the
best view in all Istanbul over the Golden Horn, Topkapi Palace, Agia Sophia
and the Blue Mosque. Istanbul was much more civilized a place than I had
expected. The carpet sellers in the Grand Bazaar were a pain in the bottom
but I think they are supposed to be that way. When you live on a boat,
carpets are low on the list of must-haves anyway.

Now I'm back on the boat and it's time for more repairs.

M