Finally, on June 8th, after two weeks in the marina we were on our way. Our plans were to head north as quickly as possible to Kusadasi. Kusadasi is the port nearest the ancient ruins of Ephesus. It would take about 4 or 5 days to sail to Kusdasi. The meltemi winds blow from the northwest, strengthen during the afternoon and get stronger as the summer progresses. Since our travels would initially take us against the wind the plans were to get early starts in the morning and make as much progress as possible each day. We headed out the afternoon of the 8th and had a delightful sail in Marmaris Bay running close into shore and past the harbor. It was great to raise the sails for the first time since last October and run thru all the systems while under way.
By 1700 we had dropped the hook, successfully- hooray!, and were anchored in a delightful anchorage right next to Marmaris Yacht Marin! So ok, we didn’t exactly get far – that wasn’t the point of the sail. We just wanted to work out the kinks and see if we remembered how to do this thing called sailing. Th
e next morning we were off bright and early at 0630 for a 40nm motor sail to Kargi Koyu Bay on the Datca Peninsula. The day was uneventful and it was a peaceful anchorage with a few sunbathers enjoying the water and just two other boats to keep us company
. Once again we off the next morning at 0630. We motor sailed for 64nm and at 1530 pulled into the new Didim Marina for two nights. The marina has all the modern conveniences and since it’s only a year old plenty of availability. While in Didim we visited the ancient ruins of Didyma. Didyma was a religious sanctuary to Apollo. The temple, the largest Ionic temple in the world, was destroyed in 494BC and was in ruins until Alexander the Great arrived. Reconstruction was never completed and what can be seen today dates from 300BC.
Anxious to get to Kusadasi we continued on our way and pulled into the Kusadasi Marina on June 12. Once a small fishing village, Kusadasi is now a bustling tourist town with restaurants and shops lining the harbor and an excellent bazaar just a block off. Since it is the gateway to Ephesus cruise ships and bus tours are constantly coming and going and in the evenings the nightlife heats up. Within the confines of the marina are several restaurants, swimming pool and tennis courts. Our first morning we hired a taxi and were off to see Ephesus. Ephesus is the largest, best preserved Roman ruins in the eastern Mediterranean. At one point the population was over
500,000. St Paul preached here and established an early congregation and St John brought Mary here where, legend has it, she lived out her final days. Even with all the other tourists it was truly amazing to walk the ancient streets lined with columns, temples, theatres and homes and to tour Mary’s house. Another excursion we took while in Kusadasi was the ferry to Samos, Greece. Samos is the closest Greek island to Turkey; at one point they are only one mile apart. The harbor town is charming with all the requisite tavernas lining the quay. For those with inquiring minds and who are in the know – we were stamped in and out of Greece with no problems. For those of you not in the know, you’ll just have to wonder why that might have been a problem!
By 1700 we had dropped the hook, successfully- hooray!, and were anchored in a delightful anchorage right next to Marmaris Yacht Marin! So ok, we didn’t exactly get far – that wasn’t the point of the sail. We just wanted to work out the kinks and see if we remembered how to do this thing called sailing. Th
e next morning we were off bright and early at 0630 for a 40nm motor sail to Kargi Koyu Bay on the Datca Peninsula. The day was uneventful and it was a peaceful anchorage with a few sunbathers enjoying the water and just two other boats to keep us company
. Once again we off the next morning at 0630. We motor sailed for 64nm and at 1530 pulled into the new Didim Marina for two nights. The marina has all the modern conveniences and since it’s only a year old plenty of availability. While in Didim we visited the ancient ruins of Didyma. Didyma was a religious sanctuary to Apollo. The temple, the largest Ionic temple in the world, was destroyed in 494BC and was in ruins until Alexander the Great arrived. Reconstruction was never completed and what can be seen today dates from 300BC. 
Anxious to get to Kusadasi we continued on our way and pulled into the Kusadasi Marina on June 12. Once a small fishing village, Kusadasi is now a bustling tourist town with restaurants and shops lining the harbor and an excellent bazaar just a block off. Since it is the gateway to Ephesus cruise ships and bus tours are constantly coming and going and in the evenings the nightlife heats up. Within the confines of the marina are several restaurants, swimming pool and tennis courts. Our first morning we hired a taxi and were off to see Ephesus. Ephesus is the largest, best preserved Roman ruins in the eastern Mediterranean. At one point the population was over 
500,000. St Paul preached here and established an early congregation and St John brought Mary here where, legend has it, she lived out her final days. Even with all the other tourists it was truly amazing to walk the ancient streets lined with columns, temples, theatres and homes and to tour Mary’s house. Another excursion we took while in Kusadasi was the ferry to Samos, Greece. Samos is the closest Greek island to Turkey; at one point they are only one mile apart. The harbor town is charming with all the requisite tavernas lining the quay. For those with inquiring minds and who are in the know – we were stamped in and out of Greece with no problems. For those of you not in the know, you’ll just have to wonder why that might have been a problem!
