Cesme - Silent nights
Serafina
Rob & Sarah Bell
Sun 31 May 2009 19:47
Sunday 31st May
So settled down to a relaxed evening once the German had put away his guitar
and his mate had stopped singing/whistling, but a disco started blaring from
the Yacht Club above us. But reasonable UK/USA/Oz (well Rob's favourite
Kylie track - yup THAT video) tracks, unfortunately this became what can
only be described as Greek Techno, amongst the many they massacred was the
Stones' "Satisfaction" (no greater crime on Serafina). By 3am they turned
to Greek ballads; at 4am a Greek (joined occasionally by one or two of his
mates) joined in by bellowing completely different songs to those being
played. The DJ then obligingly tried to match the records but the singer
insisted on staying a few lines ahead and so this continued until about 5.30
long after the disco finally stopped.
Sadly blessed sleep was interrupted at 8.30 by all the church bells ringing
for Sunday (see earlier blog on 17th May for just how many churches there
are on this island....!) followed by a megaphoned sung Eucharist. Rob
wasn't totally convinced that our friend had actually stopped in the
interim.
We had come to this nice, sleepy little village for its good solid quay as
thunderstorms were forecast. In the event not a zephyr, drop of rain or
roll of thunder was heard (obviously) - Bitter, moi?!
I should never have let Sarah write her bit so soon after the event! (The
more observant amongst you will have also noticed the brief return to Greek
waters.)
Got away with a nice 12 knots of northerly blowing us due south to Cesme in
Turkey, so we took the opportunity to use the Simbo rig (twin headsails)
again and do some fine tuning to this. Wonderful leisurely sail resulted
which brought us to our destination almost too quickly!
As we came into the harbour we spotted a sign with the VHF channel to call
on and this resulted in the immediate arrival of a marinero (actually not
sure what they are called in Turkey) who was wonderfully helpful and
directed us into a slot and helped us with the lines. Sarah had some
difficulty in concentrating as 'Kurt' (she soon overheard his name being
used elsewhere) comes under the very definite heading of eye candy!!
This 'marina' which in truth is the entire harbour is a great spot, or so it
seems at the moment. It is very large and almost completely empty, so no
need to book ahead. It is also central to the small town with its frequent
buses to Izmir and with the fresh breeze blowing today seemed to us to be
ideal. The only setback was the call to prayer soon after we arrived from
the nearest minaret which has been repeated perhaps more often than we
usual. These innocuous looking towers all have astonishingly powerful loud
speakers fitted all the way round and can broadcast prayers at very high
volume and this one is no different except that the chap appears to be a
novice training perhaps as he is considerably less tuneful from all the
others but just as deafening. But after last night, it is a mere trifle
although they are at it again and it is 10.20pm, so we see what happens
overnight....perhaps we are about to find out why this marina is so empty!
The marina is by no means complete and most of the pontoons although in
place, have no services installed, but it is in a better state than most
Greek ones.
Not many other yachts here, but a fun crowd who have mostly been very
impressed with the sight of Sarah diligently washing and polishing
Serafina's hull, which she has spent all afternoon doing.